Scribble Chicks

Recharging Your Batteries

2012-02-02T08:59:00.000-08:00

Sometimes the best way to recharge your writing batteries is to step away from the computer.

So that's exactly what I'm doing since this adorableness, my three-and-a-half-year-old niece Miss Adelyn Grace, is visiting.

I already see another pillow fight in our future. That's what happened when this picture was taken, hence her rather "windblown" hair...

Now how about you? What's your favorite way to recharge your batteries when inspiration is seeming, a little, well, limited...?

It really is okay....

2012-02-01T04:27:00.000-08:00

We talk a lot here on Scribble Chicks on what inspires us, and where we get that inspiration. Do you ever have days where you know all the answers, and you know what to do, but just can't seem to do it? Maybe it's not from lack of desire or motivation, but from sheer forces of nature?

I love the clause in my novel contracts that essentially says (paraphrased) "If an act of God occurs we can't be held responsible for not publishing this story". Cracks me up because man, isn't that every day in some form? ;)

I realize mass tragedy and tornados and fire and earthquakes and hurricanes and tidal waves don't happen every day to keep me from writing, but emotionally and mentally, they're actually quite common.

You know the days. You have 3 appointments and 2 deadlines and a husband who wants a decent supper and a sick kid with 2 overlapping viruses who's crying about missing school and you're crying because she can't GO to school and let you get stuff done. And you just burned dinner and your deadlines aren't ignoring you as you're ignoring them, and you just want to cover your ears and scream but can't because your throat already hurts because you're picking up the same virus your kid has?

Yeah those days!

What about you? How do you handle them? Do you beat yourself up for not meeting a goal or for not accomplishing what you'd hoped to in a given day? Or are you super laid back on yourself? I think healthy is somewhere in the middle. I tend to stray to the far extreme of "I'm the worst person/writer/mother in the world because of X".

Which, um, by the way, doesn't do much for the motivation.

You know what DOES work?

Prayer.
Endorphins. (working out)
Baking. (do this AFTER working out)
Laughing with my toddler and reprioritizing life.
Realizing that I truly am just ONE person and a busy one at that.
Accepting the fact that "poo happens" and I can't control the world or even necessarily my own day.
Letting go and giving myself permission to FAIL.

Fail.

Such an ugly word. But someones a useful one.

I just took a personality test recently that revealed to me how hard I am on myself. This is great for being productive and earning nicknames like "the synopsis queen" and managing to do 950485948509 things at once and meet deadlines.....

But when burnout strikes, I crash. And as a result, everyone else crashes around me. Not a good point to get to. I'd rather have slight stumbles more frequently than dramatic, end-all crashes every now and then. Wouldn't you?

So join me today in taking steps to TRYING HARD, but realizing it's okay to STEP BACK. Join me in SETTING GOALS but ALLOWING YOURSELF TO MISS THE MARK. The important thing is to try again afterward. If you said you'd write 1000 words today and you only wrote 19 - don't think "fail". Think "try again".

You go first. I'm right behind ya ;)

I've been caught red-handed.

2012-01-31T10:54:00.000-08:00

Boy did I just learn a lesson:

Never read Scribble Chicks when you just went to Wal-Mart inyour jammies.

Erynn’s post from yesterday pretty much upped the standard.I’ve been chilling out today, watching the mold grow, and formatting the nextpart of the book. In my head.

Yep that’s right. No actual words on paper yet. I waswriting in my head while I shopped for groceries.

Ever do that?

Anyway, I have to say I’m inspired. ‘Cause I’m starting torealize that if I want to get something in life… I often have to give somethingup.

So yes, I’m upping the standard for myself. While I’ve been semi-productive andchill, I’m moving it up to uber-productive… but hopefully still chill.

Thanks Erynn.

{And if my editor's reading this... have no fear. I am right on target to finish the book before deadline. Just thinking it's possible for me to apply myself and get it done even sooner... and also perhaps lose some of the baby chub at the same time?}

Quiet Time

2012-01-30T14:44:00.000-08:00

I have an 18-month-old son whose new favorite word is "Play."

"Play? Play? Mommy? Play?"

It's very cute until I realize that May is coming quick and I signed my contract in ink. And not that erasable ink that was all the rage waaaay back in the second grade (please tell me I am not the only one to remember when those pens came out).

So, I've been trying to find ways to get my deadline completed and still have the time and mental energy to play with my son who loves it so. And the best and longest slot of time for me to write is when he's napping.

Which means that all of the other 153 things I usually do while he's napping I now have to get done before he wakes up in the morning or while he's awake.

I am not the best at early rising.

Actually, I'm not even second best. I'm somewhere WAY down at the bottom of the list amidst those other people who are clinging for dear life to their pillows and mumbling, "Go away! Good night Moon!"

Anyway.

For the sake of my deadline, though, I have been attempting to get up. And not just get up. I've been attempting to wake up, work out, shower, do my devotion and eat breakfast (previously in the last 18 months, I'd only heard rumors about this morning meal. Breakfast? Surely you meant coffee?). All before my son wakes up and is raring to go play.

One of the best things I do for my writing? Read my devotion in the mornings. Sometimes it's nice to just remember why I love to do what I do. I love writing - but more than that, I love the opportunities God has brought that come with the writing.

And so. My alarm is now set for every weekday morning. And my brain is finally starting to run out of excuses for not getting up. And my writing is actually reaping the benefits.

What about you? Is there something you've been putting off changing in your current schedule that will allow you more time or more quality time to write?

Making Time to "Suffer" For Your Art

2012-01-26T00:00:00.000-08:00

While so much of writing is actually about hunkering down and doing the work, I think so much of what gets those creative juices really flowing is effectively setting the scene.

Like an actor "getting into character," it's incredibly helpful to immerse yourself in whatever will help you best capture what you're writing about. For instance, I'm working on a novel about a group of women who find unexpected friendship in an Italian cooking class, so in order to get into that frame of mind, I have Italian dinner party music playing in the background as I type away today.

And yes, it's entirely in Italian, which helps me get a flavor of that boot-shaped country while I'm actually in the land of cowboys, a.k.a. Texas.

Long before I even wrote a word of my current work in progress, research was a huge priority. In addition to signing up for a slew of Italian cooking classes (if that's suffering for my art, well, I'm happy to do so), watching Fellini films, Roman Holiday and Under the Tuscan Sun and making sure to take a gazillion mental notes when my hubby and I visited Rome last year, I'm constantly cooking and sampling the cuisine I'm writing about so I can describe it with authority.

While Google is certainly a great little resource that I use each and every day, nothing can beat old-fashioned hands-on research. So whenever you're deciding what you're going to write about, make sure it's a subject you're passionate about because when you're a writer, eating a delectable plate of spaghetti can be "research" depending on what you're writing about.

Are you a book, magazine or newspaper?

2012-01-25T05:35:00.000-08:00

I know these quizzes can be a real addiction and typically reveal nothing about yourself, and are probably written by WHO knows who...but they can still be fun ;)

When I saw this one I couldn't resist! Take it too and see what you get!

Click HERE to find out if you're a book, magazine or newspaper. Let us know what you get!

My results:

YOU ARE A BOOK

You are a very intellectual and logical person. You like to think, and a lot of your thinking is quite deep.You are both philosophical and idealistic. You think it's interesting to imagine how the world could be.You enjoy spending a good deal of time alone. In fact, you tend to go sort of crazy if you don't get your space.While you may seem distant, you care very deeply for humanity. You're trying to figure out how to save the world.

My results are actually very accurate this time! Go figure! I really do need my space, love to think alone, spend time with myself. I'm logical to a fault most of the time, and I do care deeply in times when others around me are more like "whatever" or not see it a big deal. I've also been accused of being a snob in the past for seeming distant. Interesting.

What'd you get?

Did you ever know that you're my hero??

2012-01-23T13:27:00.000-08:00

Iced coffee. Seriously. I submit that there is very little better than it to stimulate the mind on days like today when the sun is shining outside, my house was just labeled a State of Emergency inside, the laundry is half-done, I've got an 18-month-old with a horrendous diaper rash running around and I'd like nothing better than to go sit outside on my back porch, close my eyes and take a nap.

Until spring.

But. That's not really an option. Not when the laundry probably needs to be finished seeing as how we don't live in a nudist colony, the rash needs Desitin, the house needs to be cleaned and oh yes, I have approximately 54K words to write before May.

Fill 'er up.

Today, we're going to talk a little bit about inspiration. As in, how do you get off the proverbial couch and settle down at the proverbial desk? (I use "proverbial" because I tend to do 90% of my writing in the exact same spot on the exact same couch.) Or, what do you do if you are writing a fantastic blockbuster of a novel and suddenly come to a halt?

First, I want to suggest my dear friend, the iced caramel latte. Delicious, sweet and creamy, it reminds me that there are still good things in this world, even if my story is not currently one of them.

If that doesn't work for you, here's a few other ideas to try:

* Change positions. Do you always write on the couch? Move to a chair at the table. Always write at your desk? Move to a bench outside. Always write in a room by yourself? Head to a busy coffee house. Sometimes just mixing up the scenery can do wonders for your brain activity.

* Do you tend to get sleepy once you sit down? (I never did until my Nater Tot came into being. It happens. I'm old.) Try getting some sort of snack to have with you while you write. (WARNING. This can lead to an even bigger indention in the couch than you've already left. Aim for healthy, brain inducing food like roasted almonds, dried cranberries, dark chocolate, etc.)

* Try turning on the tunes. Sometimes a great song can get the fun back into the writing or a creepy soundtrack can instill just the right amount of fear into your fingers as you write.

* The nose knows. Don't forget about ambiance. Light a fragrant candle or get out that Febreeze you have shoved in the mess of a laundry room (that might just be me). I love to light those Woodwick candles while I'm writing - the sound of wood crackling is just the right amount of background noise.

* Check out your main character. Is she acting out of character? Has she become boring? Maybe see if she needs the fictional version of an iced caramel latte. Sometimes, introducing your character to a new character or scene can instill more life in a novel.

* Finally, take a break. If you've tried everything and you're just stuck, trying closing the laptop and just walking away for a few minutes. Go for a walk or go to the gym. Get the blood flowing. Look on Pinterest and find a cool craft to make to get the creative juices flowing. Make some type of delicious dinner. Then get back to work! Sometimes the biggest inspiration we need is just someone telling us to DO IT!! :)

(images taken from thepioneerwoman.com. Go get the recipe and start writing!)

Mixing It Up

2012-01-19T12:19:00.000-08:00

It's definitely been one of those weeks.

I had all these wonderful goals in mind for my current work in progress and resolved this would be the week where the rest of my work wouldn't cut into my novel writing time.

Naturally (cue ominous music), when you've got the best of intentions, many, many things will come up unexpectedly that'll cut into your writing time and leave you feeling like a big fat failure.

Thankfully, it's only Thursday, and there's still another day this work week to make my writing dreams of grandeur happen. But in the meantime, I was thankful to come across this helpful little gem on one of my favorite writing sites, Write It Sideways.

