Michelle Witte has opened a bookstore for children and teens in Centerville Utah and we would like to offer up our support. Please visit Fire Petal‘s site and offer your support of this great effort.

Good luck and best wishes to Fire Petal Books and Michelle!

Let us know, in the comments, what you’re doing to share your love of books.

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What is your idea of a perfect day? Is it sitting on the beach sipping a margarita? Is it going out for wine, dinner and a movie? Is it getting your house cleaned?
I had a perfect day recently and it included nothing on the above list. (But if hubby is reading this the last one is greatly needed and would be much appreciated.)
The morning started out fabulous. I woke up on time, worked out, had my hubby take the kids to school , and I enjoyed a peaceful breakfast while I planned out my day. By nine that morning I had the kitchen cleaned and was armed with a cup of green tea and a protein snack ready for my commute. A few steps and one flight of stairs later I was in my writing office complete with a door that shuts and ear buds for my Pandora. A productive morning ensued, a break for a good lunch and then a few more hours of writing until the kiddos came home from school.
It wasn’t until my daughter asked me how my day was that I stopped and thought about what I had accomplished. I realized how much I appreciated working as a “writer” even if it was for just one day. I had no overwhelming “to do” list or any great adventure, but all in all I couldn’t remember a time where I felt more at peace.
Only a writer or some other artist would be completely content to do nothing except work their craft all day. Not many people could understand that. Realizing this, I answered my daughter truthfully. It was perfect.

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I've wanted to be a writer ever since I read my first book by Judy Blume, Super Fudge. Since then I've been writing bad poetry and even worse prose. I finally got serious when about two years ago, after a nervous breakdown in my kitchen, I cried to my husband "I'm not happy!" "Well, get happy," he said.Simple enough, and so I started writing and have completed my first novel. I'm now in the process of polishing and sending "my baby" out into the big bad world. :)

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Sunday is Valentine’s Day, and we want your love. Share with us your best love scene, or how you met your sweetheart.

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Sarah is writer looking for an agent. She is currently working on novel # 4, editing novels 2 and 3, and querying novel # 1. For more insight to her work, visit: http://legendoftheprotectors.wordpress.com/ or http://legendoftheprotectors.blogspot.com/

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1. Useful links to terrific articles and pointers from agents etc.

2. An Agent’s Wish List

3. Fab Writing Tips

4. Checkpoints when writing scenes

5. Brainstorming Techniques

Some of the links contain links to more useful writer’s resources.

Happy Reading, Girls!

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I personally struggle with this and have most of my life. When I am in my writing world everything goes to pot. Case in point, it took me over two weeks on semi-vacation to dig my house out. But this is a new year and of course, a time for new beginnings. I was pleasantly surprised to find that my life long search has actually produced some viable tips. But make no mistake, searching for the ever elusive balance will be my lifelong pursuit, though I do feel like I’m getting closer.

In an effort to keep myself from sounding to self-neurotic I will put this in a three part blog, because no one wants to read my ramblings for more than ten minutes. So here is tip number one and in my mind the most important.

Set a schedule.

You’ve heard this before. Heck, I heard it at least hundred times at the RWA nationals alone, but why? Because simply put, it works. Now, I’ve tried this at least a dozen times and failed all attempts. Previously, I tried to make other writers’ schedules work for me, but I’m not them and they don’t live my life. Then I found the key to sticking with my program—flexibility.           Every day of the week is different for me, and at times my schedule changes from week to week. What I’ve done is to look ahead and set realistic goals. I put due dates on them and have a program on my phone that allows me to “check” them off as I go. (Sounds a tad compulsive, similar to the character Monica on Friends, but she was super organized and successful, right?)

Some writers have a word count they try to reach every day, but that never worked for me. There were some days when I knew I wouldn’t be able to open my computer, much less reach a word count. Plus, what about when you’re in the revision process? There were days I worked for hours and ended with a negative word count. Talk about demoralizing.

I make my goals small, but attainable. For example: Have the rough draft of chapter 3 written, and have a polished chapter 2 ready for crit group on Wednesday. I do this for housework also: One load of laundry, folded and put away by Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and one bathroom cleaned on Tuesday and Thursday.