It's about four writing routines that you can live with, and I gotta say, I felt downright inspired. It has solutions for people who've only got 10 minutes to write. Yeah, doesn't everyone have at least 10 minutes they can dedicate to his/her craft?

The answer, by the way, is yes.

Now it's your turn...what are you working on and what obstacles have prevented you from accomplishing your writing dreams? How do you make time for writing the thing that's so important for you?

No more writing?

2012-01-18T04:58:00.000-08:00

What would you do if you couldn't write?

Not in the sense that writing didn't exist, or that you didn't want to or would rather choose a different hobby for the sake of an example - NO, I mean, what would you do if someone refused to LET you write? You couldn't as in, you were restrained. Not given the choice. Denied the chance or opportunity.

(I know some of us busy moms feel that way in theory but I mean on a deeper and more literal level.)

For example"

The other day my husband and I were talking about drugs and how it was so hard to understand how someone could get addicted to something so terrible. In my mind, I was especially thinking about meth and other super-hard-core drugs that destroy a woman's appearance in such a short time (premature aging, teeth yellowing or decay, wrinkles, leathery skin, baggy eyes, weight loss, vein protruding, etc.) How could someone want a high more than they could want to be a woman? Be attractive? Be inviting? How could anyone get so hooked on something that destroyed them and their quality of life and everyone they knew?

I've never done drugs so I can't put myself in their shoes. My husband, who knows people who have been on drugs before, tried to help me relate. "What is something you can't live without?"

I thought. "Um, diet coke?"

He snorted. "No. I mean, something you have to have, or you couldn't exist/function."

I thought again. Hmmm....

He then said, "What would you do if you couldn't write anymore? It's like that to them."

OHHHHHHHH.

So ultimately, what I'm asking, is how important is writing to you? What would YOU do if you couldn't write? How far would you be willing to go "left field" to get the chance to write?

Drug addicts use this mindset to a fault, obviously, as they do dangerous things to get their next fix - and I still can't truly relate to that level of addiction but can sympathetize and pray for them. You should too.

But in a way, we can use this analogy to help us get our booties up and 'em, right? What's stopping you from writing and what can you change to be able to provide a means for yourself to do so?

Time Saving Tip of the Week

2012-01-17T11:38:00.000-08:00

Two words: Harris Teeter! It saved my butt (and my deadline)this week.

(I’m not being paid anything to say this.)

If you have a Harris Teeter in your area, you can order your groceries online (I did this while the baby napped) and pick it up at the timeof your choosing.

The service for this is $4.95 a visit or $16.95 forunlimited shopping a month.

You can even use coupons and your VIC card!

(I only spent $62 on groceries this week because I didn’tmake any extra random impulse purchases I probably would have made by going to Wal-Mart.)

So tell us… how did you make more time to write this week?

"Prompt" goes the weasel

2012-01-16T12:57:00.000-08:00

It's Monday, it's a holiday and it's very cold and windy here, so I've been yawning and having trouble getting myself moving all day. A great day to do a few writing stretches before starting the writing marathon!

Prompt 1: You are blasted into space and land safely on a new planet. What will you name it? What will you find on it? What would you like to put on it?

Prompt 2: Set a timer for one minute and write down as many different ways to describe the color blue as you can. Now use one of the best ones in your current WIP.

Prompt 3: PBS comes to you and needs a new kids TV show. What will it be about? Who will the characters be? What is the VERY basic storyline?

Prompt 4: Take a character from your current WIP and plop him/her on an island in the middle of an ocean. What one item from their life would they want/need? How will they survive?

Prompt 5: Look out the window and in ten seconds quickly describe the first thing you see. Now describe it through the eyes of a person who is colorblind.

All right! Now that you're all warmed up, get to work! And please feel free to share your prompt answers! :)

Kicking "Resolutions" to the Curb...

2012-01-12T12:37:00.000-08:00

I'm proud to report that I've returned from my recent hibernation...

It wasn't easy, mind you, but I'm back...

For the first time in a good, long while, I took a legitimate break. Aside from the casual check of the e-mail and a scroll down the ol' Facebook feed, I didn't do much of anything in the whole writing realm. And it felt oh-so-good.

Instead, I read, cooked, got organized, watched movies, hung out with the hubby and yes, I even started thinking about the annual New Year's resolutions. What I wanted to change, what I needed to change, how I wanted my life to be different...

And that got me thinking about how year after year, I resolve a gazillion things and completely fall off the wagon a couple of days later. So instead of writing that big, long list that includes everything from finally losing those extra pounds to reading my Bible every day to quitting Diet Coke, to laying off the Starbucks, to finishing my novel, etc. etc. etc., I decided to retool the resolutions and essentially kick that big, long list to the curb.

Instead, I've decided to focus on a healthy life instead of a perfect one in 2012—a life where moderation reigns, and I learn to take a little more time for me like Bekah was talking about the other day. By having balance, there's time for all of those changes to actually get implemented—rather than simply being wishful thinking, and that's something I'm really, really excited about.

Now it's your turn... What do you hope will be different in 2012 in regard to your writing or other areas of your life? Also, what can we be writing about that'll help you in 2012?

Cavities and Book Submissions

2012-01-11T04:27:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I took my 3 and 1/2 year old to the dentist for the first time.

Let's just say Dread with a capital D. I had NO idea what to expect from her - tears? Whining? Complaining? Tantrums? Fits? Fleeing from the chair?

But we had to do it, and it wouldn't be any easier waiting another 6 months. So I made the appointment, armed myself with a mental supply of bribes at the ready, and went. I talked it up to her in the days before, explaining they would use a noisy toothbrush and nothing hurt, it wasn't like the doctor, and that we had to brush our teeth regularly and go to the dentist regularly so we wouldn't get cavities. A few times she said she wanted to go, a few times she said she didn't. And I really didn't know what to expect because this was a dentist I'd never even used. I had to switch us from my older dentist to this one because he's near retirement and won't take child patients anymore (smart man, haha) and I decided it'd be better for us to all go to the same place.

So again - I was clueless, and sweating. I'd only heard horror stories from other moms about first dentist trips, and how yet other moms put off appointments until their child was 5 or 6 years old to avoid freak-outs. I figured we'd soldier through and go home and nap/recover (i.e. mommy stuff face with comforting chocolate)

And you know what? She was a rockstar. She sat patiently in the waiting room, never complained or got nervous, and when they called her name, she immediately hopped up and approached the assistant and didn't even ask for me to carry her. We got to the little exam room and she sat in the chair, then hesitated and asked to sit in my lap. The assistant said that was just fine, so I sat in the chair and she laid on top of me as we reclined.

The dentist was AWESOME - explained each thing she did or used before she did it, had a fun nickname for all the equipment (the bright light above was Mr. Sunshine, the air-sucker-thingie was Mr. Thirsty, etc.) and Little Miss LOVED her. She opened her mouth wide every time she was asked, spit into Mr. Thirsty, and never complained, cried, protested, or turned her head away - and they did the cleaning, flossing AND painted on some flouride.

I almost cried.

I was soooo proud. So were they. She got to pick three toys from the toy box and left toting a little bag containing Disney princes floss sticks, big kid toothpaste and a brand new pink Little Mermaid toothbrush. She was ecstatic. And so was I. I didn't even need chocolate! (which is good since my exam is coming up at the end of the month)

I say all that one, to brag, because my kid totally rocks and that's all the grace of God! And secondly, to tie in to an example. Sometimes, things we dread really aren't that bad, and that's true in our writing life as well.

How many times have we dreaded finishing a manuscript, feeling that maybe the end wouldn't be as fun as the beginning? (yet it was!) How many times have we dreaded entering a contest, afraid of the feedback from judges? (yet found it to be eye-opening and helpful?) How many times have we dreaded submitting our proposal to an agent or editor, certain we'd be scarred for life from the rejection? (yet found their feedback to be just what we needed to propel our writing to the next level?) How many times have we dreaded branching out as reserved writers and being social at a conference or writer's retreat? (and walked away after with a ton of new friends and a closer relationship with God and newfound inspiration for our stories?)

Sometimes, we just have to make the appointment and go. Even if we're scared we have a cavity (even if we're afraid our book sucks), even if we're worried about causing a scene in a public place (or stepping outside our comfortable safety box in front of our computer), even if we're afraid of something hurting or making us uneasy.

Because without taking that step, without taking control and as Nike says "just doing it", we could miss out on a really, REALLY awesome Disney toothbrush.

(or, say, a contract ::wink::)

Make Time for You

2012-01-10T06:17:00.000-08:00

Writing might just be the loneliest hobby in the world.

I suppose that’s why creativity attracts introverts, but inmy case, I’m likely to lose my mind if I spend too much time with thecharacters in my head.

That’s why I sit and write and wave at this kid:

After a while it gets old that she doesn’t wave back.

On days when I force myself to stay at the computer screen,the work gets done.

But I’m also discovering something I didn’t expect.

When I make time for me – which in my case means connectingwith PEOPLE – the writing gets done 3x as fast. I’m not making that up. Thecreativity hits when I get home and it’s like the floodgate opens.

It’s all about balance, folks. You know yourself best. Doyou need more time – or less time with those characters in your head?

****

Bekah Hamrick Martin was born in Savannah, Georgia, in an event her brother keeps reminding her was completely unnecessary. She spentthe better part of her high school years vacationing on the North end of hermattress due to an illness, where she developed a deep taste for chocolate andsarcasm. Today Bekah writes and talks to teens about healing, toughtimes, and surviving their high school years – no matter where they spend them.

Working hard or hardly working

2012-01-09T07:37:00.000-08:00

I had an agent once tell me that writing is the only career where you could legitimately stare out the window for hours and actually be working.

Sad to say, I've used that excuse a time or two too many. ;)

While you can spend hours and days and weeks and months and even years crafting the backbone of your novel or book - fleshing out characterizations, creating a fictional setting, even forming a new fictional culture - eventually, you have to look away from the window and back to the computer. And start the actual writing.

Which might be the hardest part.

I've always said that my least favorite two words to write are "Chapter" and "One." Starting a story has so much pressure - is the opening sentence strong enough? Have I written the correct mix of back-story so the reader knows who the characters are and current action so they don't get bored?

Writing isn't for wimps, guys. Countless hours staring at your computer screen, countless hours sitting there in the same position (that one gets me the most), usually a year of edits and waiting before you see the book in its book form and then a check for waaaaay less than minimum wage. :) If you're in this career for the money, for the job flexibility or for the lack of effort you think you'll need to put into it, you're in the wrong career.

But, if you are reading this post because even though it frustrates you to no end, you just can't resist the pull of those two little words, "chapter" and "one", and all the wonderful possibilities that await for you behind them, then welcome. And please accept our gift of understanding mixed with pity. ;)

To resolve or not to resolve...

2012-01-04T04:24:00.000-08:00

This week we're talking about Resolutions and making new goals for this New Year.

I'm not usually a Resolution kind of gal, personally - because in my head with that stuff, the more of a Thing I make it, the more likely I am to fail!!

Like with dieting. I get consumed with it that I see nothing else and then overstress and usually miss my goal. I get hungrier on a diet, not because I'm eating less but because it's constantly in my head. Sigh.