When I plan out my week then sometimes…most times, something wonderful happens. I get ahead of schedule. This might not seem such amazing feat to some, but for the person who is always behind, five minutes late, and making the deadlines by forgoing sleep, this is a beautiful thing. I have actually found myself working on projects, blogs, chapters, ahead of my scheduled plan.

I will be posting other things that have worked for me. Now it’s your turn to share, tell me what works for you. How do you balance your life with the paying job, kids, husbands, and other obligations? I’m always excited to implement new tips into my daily life.

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I've wanted to be a writer ever since I read my first book by Judy Blume, Super Fudge. Since then I've been writing bad poetry and even worse prose. I finally got serious when about two years ago, after a nervous breakdown in my kitchen, I cried to my husband "I'm not happy!" "Well, get happy," he said.Simple enough, and so I started writing and have completed my first novel. I'm now in the process of polishing and sending "my baby" out into the big bad world. :)

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A Writer's New Year

Nature does not know New Year. It is we that have set up divisions between time, so we can mark the changes that happen to us, record our histories, close our books, make new beginnings.

So New Year is an entirely “unnatural” way of seeing things, but a great one nonetheless. It gives us a moment of pause when we sit back and introspect on what has passed by, and what is still to come.

It is an especially important time for writers. They ruminate over what they’ve achieved over the year, the stumbling blocks they have encountered, and how they’ve coped with it all.

Queries sent out, books under edit, a book begun, a book that’s hit a writer’s block, each writer has something to think about and resolutions to make.

I’ve seen a few awesome New Year posts this time, one of them is here. It has made me think of my role as a writer, things I ought to do, or have undertaken.

I have spoken about my New Year thoughts here. What about you? What was running through your head at the turn of the decade? What resolutions did you make, what work did you feel proud of, what do you look forward to as a writer in the New Year?

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2. Detailed character sketches or “their character will be revealed to me as I write?”
I did one character sketch and it worked all right, but she was my first *real* character. Once I got down how to portray a character, I realized I didn’t need the sketch. I have a great one — super detailed and I can see how it can help a lot of writers, but I learn about my characters as I go. They definitely reveal themselves. Even with the girl I did sketch out, I ended up finding out later that she was a cutter at one point and now has blood lust going on…definitely didn’t plan either of those, but it’s who she is..

3. Do you know your characters’ goals, motivations, and conflicts before you start writing or is that something else you discover only after you start writing?
Only for one book. The first one. It *might* be my best, but it also has allowed me the freedom not to have to work so hard on the subsequent ones. I have more confidence. Once an idea enters my head, I take a few notes and let it all simmer ’til I can sit down and then I just write. I suppose I do have a good idea of what’s going on, but really only in the back of my mind. And it’s the knowledge the characters give me…not anything that I hyper aware of.

4. Books on plotting – useful or harmful?
Books on plotting are probably not all that harmful. Maybe not super useful, either, but what’s wrong with learning something new? As long as you’re not reading a book about *how* to write, in general (because, let’s face it, if you have to be taught how to write, you’re probably not a writer), I don’t see the harm. [Sorry, I'm not one of those people who believe writers can be made...]
I do believe that learning how to *tell* a story is super important. A writer must know how to portray the action and have reason for everything. If a character can easily get out of a situation, then something in your book needs to change. There has to be a reason for everything. Otherwise there’s no point. And I mention this mainly because a good friend read a few books on storytelling and he made me realize that that’s key. I’ve always asked questions about plot holes in movies and such—ever since I was little. If a character has a choice, but only make a certain one just to keep the story going, then something needs to be done…. Motivation/necessity — crucial!

5. Are you a procrastinator or does the itch to write keep at you until you sit down and work?
I’m a procrastinator, but only because I have no choice. If I could sit down and write constantly, I would. And I’ve done it before. But it caused some problems with the family, and now I’m taking care of my child completely by myself so I just don’t have the opportunities that I used to. But the itch is definitely there. It kills me.