So this year, I DO want to lose a few lbs, but I'm not making it a written down, stressful thing for myself. I'm just trying like I have been for the past two weeks to do better and see results slowly. Same with my writing. I have goals that I will pursue step by step, but I was going to do that anyway, whether the New Year rolled around or not.

If you're the type who thrives on Resolutions and makes the mark every time, I envy you! ;)
And I believe you can do it! With practice and motivation, regardless of the resolution, it can be done. And of course, the most important factor - prayer! Don't forget to bathe your resolution in prayer because really, if it's not God's will for you, you don't want it anyway...

How can we at Scribblechicks help you keep those New Year goals, especially the writing related ones?

What posts would you like to see from us this year? What topics have we overdone and what can we start doing? We're here to help, because, new year or not - writing rocks :)

Multi-Tasking 101

2012-01-03T05:14:00.000-08:00

There’s an old Proverb that says “her children will rise up and call her blessed”. I’m pretty sure my child has taken this Proverb to heart, minus the calling me blessed part. She pretty much just rises up and calls me.

Nature is a cruel thing. Just when my baby started sleeping through the night, her salivary glands went into overdrive. She now drools like a Mastiff while howling every thirty minutes all night.

My three-month-old is cutting a tooth. This is not what I meant when I prayed for my baby to be an “advanced” child.

I am not a natural multi-tasker, but I am learning that if I try hard enough I can get everything done despite my poor teething baby. My first step is to make my priorities. {After a panicked e-mail to Erynn, she helped me realize I could still write with a cute albeit needy child.}

I am learning that the baby swing, mobile, Jonny Jump Up, and an oversized cup of coffee are all my very good friends. So far I have stayed right on track with my writing, thanks to Eynn's encouragement.

Life goes on. I’m glad I have a baby instead of a Mastiff. Mainly because a baby doesn’t require potty training for another couple of years. If I can just get her to stop howling and start calling me blessed…

But that’s okay – I guess I don’t need her to call me blessed. Because in my heart I already know I am.

Apologies and Resolutions

2012-01-02T13:27:00.000-08:00

So sorry for the LOOONG hiatus here, guys. I've been in something of hibernation over Christmas break. But it's a new year and there is LOTS of work to be done!

And, first things first, CONGRATS BETSY!!!! Everyone should definitely head over to her blog and check out her new novel!! :)

My New Year's resolution?? Write, write, write! I want to get better at plot development and become a better time manager (a.k.a. buckle down during Nater Tot's naps!).

What are your writing-related New Year's resolutions??

Happy New Year, and Fun Announcements...

2012-01-02T09:12:00.000-08:00

Hey guys! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Erynn, sorry to steal your post day, (hehehe) but I had to ask everyone to come over to my personal blog today and celebrate the official release day of ADDISON BLAKELY, CONFESSIONS OF A PK - my first YA novel with Barbour. Available now! :)

I've got some fun announcements on my blog so come see!! Then come back here later ;)
www.betsy-ann.blogspot.com

Holiday Survival 101

2011-12-28T05:44:00.000-08:00

Whew!

This has been a super busy past week, and the next week is still looming with lots of celebration, days off work (and days off routine for kiddo's!), and way too many leftovers, so I'll make today's post quick and easy.

Holiday Survival 101

1. Don't eat the yellow snow
2. Don't eat any fruitcake, ever
3. Know that stocking gifts don't actually have to FIT in the stocking
4. Rejoice that Target currently has all of their organizational bins and storage on sale
5. Realize that extended family members really do leave after awhile ;)
6. You don't have to eat all of the leftovers in one sitting (same with Christmas candy!) but it's okay if you do ;)
7. Know that it's also okay to have more fun with your kid's new toys than they do
8. Consider the possibility that eggnog isn't that bad
9. New Year's resolutions are just goals, and goals are meant to be broken...oh wait...
10. Rejoice that Christmas is now a year away! ;)

Christmas Poem prompt...

2011-12-21T05:02:00.000-08:00

T'was the Scribble Chicks night before Christmas,
When all through their homes,
They were scurrying quite wildly
Like little yard gnomes

Their stockings were hung
quite crookedly by the tree
In hopes that Aunt Clara
wouldn't still be OCD.

The toddlers were running
On a sugar high around the room
Sucking on peppermints
And chasing the dog with a broom.

Oh come on, you know you wanna finish it ;)

Wishing You Miracles

2011-12-20T18:02:00.000-08:00

I had to pinch myself today when I had the sarcastic thought, "Mythree-month-old is teething? Really? Merry Christmas to me!"

And then I realized -- last year I was begging God for this three-month-old.I never would have guessed then that after years of infertility, I would beholding a precious babe in my arms this Christmas season.

Makes it all a little more real for me. Jesus came as a baby. A tiny,screaming, teething tot.

May your Christmas and New Year be full of undeniable, unforgettable miracles…

But especially the greatest Miracle of all.

M is for Marketing

2011-12-14T04:33:00.000-08:00

Here's a link to the book trailer my peeps at Barbour made for my new YA release, coming January 1st. (in case you haven't seen it yet)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJa7O8je-xM

What do y'all think? :) I'm soooo impressed! And now I wish it was a movie or TV series. LOL!

I wanted to get some feedback today on marketing.

What works for you guys, fellow authors? And what doesn't? Do you still find value in doing blog tours, book giveaways, contests, etc? Sometimes I see contest opportunities for readers to win a chance to stay at an Inn at the hometown of the book's setting, or a free Nook, or something, and I'm like - wow. Who is paying for THAT? I can't! But in my heart, dear reader, you all win a free Nook ;) If the thought still counts, anyway. hehe.

And most importantly when it comes to marketing - readers!! What do YOU respond to? Do you sign up for contest and giveaways? Do you like reading blog posts by the characters in a book? What are you sick of seeing? What could I do to promote my YA that would blow your socks off? Do you attend book signings? Do you like getting freebies such as bookmarks or pens or magnets, or are they annoying?

I have ideas, but I'd love some fresh input straight from where it matters :)

Writing A.D.D.

2011-12-13T08:26:00.000-08:00

My house is a wreck and my brain is a muddled mess... all because of too much sleep. You heard that right -- my Tiny Human only got up once last night. My poor nervous system doesn't know what to do with rest anymore.

So it's one of those days when I'm having a really hard time focusing. My writing is experiencing a crazy burst of A.D.D. -- but the deadlines aren't going away.

So what happens when you have trouble focusing? Tell us how you get back in your groove. Can't wait -- you might be helping me today!

The Joy of Handwritten Christmas Cards

2011-12-07T20:25:00.000-08:00

There's a million things to love about the Christmas season—the lovely, pine-y smell of a fresh tree, the gloriously festive music, all the delicious eats and holiday TV specials and of course, the best thing of all, celebrating the birth of our Saviour.

But one of my favorite personal traditions is writing scads of handwritten Christmas cards, even though I'm pretty sure my hand is going to fall off from sheer exhaustion each and every year.

I don't know why, maybe it's the writer in me, but I can't simply sign my name on a card and send it off. Ditto for typing one of those mammoth double-spaced accounts of my entire year in review. On a side note, if you're a fan of either of these scenarios, I forgive you. :)

For whatever reason, I feel compelled to write a personal note in my super-loopy handwriting to each and every person on my card list, and I'll be honest, nothing delights me more than getting one in return. In fact, I tape each and every card, note included or not, on my kitchen cabinets so every card gets its proper due.

Even in the age of iPods, iPads and everything else with a lower-case "i" in front of it, sometimes the simplest of pleasures are the best ones—like a nice handwritten card nestled in the middle of your monthly bills and store catalogs.

A few lessons from Disney World

2011-12-07T04:37:00.000-08:00

Whew!

I'm back from a 9 day vacation to Disney World with my parents and my husband and my three year old (we drove, so there was 4 days of travel and 5 days in the parks total) and I can honestly say I've learned several things.

In no particular order...

1. My 3 year old is more patient than I am when it comes to waiting in lines. Ahem.

2. I can read 2 and 1/2 novels in 4 days when stuck in a van that long.

3. I have more of a thing for Pirates than I realized.

4. Older kids (think ages 5-7) can throw way worse tantrums in public than my 3 year old (who was seriously an angel the majority of the trip!)

5. I'm addicted to Pinapple ice cream

6. Eating everything I want + walking around Disney for 5 days = only a 3 lb temporary weight gain (miracle!)

7. My husband rocks.

8. Vans can hold a lot of luggage.

9. My daughter loves toys. (ha)

10. It's not a good idea to watch a belly dancer in Morroco (Epcot countries) while stuffing your own face with couscous...

11. "It's a Small World After All" really does linger in one's head for 9 days.

12. Never pack for a trip assuming the weather will be one thing and not another (I had to buy short sleeve shirts while there!)

13. The staff at Disney World are truly the nicest and most patient people on Earth.

14. My daughter loves the Little Mermaid as much or more than I did at her age, which makes me smile so big...

15. No matter how old you get, you will never stop wanting a Mickey Mouse ice cream bar or outgrow the giant Lego store in Downtown Disney.

16. No matter how old you get, the Spinning Teacups will always be fun.

17. I actually DON'T have to wear high heels every day (though I did miss them!)

18. Vacations are good for the soul!

19. Coming home from vacation is even better! ;)

Setting Reasonable Goals

2011-12-06T13:23:00.001-08:00

People ask me all the time -- how do you write a book? A book, my friend, is written one e-mail at a time. At least that's what my friend Annette used to tell me as I sent her my chapters.

I know this probably seems over-simplified, but this is my second complete book and here's the system I find works best for me.

I write a vague outline, then I get started. See my little sticky notes? My goal is ten pages a week. I can increase this as my daughter gets less demanding, but 10 pages a week allows me to finish my book in approximately five months.

The publisher's given me seven months to complete the books, so I'll have two months to edit before I turn in the manuscript.

So since I want to do 10 pages a week, I place the sticky notes on my desk calendar. When I'm done with my goal for the day, the sticky note goes on the memo board and I get a mental release of endorphins. :)

Tell me... what works for you?

Six Essentials For Every Proposal

2011-12-05T15:34:00.000-08:00

I know we've talked a little bit about proposals in the past, but considering they are the first step to ever getting published, I think we can talk a little more about them! :) Here's a quick check-off list of six of the most important things your proposal needs.

1. Your name and contact information

This may seem like a no-brainer, but honestly, I have heard several editors talk about how they found the best proposal in the world and weren't able to publish it because they didn't know who wrote it. Make sure all of your contact info is on the first page and then be sure to put the tentative title of your project and your name at the top of each successive page.

2. Your "elevator speech"

The idea behind an elevator speech is that you can tell someone a basic synopsis of your story in two to three sentences, or in the time it takes to ride an elevator. This can be a great way to open your proposal - don't give everything away in this section!

3. Your credentials

What makes you qualified to write this story? Whether you're the same age as the main character in your story, you have the same occupation, you've written something that was published before (even if it has nothing to do with this particular story), put it down right here.