6. Do you write in short bursts of creative energy, or can you sit down and write for hours at a time?
It completely depends. I *can* write eight hours a day and churn out chapter after chapter. But I just don’t have the chance. Now, if I was getting paid to write novels rather than articles, I’d have my child in day care after school and I’d work a *normal* work day and get a ton accomplished. But I don’t have that luxury

7. Are you a morning or afternoon writer?
Neither. I’m an ‘everyone’s gone to bed and I Finally have no responibilities’ type of writer. Along with the fact that I work better at night. I don’t really wake up ’til about 3 or 4 in the afternoon (I mean, I’m awake and up, but my brain isn’t functioning properly) and I’m raring to go at around 9-10pm. I stay up ’til 3, on average, but some nights I don’t even go to sleep. My personal filter tends to disappear then and I can just be me and let the characters flow through me at the same time. I don’t have to be a mom or a daughter or whatever else I’m supposed to be. I can just be a writer.

8. Do you write with music/the noise of children/in a cafe or other public setting, or do you need complete silence to concentrate?
I can write with about any noise besides music. Only because I’m way too into music and I’ll start listening to the lyrics and then my thoughts get all jumbled. I edit with music, though. Editing is like doing the dishes to me. Just second nature. Even though my characters write for me, it still takes more effort to churn out the draft than it does to revise/edit.

9. Computer or longhand? (Or typewriter?)
Computer. I’ll sometimes write scenes in my notebooks or journals, usually the beginning of a book — to become more personal with it. If I write it out longhand, I create a stronger bond with the brand new characters. But once that part’s done, it’s off to the computer I go. Even typing, it’s hard to keep up with my thoughts. I cannot write fast enough.

10. Do you know the ending before you type Chapter One?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. It depends. My first book, yes. The other three I have going…I’ve not a clue. But I have others in my head that I know the ending to. I’m really not a type of writer you can pinpoint. I am how I am and that means jack…which can be rather annoying at times.

11. Does what’s selling in the market influence how and what you write?
I’ve honestly only considered the market once, and it was more about what was best for my character more than the market. But the decision was huge and market did factor in. Otherwise, an emphatic NO! If you’re writing for the market, well, nevermind. I won’t go there….

12. Editing – love it or hate it?
Adore it. I love making something better. It’s so great to me. But hey, I went to school to be an editor so I’m a little different than other writers. I know most aren’t the least bit fond of revisions.

13. Why do you want to write?
It’s not so much that I want to — I have to. It’s just me. Even if I’m just making a list for the store…I love writing. I love putting words together. I can do that with speaking, and I do — I don’t shut up half the time — but writing is just so much more. It’s a life in itself. Whole other worlds…. It’s just the best. I can’t Not write.

14. Do you want to publish your work? Why?
Of course! Some things are just for me, but I love sharing what I’ve written with others. I’d adore it if that could happen on a larger scale.

15. Do like to write alone or do you like to work with others?
Alone. Yup. I like advice from others after the fact, but while I’m writing I like to be alone. But heck, even if I’m not alone, you’d think I was. I ignore everything else going on around me. I can’t help it. Writing sucks me in and has more of a hold on me than pretty much anything else in life. Seems writing is my life.

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Since winning her first writing competition at a young age, Eden Tyler, has only fallen more in love with the written word. She uses her English, Psychology, and Sociology backgrounds to create depth to her own stories and novels while contributing to and running websites about writing. This is what fulfills her, along with working as Co-Editor for Fuel Your Writing, but she also enjoys the freelance work that puts food on the table (and that ever-essential roof overhead) for her family.

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“Why are you writing this novel?” I ask.

And every time, the answers are different. Some writers do not have an answer. But I’ll try and quote the others from memory:

“I want to be published. I have published a few short stories, but that just not have the same impact.”

“If I had a choice, I wouldn’t. But there’s this deadline…”

“Because I think I can write one…”

A scattered few say:

” Because I can’t help it. The characters in my head won’t stop talking….”

“I care about what happened here, and I want to write so that the truth is out, once and for all….”

” This issue is close to my heart, and I’ve carried this story within me a long, long time….

I’m a reader for some of these writers and when I get their manuscripts in my hand, it is always the work of the latter category that keeps me reading to the last page. They aren’t always technically perfect, these works driven by passion or even obsession, but that can be corrected with the help of an editor.

I have come to believe that passion, more than knowledge of the craft, is what carries a novel with a reader, and makes him or her want to read on.

I’m not writing my novel, yet, but I’m sure I’ll ask myself the same question when I get to writing it. I’ll be sure to come out with my first, most spontaneous, honest answer, and then take a long, hard look at it.

So, why are you writing your novel?

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