4. Your marketing ideas

Do you have a blog? A website? If your answers to those questions are no, then go start a blog (it's free!) and register a website domain of your name. Publishers love to see authors who are willing to help out the marketing team. Have you ever done any speaking? Better get practicing in front of the mirror because odds are, you'll be doing some now.

5. Your full length synopsis

No holds barred here - spill every bean your story has. We tend to like to keep a few secrets whenever we're telling people about our stories - but editors don't want to find out big surprises when they're contemplating buying a novel.

6. Sample chapters

Typically, you'll want to include the first three chapters of your story. So, polish, polish, polish those chapters! Some publishers will want the entire manuscript if you are a first time author, so be prepared to be asked for it.

I hope this helps! If you want to see a sample proposal, please email me at erynnmangum@gmail.com and I'd be glad to send you a copy of one I used in the past. :)

Stay warm!!!

NaNoWriMo #Fail

2011-12-01T06:49:00.000-08:00

For some reason, I was a little nervous about opening my Inbox today. Now that it's December 1st, and I did not, in fact, write 50,000 words of scintillating novel copy, I half expected the NaNoWriMo folks to chew me out by e-mail.

I imagined something along these lines...

Dear Christa,
Remember the movie Elf and how that big doofus in yellow tights played by Will Ferrell couldn't meet his quota of Etch a Sketches?

Well, I regret to inform you that you and him share something significant in common since you're approximately 46,303 words short of your NaNoWriMo goal of a mere 50,000 words in November.

Basically, unlike your industrious writer peers who lead equally busy lives, you were a ginormous slacker. And for that utter slackdom, we've now nicknamed you, Christa A. Banister, "Epic Fail." We can only hope that next year you'll step up your game in a serious way.

We'd wish you a Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays but we're not sure if you deserve that.

Regards,
The Esteemed NaNoWriMo Team

Of course, I didn't get an e-mail scolding from NaNoWriMo at all—even if I probably should've. But even if I wasn't quite as ambitious as I hoped, however, I still feel that signing up was a good idea because I wrote nearly 3,700 words of new copy. And for the first time in a good, long while, I wasn't meticulously editing myself as I was doing so.

I felt like a third grader in Mrs. Goffin's English class again, you know when I wrote just for the fun of it and savored every delicious moment along the way. I never edited myself then, and writing never felt like "work." So if I learned anything from the whole NaNoWriMo experiment, it's that switching things up can really help your game, even if you didn't make it all the way to the proverbial endzone.

Writing prompt time - and a giveaway!

2011-11-30T05:33:00.000-08:00

Okay, so in a hat-tip to the holidays, let's do a Christmas-themed writing prompt today :)

You can choose to finish the below sentence in the comment box. Keep it under 100 words, and be creative. Have fun!

He looked so good standing under the mistletoe, she could just....

PS - If you participate, you'll be entered to win a copy of my novel THE GINGERBREAD SEASON, a novella in a two-novella compilation entitled MISTLETOE PRAYERS. (other novella contributed by fellow author Marta Perry) If you already have my novella, then play anyway and encourage others to enter too.

Thanks!

Merry Christmas! (We can say that now, it's after Thanksgiving. hehehe)

Your Dreams

2011-11-29T01:00:00.000-08:00

For anyone who needs encouragement to keep following their writing dreams, even ten years into them... read this.

A little holiday comparison...

2011-11-23T03:54:00.000-08:00

Did you know there's about 495084504859045840 different ways to make turkey crafts? I do, because my daughter has brought them all home from preschool over the past month. hehehe. Our home has been turkied, and it's not even officially Thanksgiving yet! And, of course, I can't throw ANY of them away. She's a turkey prodigy, and they're all so beautiful!!! :)

Are you ready for Thanksgiving? Apparently preschool has been ready for the entire month. ;)

I'm ready for the food, and the family time, and maybe most of all, the nap! Hehe. Just kidding. Sort of. What I'm definitely ready for is SLEEPING IN FRIDAY instead of going Black Friday shopping. Are you braving the crowds? Or will you be like me, snuggled under the covers and reveling in the fact that your Christmas shopping is already halfway done, and you already got your coveted Old Navy peacoat at 75% off earlier in the week, and you don't really care to risk life and toes in JcPenney or Best Buy?

Sometimes I think our writing is like the holiday season. You have this story. It's fresh and homey and lovely. Makes you feel good, like a big family dinner and a nap on the back porch. It's colorful like Autumn leaves, and typing the end is the pumpkin pie dessert. Its perfect. The perfect day, the perfect story, the perfect writing experience.

Then you sell the novel, and Black Friday hits. You're suddenly in a flurry of revisions and line edits and "OH MY GOSH WHY DID THEY CUT THAT" and red ink and you're wishing for the covers back. Your toes and spirits are crushed and you feel like the worst writer in the world and you're struggling to find that good deal and make the story what you want AND what your publisher wants and the tug of war between you and your editor begins, much like the one going on over at Toyrs R Us between two sleep deprived mommies over a talking Elmo doll. You are bruised and limping and thinking "why did I even leave my bed?" Why did I even try? Is this worth it?

Then Christmas morning comes. And your book is on the shelf. And you're sitting in Barnes & Noble signing books and drinking mochas. And the reviews come in. And just like the joy you get from seeing your kid open that coveted gift you practically risked your life for, you receive emails from readers telling how God used your words to touch their life. How God healed them or touched in some way. And you remember the real meaning of it all.

And you can't wait for "next year" ;)

Writing Prompts

2011-11-22T01:00:00.000-08:00

Looking to add spice to your writing? Need excitement for your scenes or characters?

Let these stories spur you on:

Buttinjection with 'Fix a Flat' leads to arrest

Burglary suspect spends ten hours in chimney

Text messages about buying drugs mistakenly sent to a Nebraska state trooper led to the arrest of a 23-year-old man on marijuana possessionand other drug charges, police said on Tuesday.

When all else fails, truth really is stranger than fiction.

Let the craziness begin!

2011-11-21T12:09:00.000-08:00

Is anyone else in a little bit of shock that Thanksgiving is THURSDAY?!

This is always the time of year that I start with such wonderful writing goals and end around New Years with absolutely NONE of those goals accomplished. Somehow between the eating of the pecan pies and the unwrapping of the presents, time just seems to melt away.

But this year, I've got plans. And a list. And I'm dangerous with a list.

Actually, I'm more dangerous without a list. It's why we currently have three unopened bottles of pancake syrup in my cabinet.

What writing goals are you hoping to accomplish? One of the best things anyone ever told me was to set personal deadlines - even if you've got a "real" deadline. I always like to finish my deadlines about a month in advance, just so I have the time to read back through it and make any corrections.

Can I encourage you guys to make a list with me? And while you're eating that third slice of leftover pecan pie, go ahead and lick the fork clean and then hit the laptop with all that happy sugar rush of energy. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Erynn :)

Yes, Even Writers Occasionally Loathe the Sight of Their Own Laptops

2011-11-18T11:16:00.000-08:00

It's been a particularly crazy week on the freelance writing front, so that's why my normal post is (gasp!) a day late. I don't know why, but there are some weeks were everything is due—all at the same time, naturally.

I'm pretty sure by yesterday my brain texture officially changed from soft and malleable to downright crusty and burnt, and it's because I've been writing and writing and writing and writing—a blessing since that means I'll be getting paid soon, but a little stressful all the same.

To be honest, there was a point when I worried about my backside permanently becoming one with my chair and having to call 911 so someone could separate us. Thankfully, that never happened. But I did feel like I'd aged 10 years before popping an Advil.

And it's in these moments where it's a great reminder that no matter how long we've been writing that it's okay to occasionally loathe the very sight of my beloved Macbook Pro. Like the best things in life, writing is work, and we have to be prepared for the times when it's not all sunshine and lemondrops.

So that's why I'm about to log out for the day, grab a caramel macchiato and see Breaking Dawn Part 1 (yes, it's a guilty pleasure of mine, bad writing and all)...after all, when you love something as much as I love writing, you have to set it free from time to time. :)

Jesus Loves Me! No really it's true

2011-11-16T07:33:00.000-08:00

Do you ever have moments where something random or really minor but great happens, moments where you find such joy in something so ridiculous or small that you think "It really is the little things in life?"

I do. I call them my "Jesus Loves Me moments"

Like when you're going through a certain tough situation, and right when you get in the car, a song on the radio comes on that applies to you so specifically, a song that hasn't played on the radio in FOREVER. And you think "Jesus loves me".

Or when your husband is about to go buy a motorcycle in New York and drive it all the way from New York to north Louisiana, and in the middle of your panic attack, the seller of the motorcycle gets all shady and refuses a mechanical check, and the deal is off. And you think "Jesus loves me."

I had another moment like that today. I was planning on going to McDonalds and getting a hot caramal mocha. I had counted calories before and planned my day around it (was only 200 calories or so) and was going to get it to help my throat (Fall allergies). But I couldn't get over into the right lane, so I turned into Sonic instead and was just gonna get a boring ol' Diet Coke again. Then I remembered Sonic had coffee, so I ordered a hot caramal mocha from them.

And instead, I somehow was given a cold caramal mocha Java Chiller, which is like a coffee milkshake, and I had no idea how many calories it was, and didn't care, because honestly, it was the best thing I'd eaten/drank in a super long time. It was FABULOUS. And I was free to enjoy it and just relish it because I had no idea how bad it was for me and truly didn't care. It was my little "have a good morning" treat from the Lord. A reminder to quit being so uptight, so strict, so organized and detailed and anal about everything and just enjoy life sometimes.

Jesus loves me!

Some of those examples might be silly to you, but they're real, nontheless, and if we don't take the time to find Jesus in the daily grind, in the everyday hectic moments of life, and appreciate Him, acknowledge Him, thank Him - what do we really have? Abundant life? Not so much.

A ton of people - Christians or not - could experience all of the above (all 3 of those examples happened within the past week FYI) and blow it off. Not even notice. Call it coincidence or destiny or whatever else they wanted to. But I call it Jesus.

What do you call it?

Have you had any moments like that recently? Moments where you felt connected to your Saviour in a way that would sound totally dumb if you tried to explain it out loud, but knew in your heart it was the real deal?

Please share! I'd love to hear about it and praise with you!

The Post Where I Confess I'm A Wuss

2011-11-15T16:49:00.001-08:00

I’m as fly-by-night as they come. When Ethan and I gotengaged, it was kind of like, Sure… why not now? We just met three months ago,but we know this is forever.

(Yeah, there were raised eyebrows from friends,but when they met him (some five minutes before the ceremony) there wasunabashed approval.)

I figured having a baby would be the same way. Since I’m nota planner I decided NOT to take a birth class (insert raised eyebrows fromfriends again). I preferred the ignorant rout.

I knew it was gonna hurt...what more did I need to know?

In the end I caved and took a 60 minute session just so Iwould “know how to breathe”. (I didn’t realize labor would take away thatability, but apparently it did. Somehow I did manage to gasp out the word “epidural”,though, and suddenly my world was a much brighter place.)

OK, enough evidence that I don’t like planning. Butsometimes, folks, planning is necessary. Especially for writers.

The truth is, writing a book is a lot different than engagement orchildbirth. Both of those things are dependent on other people. Ethan poppedthe question – Zoey popped my butt bone.They were both going to happen no matterhow unprepared I was.

But there’s one thing I've learned if you don't work in a newsroom: You have to create your own deadlines.

So join me, fellow fly-by-night artists. Set a realdeadline. Something attainable. Ask someone to keep you accountable.

Your book is not going to write itself. SCHEDULE TIME towrite, and do it, preferably before the ninth hour like this post. (Whichactually proves my point – schedule your time to write BEFORE the day you wantit to happen.)

Because it's Monday...

2011-11-14T14:23:00.000-08:00

Ha! What are you guys working on today?

(P.S. No, toilet paper is not a valid answer.) ;)

Seasonal Bliss Part 2

2011-11-10T10:15:00.000-08:00

What's been keeping me company during NaNoWriMo you ask?

Well, my brand of seasonal bliss, the illustrious gingerbread latte, of course.

Since I'm attempting to write 50,000 words in a single month, there will be no special holiday stories for me this year. But I will say that I'm pretty sure that I write soo soo much faster when there's happy Christmas music playing in the background (my favorites of late are She and Him's holiday album and Michael Buble's new one).

For some reason hearing "It's Beginning to Look a Like Christmas" and "Silent Night" gets those words flowing on the page in record time. Maybe I should listen to Christmas music all year long then? Hmmm. But then again, there wouldn't be gingerbread lattes to accompany it. Oh well, a girl can dream, right?

Seasonal Bliss

2011-11-09T07:33:00.000-08:00

It's beginning to look a lot like...Peppermint mochas at Starbucks!

I mean, er, Christmas...hehehe.

What is your favorite holiday treat to look forward to? And do you incorporate these goodies into your novels?

I LOVE writing holiday-themed stories. The only problem was one time I was revising a Christmas novella (THE GINGERBREAD SEASON, Love Inspired novella compilation October 2010) in the summer. That was tricky. And hubby is one of these Scrooge types who can't bear holiday music until the day after Thanksgiving at the earliest, and even then, he would rather not hear any at all. LOL. So yeah that was an interesting couple of weeks.

I'm trying to be good this year and not skip Thanksgiving celebrations. I always get ahead of myself and start humming O Holy Night in, like, mid October. I won't forget turkey day this year - especially because right after Thanksgiving we're going to DISNEYWORLD!! WOOHOO!! Talk about a great holiday season. :)

What do you have coming up this holiday season? Are you writing a holiday story? Or are you taking a break from writing to enjoy a seasonal break? What inspires you the most about this time of year? :) (I think we all know my answer to this can be found in the Starbucks drive through line, and well, probably Erynn's too. haha)

Playing pretend

2011-11-07T12:31:00.000-08:00

I remember when I was a little kid, I loved playing house.

I loved to dress up in aprons - because, of course, all moms always wore aprons. I loved to set up pretend beds and tuck my baby dolls to sleep. I used to plan activities for them and then scold them when they did something wrong. I'd make their meals, help them with their homework and teach them how to play leapfrog.

I had a very vivid imagination.

And today, I took the first step in introducing the gift of an imagination to my little Nater Tot. We went and bought some plastic fruits and vegetables, an eighty-eight cent set of spoons and spatulas, a set of measuring cups and a bunch of plastic bowls. And he pretended to make soup for the next HOUR.

Considering my boy has about a sixteen-second attention span, this was amazing!

I was thinking about it today though - it's not just fifteen-month-olds who need to learn how to use their imaginations. Writers do too. Maybe not in the same way - I'm not sure I'd get a lot of inspiration from stirring a giant purple plastic eggplant and what looks like a yellow orange around in a bowl. :) Instead, writers have to learn how to "force" their imagination and inspiration - deadlines don't get made by just writing when you feel like it, sad to say.

So, if your well is running a little dry, try out a few of my ideas to get your imagination and inspiration back up and running!

* Read a book you've never read before.

* Read a book you've read before and love and try to figure out why it means so much to you.

* Create a winter wreath (sometimes doing something creative in a different way can get the writing juices flowing!).

* Learn a new card game.

* Check Facebook. (Ok, I can hear all of you now: "WHAT??!!" Just do it. Those status updates will definitely provoke some sort of story idea! Another new favorite - Pinterest. Need setting ideas? Check out the houses/rooms on there. Just be sure to give yourself a time limit or you may never get to your writing.)

* Go for a walk or do a workout. Brains need blood flow and oxygen. Plus, you might make a little progress on counteracting that "writer's booty" that is a matched set to your couch cushion.

* See how you can dress up an ordinary chocolate chip cookie recipe.

* Try changing your location from where you usually write. Do you write at a desk? Move to the kitchen table. Inside? Head outside for a little bit. At night? Try writing in the mornings (assuming you aren't operating off a nap schedule.)

Now, stop reading this and get to cultivating that inspiration!! And come back and let us know how it went!

God's fingerprints

2011-11-02T07:35:00.000-07:00

Do you ever look back on your life and see how God worked all those (at the time) random, confusing or hurtful situations for good? Romans 8:28 in action! I call this God's fingerprints.

I see them today. There's a situation going on in my life where I look back and realize now that all the devotional topics I read during a period of time, all the encouraging songs I kept hearing on repeat on the radio, all the comments from friends, snippets of certain topics in church, articles I read on random Christian blogs, were all leading me to this point in time. To strengthen, encourage, uplift, and comfort. To give direction for my actions today, in the storm. To prove God is there and was there all along, and most importantly, will continue to be. :)

God's fingerprints.

Do you see His hands at work in your life today?

I tell you, there is NOTHING on this earth more comforting than that. It's almost like having an inside joke with the Lord. And that's worth every heartache, every question, every soul-character development going on.

God doesn't wear gloves. He lets His glory shine through, He gives us evidence of Himself if we simply open our eyes and LOOK for it.

Will you look today?

What Are You Reading These Days?

2011-10-27T08:05:00.000-07:00

Before I dive in to this week's topic, lemme just say a sarcastic "Thanks a lot!" to Betsy for getting the "Growing Pains" theme song stuck in my head. :)

Yes, my formative years also included many evenings with the Seaver family...

And when I wasn't watching TV (my Mom was great about setting limits, which to be honest, were rather annoying then, but I'm oh-so-thankful now), I could always be found curled up with a good book.

While I've learned many things about writing over the years, reading has really been my greatest tool. In fact, whether you're an aspiring writer or have been published a gazillion times, I can't underscore the importance of reading enough.

Now I know there are seasons where reading inevitably takes a backseat because of, well, life, but I've discovered on more than one occasion (try hundreds) that my writing inevitably suffers when I'm not reading. So I try and schedule time for that like I do for blogging, updating my website and the like because whenever I'm reading, I learn so much.

Right now I'm reading Nicholas Sparks' latest novel, The Best of Me (yes, I have a soft spot for his sappy, North Carolina-based romances), and it's already given me a few insights into plotting that I'm thankful for.

Now it's your turn...what have you been reading and how has it helped you with your own writing? Can you think of a book that changed the way you write? Or at least inspired it?

As long as we got each other....

2011-10-26T07:03:00.000-07:00

"As long as we got eaaaach ottttther..."

So I've been singing the theme song for the old show GROWING PAINS since last Saturday night, after Hubby and I attended a marriage conference taught by Kirk Cameron (Mike Seiver from Growing Pains and star in Fireproof) It was an amazing conference and full of fantastic information. One of those nights where it didn't matter who the speaker was, God was there and teaching through him and Kirk was just a vessel.

Though the vessel did at one point put on a curly wig and start quoting lines from past seasons of Growing Pains ;)

That brings me to our topic today - Do we have each other? Is the Growing Pains theme song true in our lives? Do we have each other's backs in the writing industry, or are we in competition? Are we supportive of our friend's success or are we jealous?

Just like in marriage, unity is key to success. Writers might be solitary when they actually write (despite occasional coffee/writing dates at Barnes & Noble!) but the business will eat us up if we don't have friends who understand, can relate, can cheer us on, etc. Friends who can lift us up when we get those rejections or those sets of revisions where you think the editor probably needed TWO red pens because the first one ran out of ink...Friends who will send flowers for first contracts or notes of encouragement when our creative well feels empty.

Who is that person in your life? If you can't think of anyone, start praying today for God to bring you a special friend, someone who will be your support during this journey we go through as writers for the Kingdom. He has answered that prayer for me in years past and will for you! :)

In the meantime, enjoy that song playing on repeat in your head like it's been doing in mine for almost a week.

Be Gentle with Your Dreams

2011-10-25T07:01:00.000-07:00

I think we drove home from the hospital at about five milesper hour.

We put the car seat down in the living room and tip-toed andwhispered.

It wasn’t that we hadn’t handled babies before. I grew upbouncing them and pacifying them and changing their diapers.

But this was different.

This was… our baby.

Dreams are like babies. They need to be treated gingerly inthe beginning. They’re tiny, fragile, and easily assaulted.

We want them tothrive and to grow -- and in order to do that, they need to be protected.

After some time (okay lots of time) and some late nightsat the computer screen – our dreams – our stories – start to take shape.

Our initial response might be to continue to protect thosedreams, but we know… eventually they need to be exposed to daylight.

It’s a difficult step… to let others see our dreams. Totake risks and pursue being published. But we want to help those dreams findtheir way in the world.

We need to start exposure carefully. We need to select people who will be gentlewith our newborn ideas. As our writing grows we can expand our circle of sharing.

Newborns are seldom beautiful. Our dreamswill sprout acne, irritated skin, and intolerable shrieks of neediness. But theyare in the process of growing.

One day we won’t even remember anything exceptthe joy…

So go ahead -- bond with your writing dream. And when it’stime… let her take her first baby step.

Try not to freak out when she falls.Know there are many more baby steps to take place until one day…

Your dreams are strong, healthy, and running so fast you canhardly keep up.

Can we be your small circle today? We'd love to hear about yourwriting dreams. We promise to be gentle.

Promotions and stuff

2011-10-24T19:22:00.000-07:00

So, we talk a lot about how it's important for a writer to self-promote, but I'm not sure if we've ever really gone into detail about what that looks like - particularly for a writer still looking to get published.

First things first, you need to go buy your website domain name - right away!! It should preferably be your name dot com (mine is erynnmangum.com). Once you have that, then you can get your site up and running.

I design and manage my site myself using my Mac's iWeb program, but there are LOTS of other great programs out there and also great people out there who make their livings doing these kinds of things.

Next, if you don't already have one, start a blog and get on Facebook and Twitter and promote it. Even if you just get your mom and your best friend to read it at first, at least you've got readers!

Publishers LOVE to see writers who are taking a proactive approach to publicizing themselves even before they are published. So what kinds of things have you done to start the ever-going process? And do you have any questions about how to get started?

What Are You Doing This November?

2011-10-20T00:13:00.000-07:00

I'm not quite sure why November was selected as National Novel Writing Month (maybe it was the whole alliteration factor), but whatever the reason, it's not a bad time to start setting some goals now since November is (gasp!) right around the corner.

I don't know about you, but I don't particularly like setting goals, writing and otherwise, for January 1. There's just so much pressure with it being a new year and all that I tend not to accomplish much. And trust me, I write a good, long list every single year.

But this year, I've decided as far as novel writing is concerned, I'm going with the NaNoWriMo flow, even if I'm not exactly following their directions verbatim. Typically, when you're doing the NaNoWriMo thing, you sign up with the intent of writing 50,000 words in a single month—basically, flipping the "it's a marathon, not a sprint" adage on its head, so you can finally make the progress you've been dreaming about in a rather fast-paced fashion.

With so little time to take that epic idea and make it into something, you simply don't have time to censor yourself the way you would if you were working at a more languid pace. And for people who've always had "write a novel" on their life's perpetual to-do list, it's an insane but do-able way to give it a shot.

Since I already have the first part of my WIP just the way I want it, however, I can't technically do NaNoWriMo the traditional way (i.e. starting from scratch). So I'm opting to make November the time for finishing my first draft, which isn't exactly something to shake the proverbial stick at. To be totally, brutally honest, it's going to be a TON of work, but I'm so incredibly excited about it nonetheless and want to make the most of my time, even if I have to get up a little extra early or stay up extra, extra late (that's what caramel macchiatos were invented for, right?).

So now I pose a challenge to you, fellow Scribble Chicks readers. How do you plan to use National Novel Writing Month to make progress on your writing goals? Whether it's outlining an idea you've had for a while now, hammering out that first draft or going all NaNoWriMo and actually committing to 50,000 words, no matter where they take you, what's sounding good for you?

By the way, I plan on keeping you updated on my progress in my November posts! Should be interesting don't ya think?

Overwhelmed doesn't even begin to cover it...

2011-10-19T04:46:00.000-07:00

Do you ever get so overwhelmed that the very word just doesn't seem fitting? I think Webster should have written a second dictionary, maybe called The Extreme Dictionary, for use of words in special occasions when others are just waaaaay too understated.

I'm there this week. And was there last week too, actually.

Coming home from the ACFW Conference always brings struggles and trials, it's the whole "mountaintop experience come back down to reality in the valley" type of thing. Sort of what happened after youth camp. You're waaay up here, clear communication to God, eyes wide open, breathing fresh air of purpose and life and inspiration...

And then you're suddenly just trying to pick your feet up out of the muddy swamps of the valley, with mosquitos buzzing your head as you yell "HELLO" repeatedly into a telephone that has apparently lost its connection to Heaven.

This year, post-conference has brought spirtual warfare like never before, in so many areas, and I'm tired. SO tired. But you know what? At the same time, I KNOW what God told me at the conference, and I'm very excited about what He is doing and going to do in my writing ministry. Because this type of war doesn't wage without some pretty high stakes.

And that alone is worth keeping my chin up and plodding (and plotting! ha) forward...

Have you been there? Are you there now? If you're not, and you're an active Christian with a calling to further God's kingdom, chances are you will be if you haven't already. Or will be again. How do you handle the ups and downs of the writing ministry? Or life in general?

For me, it's about prayer. Bible reading. Staying close to my power source. And it's also about making myself move foward. Because if I stop moving, the devil wins. And that's not acceptable.

If you need help sucking your feet out of the mud today, I'm with ya. Let's pull each other out. Prayers going up :) Please feel free to share where you are today in the comments, and I'm happy to pray for you as a fellow sunken sister.

That haze in my eyes = a trip to NM

2011-10-18T06:55:00.000-07:00

I am still navigating the haze some call NM - not New Mexico, but New Motherhood. My posts for the next few weeks may still be slightly on the sporadic side, but I have missed you all and am so ready to reconnect with my Scribble Chick buddies!

So for today, here's a word of encouragement about you and your dreams {soon I will be able to share some really cool news about fulfillment of dreams with you... so stay tuned}.

You can find that encouragement here: Keep hoping.

*Photo by Ken Hale

We miss you BJ!

2011-10-18T05:43:00.000-07:00

Just posting in BJ's stead today to give a shout out and tell our new mama how much we miss her over here at Scribblechicks, and hopefully that kid grows up soon so she can come back ;)

Seriously though, we're so excited about the new Scribblechick-let in our midst! I bet BJ's got her going through the Alphabet song already and reading "Plot and Structure" outloud at bed time...hehehe. Never too early to train up a child in the way they should go and such. And of course that applies to shaping future authors...'

Hope to see you back soon BJ! And if you have circles under your eyes, don't worry. We understand, and can offer concealer.

Love ya mama!

Because It's Monday.

2011-10-17T10:00:00.000-07:00

And we might need a laugh. :)

Have a great week!!

Why Breaking the Rules Works—Sometimes

2011-10-13T09:44:00.000-07:00

I'm a natural-born venter, so that's exactly why I loved Betsy's "open forum" post yesterday. I'm guessing at one point or another in my writing career, I've probably complained about all those things.

But like Betsy so wisely observed (there I go with the adverbs), there's a reason why some of these rules exist. It makes for a better final product, and to be honest, it keeps us from getting lazy.

So many writers (myself included) have our pet turns of phrase that we often turn to. And challenging ourselves to tighten things up (including saying goodbye to those aforementioned words often ending in "ly") is a great exercise.

With my own novels, however, there was an instance where I believe breaking the rules made a considerable difference, particularly in setting my story apart. I (gasp) switched tenses between first person and third person.

My protagonist, the illustrious Sydney Alexander, had such a unique voice that I wanted her to speak to the audience in first person. But my secondary characters were vital to the overall story, too, so I often switched to third person, so we had the benefit of varying perspectives. After all, I didn't want readers to experience only one side of the story. If Sydney's sister Samantha just had a hot date, I liked that we got to hear what her guy thought about everything, too.

Now I knew I was breaking the rules, so I wasn't surprised that a few readers and critics found my approach a tad unconventional. But hey, when you're a writer, a thick skin is essential anyway, so what better way to develop one, right?

In fact, I remember my editor even promising it would happen, but what was wonderful is that she had my back anyway. Taking risks is an essential part of life, and sometimes essential to your story, too. So if you can't shake the feeling that it's the right thing to do, don't be afraid to do so. After all, we've all got instincts for a reason, and yours just might be the difference between a good story and one that shines brighter.

Open forum...

2011-10-12T04:39:00.000-07:00

Alright fellow chickie-poo's...let's vent today. What are some of the common rules of writing you disagree with but know you have to follow in order to get published? What rules or guidelines really bug you, or make your story harder to write, etc.

Some examples of rules in fiction writing:

1. Show don't tell.
2. No head-hopping (stay in one character's point of view per scene)
3. Staying true to your character in regards to motivation, actions, etc.
4. Not overusing adverbs (ly words) when a stronger verb would do.
5. Formula-ish writing for certain Houses (or atleast what is perceived to be)
6. Not being able to use certain words or content when targeting certain Houses

Which bothers you the most? Why?

Let's talk about it and maybe the other Chicks and I can shed some light on why the industry suggests you follow that particular rule, what the pros and cons are, and such.

Okay, GO! :)

2011-10-11T17:38:00.000-07:00

Patience really might be a virtue.

2011-10-10T12:22:00.000-07:00

I have a confession.

I am about the MOST impatient person on the planet.

Whatever I need/want/think I need/think I want/need to know/think I need to know - or all of the above - I need it right now.

I am SO in the wrong profession.

Writing is a long distance race. You start with a proposal, send it to your agent and wait. You hear back, they send it out to publishers and you wait. This part can last for what seems like FOREVER. Then, you finally hear a big YES from the publishers and the actual writing starts. You work, work, work and you send in the manuscript. And - yup, you guessed it - you wait.

Then there's editing, waiting, another edit, another wait, a final draft, a wait for the release, a big party on release day and then a wait to hear initial numbers.

Waiting. Not my favorite activity. Not at the MVD, not at the post office and not when I'm staring at my empty email box.

God wrote "wait". He wrote it often. As a command to us. "Wait on the Lord", "trust in the Lord", "be still and know that I am God."

Sometimes, I think He meant to put an Erynn after that last one.

"Be still, Erynn."

I heard it often growing up, I still hear it often now - just about different circumstances.

God knows the plans for my life. And His plans are better than mine, whatever the future may or may not hold.

So here I am. Waiting. Praying. And possibly, making myself another iced coffee.

I Knew I Was a Writer When...

2011-10-06T00:35:00.000-07:00

Long before my first professional byline (since I'm guessing that writing for my junior high and high school newspapers didn't count), I knew I was a writer when I happily spent hours and hours on my homework for Writing for Publication, an elective I took all four years in high school.

I was feverishly working on a mock-interview-with-a-famous-celebrity assignment (I chose a pro athlete since I was obsessed with sports at the time) when it hit me. It was what Oprah calls an "a-ha moment," and my arrived as I was wrestling with what adjective best encapsulated what I wanted to say.

It was then—and there in my tiny lavender bedroom—when I realized writing was something I would actually enjoy each and every day of my life. And as I continued to nurture my voracious appetite for reading, my love of writing only grew. Basically, if all these people got paid for sharing their thoughts and stories with the world, that's exactly what I wanted to do.

And the rest, as they say, is history. I've been writing (and loving it) ever since.

Now, it's your turn! When did you know you were a writer, and once you figured that out, what were your next steps? And if you've been a writer for a while now, has the experience met your expectations? Why or why not?

Math problems

2011-10-03T14:10:00.000-07:00

Congrats! You got published! :)

Now comes the fun - and confusing - part: Advances and Royalties.

With all publishing houses, you will sign a contract. With some, you'll receive an advance - a specific (and often negotiable) amount of money that is the publisher's promise to print your book. You taking the money (and signing that intimidating dotted line!!) is your promise to finish writing the book.

Typically, advances will be split in half - you'll receive one half when you sign the contract and given the other half when you turn in an acceptable manuscript.

Once your manuscript is in, edited and printed, then comes the fun part - royalties! Royalties are a monetary percentage of each book sold that you receive. Say, for example, that you have a $10.00 book and you receive 10% off of it (which, yes, is a very good example for a new or newish author), you'll make $1 per book.

The kicker? You'll have to make back that advance before you start receiving any royalties. If you got a $5,000 advance, you'll have to sell 5,000 copies before you start seeing any royalties adding up in your account.

Gives you a little more incentive to help publicize the book, huh? ;)

You typically will receive "royalty statements" four times a year - so once every three months. There, you'll find a breakdown of how your book sold and how much you have received for it.

And, don't forget your fabulous agent! Agents will usually receive another 10-15% of your profits, which includes both advances and royalties. Come negotiation time, though, it's very worth it. :)

Confused? Ask any questions you might have! Royalties and advances are some of the MOST complicated part of the publishing process - especially for those of us who tend more toward creativity and less toward numbers (like me!). :)

Five Ways to Keep Your Writing Engine Running

2011-09-29T14:05:00.000-07:00

Ever come across the perfect encouragement exactly when you need it? Well, that's exactly what happened this week when I was in a bit of a writing rut.

So with no further adieu, check out Five Ways to Keep Your Writing Engine Running because there's such good stuff, particularly #2 about setting smaller goals and #5 where is encourages you to "meet your monsters."

Yeah, I've met a few of those along the way, that's for sure! :)

Conference Update

2011-09-28T03:26:00.000-07:00

I'm back!

And I have one word:

WHEW.

I'm still recovering from the bliss of having Starbucks available every day. ;) Not to mention reeling from all the info I soaked in! I wanted to give you guys an update though before I dive back into reality.

Here are some highlights of the weekend: (in no set order)

1. Learning new elements of craft, especially on Deep POV (point of view) by Kristen Heitzmann
2. Stalking Kristen Heitzmann (a fav author) and getting to hang out and visit. LOVE her!!
3. Stalking Julie Klassen and doing the same!! :)
4. Sitting in on the advanced author continuing education session (have to have 2 books or more published to attend) and learning a ridiculous amount of helpful marketing/insider industry info from Allen Arnold, Publisher at Thomas Nelson, \Julie Guinn, editor and B&H marketing guru, and Jim Rubart, author of "Rooms" and all around great guy.
5. Dressing up for the awards night and rocking my new dress which I hope to wear again soon (was actually comfortable!)
6. Laughing when my roommate accidentally stole her napkin (and found it later in her purse) because of being so nervous during a lunch-time pitch to an editor
7. The Barbour author dinner cruise on the river
8. Happening to see a live proposal under the Arch in St. Louis walking back from the cruise (seriously, was just walking and suddenly saw a man on one knee with ring box posed! Was so romantic! And she apparently said yes! hehe)
9. Hugging Susan May Warren who I only get to see once a year
10. Squealing and greeting old and new friends
11. Forming a new connection with a sweet girl in the prayer room
12. Getting to officially meet my new agent Steve Laube (I'm still represented by Tamela Hancock Murray, but she merged with the Steve Laube Agency so now I'm a part of their joint team)
13. Laughing at Susan Warren and Rachel Hauck making elephant trunks with their arms during the awards banquet
14. Laughing at Susan Warren for not realizing why she had thunder playing during her award win (long story. lol)
15. The amazing food.
16. Joining in the general shock that we had greenbeans at every meal
17. Watching my book FIREMAN DAD sell out of the conference bookstore
18. Coming home with 17 books. Yes, 17.
19. Giggling with my roommates
20. Making new connections in the industry
21. The amazing worship time
22. Receiving a very distinct message from God about my ministry
23. A ton of mochas...mmm...
24. Jamming in the lobby to live music late Friday night with other authors
25. Seeing my sweet agent in person again
26. Taking a ridiculous amount of pictures
27. Comfy hotel pilllows
28. Candy corn in bed
29. Getting excited about new marketing ideas
30. Buying Little Miss three presents
31. Hearing Little Miss tell me on the phone that she earned her AWANA's vest (had to memorize and recite several Bible verses! She worked so hard!)
32. Finally getting to wear boots
33. Listening to Tracie Peterson be keynote speaker
34. Watching dear friends win awards for their novels
35. Anticipating next year in Dallas!

There's more. But I'm still tired. So that's all I can think of now :)

And here is a link to all my conference pics via Facebook! (just a few HA!)

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150298805466701.333634.513656700&l=c9e414a36f&type=1

The Blues

2011-09-26T12:51:00.000-07:00

You pour your heart and soul into a story. You spend hours upon days upon weeks upon months writing this book. You think about it when you're going to bed and it's one of the first things you think about waking up. Plot lines come to you in the middle of the night, character details are fleshed out in the shower.

The book is your baby.

So, you take a deep breath and take it to a conference. You meet an agent who amazingly enough wants to represent you. And then he/she begins to send it to publishers.

And then they come.

By the singles, then the doubles, then sometimes by the dozens.

Rejection letters.

If you are really wanting to pursue writing, you're going to HAVE to develop a thick skin. People are going to say mean things about your work - whether it's an editor turning down your book or a reader who didn't like it - you will never make everyone a fan of your writing.

It stinks.

Sometimes, I have to make myself not look on Amazon because I can really get into a mini-depression when I read some of the reviews on my books. I start thinking that no one likes them, why should I bother, it's not worth it, etc., etc. It's so easy to fly right past the great reviews to the ones that are awful.

Not everyone is going to like what you have to say. Not everyone is going to read your book and laugh or smile or feel like they know God better.

But one person might.

Maybe that one person will even come to know Him for the first time.

Would that make it worth the heartache? Worth the sinking feeling deep in your stomach when someone harshly criticizes something you poured yourself into?

Yes.

So keep at it! Write what you feel the need to write. When all is said and done, the only review that matters is the one that God gives. And if you're writing to glorify Him, then I guarantee that you'll get five stars. :)

Do You Suffer From Writing Commitment-Phobia?

2011-09-22T07:12:00.000-07:00

From the first time I read Judy Blume's hilarious Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing back in third grade, I knew that if Judy actually got paid to make up stories for a living, that's exactly what I wanted to do.

But as much as I dreamed about writing novels, I didn't make any serious progress until 2006. Sure, I had plenty of "valid" excuses (I'm a journalist, so I already write all day long, I'd rather hang out with my friends than glue myself to my computer all weekend, et. al.) not to make any real progress. But when January 1 inevitably rolled around once again, I still was majorly disappointed that I wasn't really any closer to my goal. So I set yet another goal and hoped for change in the new year.

What I eventually realized, however, was that I was rather commitment-phobic about the whole process. The reason that I wasn't making any progress is because I'd failed to get in the proper mindset. See, actually committing to one novel idea (and seeing it through) can be a scary proposition. In fact, you find yourself (or at least, I did) asking the following progress-hindering questions:

*What if I really get going with this idea and end up not liking it 37,563 words down the road?
*What if the market really changes in the midst of writing and my once-phenomenal idea seems dated?
*What if NO ONE on Planet Earth thinks my book is the proverbial best thing since sliced bread?

What if? What if? What if? I guess what I eventually figured out that not putting pen to paper and giving it a real shot would be much, much worse. There will always be a million reasons to convince yourself not to write what's been on your heart, but making a bold attempt to do so will at least give you an opportunity to say "I gave it my best shot."

And for me, my best shot led to the publication of two novels I still adore to pieces. :)

Need further inspiration on how to overcome your writing commitment-phobia? Check out this fantastic article from Huffington Post writer Arielle Ford, and trust me, you'll be inspired.

Leaaaaavin', in a Malibu....

2011-09-21T04:33:00.000-07:00

I'm leaving today for the 2011 ACFW Conference in St. Louis (with a local author and her hubby) so I will be out of pocket the rest of the week. (three cheers for NOT flying! YAY!!!)

I hope you guys have a great week and I'd love some extra prayers while I'm gone! Especially for travel safety, health, networking opportunities, and for my family that I will leave behind for 5 days. And I'm really hoping God uses this trip in a way that will let me be a blessing to someone in need, in a way that others have blessed me before.

And guess what?

When I get back, I plan on sharing a BUNCH of the new fabulous writing tips I learned while I was gone! :)

Stay tuned, it'll be great!

Now. Who has a mocha? ::yawn::

Work It On Out

2011-09-20T07:50:00.000-07:00

BJ is undoubtedly staring at her GORGEOUS baby girl right now, so I'm going to fill in for her today. ;) So, stretch those writing muscles and get ready for a few exercises!

Stuck in a story? Here's a few prompts to get the creative juices flowing!

1. Write in a journal or a blog. Sometimes, just writing something totally different can inspire me to keep going!

2. Imagine you were a food or drink. What would you be? Why? What would the members of your family be?

3. Finish the following sentence: "I knew it was bad when I saw Henry stuck inside a..."

4. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Try to describe something in ten words instead - but not just any ten words. All ten words have to begin with the same letter. Example: Teapot. Tiny. Tin...

5. Finally, try to write a short story using only common cliches. Like, "Not to beat around the bush, but Laura was not your average, run-of-the-mill girl."

Have fun! And please, feel free to share your creativity with the rest of us!! :)

When the Tough Get Going

2011-09-19T07:27:00.000-07:00

Yes, I realize that today's post title sounds like a deodorant ad. Or maybe a product for athlete's foot. Or maybe something that works for anything involving the fight against not-so-pleasant smells.

ANYWAY.

I have gotten many, many, many emails over the last few years asking me some form of this:

I always start a story and everything is going great and then suddenly I run out of ideas / hit a roadblock / lose interest / get bored with my story - how do I actually finish a book???

There's a few different tricks you can try!

Sometimes, you need to just put the book aside for a couple of days. Go see a movie, take a walk, go the gym, do something creative that isn't writing - like drawing or crafting or painting (if those are things you enjoy). Most of the time, I find that this works the best for me. I'll close my laptop and go do something different. Sometimes, even a change of scenery can help. If I was writing inside, I move outside. If I was writing on the couch, I move to my desk. Anything to change my mood and morale a little bit.

If that doesn't work, read back through your story with a pair of scissors. Cut anything and everything that doesn't move the story forward. Does it add to the story? No? Clip it. Paste it in another Word document and keep going. Sometimes "purging" your story can give you the motivation to keep going - and it can remind you of ideas or plot lines that you might have forgotten along the way.

And if both of those fail, and you aren't on a deadline, put the story away. Maybe for just a few weeks, maybe forever. This is the final straw option, but I have pulled the final straw MANY times in my life. I have countless stories that will never ever see completion, much less the light of day. Casualties will always litter the floor of a writing room. ;)

But sometimes, even those stories can be revived. Almost three years ago, I came up with the idea for a girl who loves to draw and ends up accidentally sketching a Most Wanted criminal. I worked on it for a couple of weeks, changed my mind and put it away for awhile. Then, I kept thinking about it. Pulled it out again. Starting chopping and working. And last month, Sketchy Behavior was released in bookstores.

You never know what God will do with your stories! So keep at it!

Of Toddlers and Gang Signs...

2011-09-14T04:22:00.000-07:00

So BJ and Ethan, just remember during the next several months of "Baby Blur" (you know, the indefinable period of time when you're recovering from labor, trying to build hormones back up in your body to become a human again instead of a insatiable crying machine, and wondering what it was like to sleep at night) that you have THIS to look forward to in a few short years...

Haha. My little Gansta miss. She was in the backseat and I was texting and she said "MAMA! Take a picture of this!" And struck the pose. What exactly are they teaching her at preschool????? hehe. ;)

I was so excited to hear BJ had her baby. It's always so fun, especially when you've BEEN a first time parent and know the expecting couple are first time parents. You totally remember the joy, the nerves, the excitement, the naivity (in a good way. trust me, it goes away). It's one of the best times in life. And each stage along the way that your baby grows up, you think that next stage is the best. The snuggly bug, feeding every 3 hours stage was great. Then the sleepping through the night stage was magnificant. Then the starting baby food stage was fun. Then the crawling stage, and the walking stage, and then the blissful stage where they first start actually telling you what they want and you can stop guessing! (angels singing here)

We sort of do that same thing with our writing, don't we? We start a project, and think "this is awesome. I'm on a roll now." We finish a project, and start the second one as we submit the first, and think "Wow, I'm cookin'! This is so fun." Then we get an agent and think we've arrived and can't believe how "young" we used to be in our writing. Then we get our first traditional sale and are over the moon with joy. Then we get that first email from a reader who confesses how the book touched them, and we think it just can't get any better than this. And so on.

Every stage is a treasure, both in raising babies and writing books! (and neither provide much sleep come to think of it.)

What stage are you in right now? Is your book-baby newborn? Or is it toddling along, finding its way? Or has your book-baby already graduated and flown the coop into a bookstore somewhere?

Share with us!

Congrats, BJ!!

2011-09-13T16:48:00.000-07:00

Congratulations, BJ and Ethan, on the birth of your beautiful, beautiful little girl!!

Be exalted, Oh God, above the heavens; let Your glory be over all the earth. - Psalm 108:5

Busy Season

2011-09-12T15:59:00.001-07:00

I just sent off two proposals, my son is very much into following me everywhere which means he's into EVERYTHING, we just spent the past month completely demolishing our yard and rebuilding it... so basically, I'm running all day long.

It seems like all of us over here at Scribble Chicks have been CRAZY busy, so my question to you is - what do you do with your writing during a season of busyness? Do you push it aside? Do you make mental notes? Make sticky notes? Fight for time even if that means not sleeping? (and if you do that and you're not on deadline, you are a much better writer than me!!)

In seasons of busyness, I think the first thing to do is prioritize. What is it that is causing you to be so busy? Is it more important than your writing? If so, step away from the computer!!

But if it's something silly - like my favorite time-waster, Facebook - or something that could potentially be put off for a few minutes - like maybe doing the dishes or the laundry, then try your best to sit down, even if it's just for a few minutes. Aim for a VERY reasonable word count, even if something as low as 500 words. Every little bit helps the story along and you'll feel better for it. :)

Also, please be praying for BJ and her husband Ethan!! It sounds like sweet baby Zoey has made her long-awaited arrival!! SO very, very happy for them! Please be praying for their health and safety and especially for all the changes that are happening right now. Becoming a parent is the most incredible, wonderful, exhausting, emotional, awe-inspiring thing in the whole world. I'm so excited for them!! Congrats, BJ and Ethan!! :)

Yeah, It's Been a Busy Week Here, Too!

2011-09-08T12:44:00.000-07:00

Yep, this is about how I've felt this week. Can we say deadlines, deadlines and more deadlines?

My brain is fried.

Yes, working as a full-time writer is the best job ever, but sometimes there are weeks when everything is due at exactly the same time, and there's no amount of Hershey kisses or pumpkin spice lattes that can relieve you from your frazzled state.

So before I pulled my hair out, I took a deep breath, told myself that all I need to do is check off one thing at a time and went to work...

And I'm not going to lie, it definitely helped matters that it was a four-day week. Woo hoo for the upcoming weekend. Can I get an amen?

Short but Still Sincere

2011-09-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

We're all having short posts this week, but thanks readers for understanding! Yay for Erynn's yard work, and congrats to BJ for her upcoming arrival! I can't wait! (I can say that, because my three year old sleeps through the night ::wink::)

Today I'm doing a shortie because I'm...

A. at work at my part time job right now and didn't have time yesterday to schedule a post

and more significantly,

B. Today is my daughter's first day of preschool andI'm still crying into my white chocolate mocha. It's ridiculous, you'd think I just dropped her off at college!! She didn't even cry at all. I'm officially "THAT" mom. Sigh.

Refill, anyone?

One hour before midnight...

2011-09-06T20:01:00.001-07:00

I realized my pregnancy head got confused and thought today was Monday. Can you blame me? If you were this fat you'd find it hard to think about anything else:

But don't worry. I'm about to lose quite a bit of weight. All in a day. And it will be the hardest workout of my life.

So here's farewell for the time I'm at fat camp. You'll probably hear from me a few more times before the Big Day, and after that Erynn and Betsy have agreed to post for me until early November when I'm (hopefully) not quite so sleep-deprived.

In the meantime, I'll miss ya. Hopefully I'll be posting pics of the baby here after she arrives. So stop by and say hello anytime!

Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Happy Labor Day!

2011-09-05T22:36:00.000-07:00

We were working in our yard all day today - taking the rocks and turning them into grass. Theoretically, I guess. :)

Hope you all had a safe, happy holiday!

:)

7 Writing Tips From Stephen King

2011-09-01T00:51:00.000-07:00

Now I'll be the first to admit, most of Stephen King's books frighten me beyond repair. I don't know why, but I can never quite remember that scary stories like his are actually fiction.

But his book on writing, appropriately titled, well, On Writing is absolutely brilliant. Basically, if you haven't read it already, I'd make sure you get a copy pronto. Not only does he pass along countless tricks of the trade on plotting, sentence structure, characters and the like, but there's plenty of encouragement packed in there, too.

Like gem #5 listed here on The Positivity Blog about not caring too much about what others may think about our writing. King is the first one to admit that yes, even he, an experienced writer, needs affirmation, especially from his wife. But he goes on to explain how we can't let our need for attention change how and what we write. Sure, we need to be strong enough to accept constructive critiques that will strengthen the quality of whatever we're working on, but we can't let the tiniest objections completely derail our gut instincts all the same.

I also love #6 on this list, too, namely to read A LOT! Not only does it give all writers permission to dig into a juicy new novel, something most of all love for pleasure, anyway, but reading other people's work can't help but inspire our own. Have you ever finished a fantastic novel and been so super energized that you can't wait to get to work? Yeah, that's what the best writing does, so if you're stuck, why not trying reading for a while? I'm pretty sure Stephen would, so why not you? :)

Lessons from a Mini Ballerina

2011-08-31T07:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Little Miss had her first dance class - ballet and tap for 3 & 4 year olds! It was the cutest thing you've ever seen. All those little princesses in leotards and tights and ballet slippers and their hair up in a bun (or in our case, a haphazard ponytail with 3 bobbypins that still wouldn't stay). Absolutely priceless.

Parents weren't allowed to stay inside the studio, understandably, but that didn't stop all us stage moms (and dads! ha) from taking turns peeking inside the little window on the studio door, taking phone pics and filming on iPhones. lol I was a little concerned about the first class, just because this was all so new to us, but Little Miss did great and seemed to really have fun!

They all have a sticker they stand on, on the floor in the studio, so that they know where to stand and not crowd each other. Well apparently one little girl took the sticker Little Miss wanted, so she ended up with an octopus and was NOT happy about it, as we heard later. She didn't protest in class though, just told me afterward, so thank goodness for that. ha!

At some points, when I peeked, I saw Little Miss standing hesitantly, watching the other girls, trying to do what they did, and at other times, I saw her eagerly dancing full out, with a big smile, and doing exactly what she was supposed to. I was so relieved, it seems like she's going to do fine and learn and enjoy it. I already can't wait for the big recital in May! :)

The cutest part was when they put on their tap shoes and all we heard from the hallway was "clack clack clackclackstompshufflestompclackclack"!

At another point, they were lined up in two side-by-side lines, and Little Miss was the first in her line! They had to then do a tap move all the way across the floor to the mirror at the barre. Little Miss, without hesitating, took off across the room and did her move just as she supposed to! So adorable! And this was the first class!

Afterward, once my little ballerina was home and I was looking at the pics from the night and remembering, I thought of the parallel to our lives as writers. It's hard getting out there, being new. We tend to watch the writers around us, and think we have to do it their way. We copy instead of embrace our own style (and I don't mean plagiarism, I mean in regards to writing schedules, the genre we choose, the tense we choose, etc. We fumble around and feel stupid and think we're the worst writer out there. We think we have to do it the way everyone else is instead of the way we feel it inside. We consider quitting because hey, its hard.

Then we realize that somewhere along the way, we started having fun. We branch out a little, maybe realize we can incorporate our own style into the basics. Add some flair. We start smiling while we write, and realize - hey, I CHOSE this. I enjoy this...

Then as more time passes, and as we grow and learn in the craft, we might even get to lead a little. Teach a workshop or speak at a writer's retreat, spread our wings.

Whether we're 3 or 30, whether it's ballet or writing, being good takes practice. It takes time. Commitment. Little Miss will figure that out, just as I've figured it out for myself over the years. Every famous ballerina on a stage in Russia started out like Little Miss. Unsure. Fumbling. Tripping. Complaining over their assigned sticker. :)

And every writer starts out the same. We have to stick with it and keep trying, and above all, HAVE FUN.

Because hey, if you don't even enjoy your story, no one else will...

(this is a blurry pic I took on my phone before we left for the studio, but I'll have better ones on FB soon.)

Asking for Help

2011-08-30T11:56:00.000-07:00

So it turns out I can’t do everything.

I know this comes as a real shocker to you, what with my magic cape and everything, but… it was all just a show.

A show mostly for myself.

But I’m learning something. It can actually be lots of fun when you ask for help.

Not the asking… but the receiving. And the relationships that flourish as a result.

On my left stands my best friend, Ethan. That’s his baby that’s making my stomach bulge. And that’s his sweet heart thumping that helps me think through and plan for all kinds of things when it comes to reaching out to teen guys.

On my right is Halee, the go-to, keep-me-on-task, writer-editor-extraordinare. She came on board with realteenfaith.com without hesitation when I was in a bit of a personal crisis a few years ago.

And on my far right is Abbie, who despite our attempts to scare her out of her wits, has proven that she’s just as crazy as everybody else who’s working on Real Teen Faith. Oh, and she’s darn talented too.

You’d think that I’d have learned from these extraordinary people that God brings just the right people into our lives at just the right time – when we ask. But when it comes to needing help… I’m a slow learner.

Recently Erynn (you know, that Mangum girl – she’s written a few books or something) reminded me that it’s OK to ask for help in the publishing world. That it’s a group effort. That as writers we support each other.

So this is me, passing that on to you. How can we encourage you today? How can we pray for you? What questions can we attempt to answer?

This is a group effort, and trust me… it can be a lot of fun when we bond over the passion God’s placed in our hearts.

So, what's your book about?

2011-08-29T09:22:00.000-07:00

It's my LEAST favorite question in the world, honestly. I'll be standing there, minding my own business, and somehow, someone finds out that I'm an author. And then, they inevitably ask the number one question that all authors will field:

"So. What's your book about?"

Want to hear my typical response?

"Well, it's about this girl. Actually, she's more of a younger woman, because, you know, I wanted the age to appeal to both teens and women and so I decided to make her like a twenty-something. And, uh, she's really into artsy stuff. So then, she like, uh..."

Ugh.

If you have ever gone to a writer's conference - and you should know by now that we Scribble Chicks really encourage writing conferences!! - you have heard all about the elevator speech and how you should be able to give a thirty-second rundown of your book, preferably without using the words "uh" or "um".

Confession time, y'all. I am THE WORST at the elevator speech in the whole history of the WORLD.

By the time I finish telling someone about my book, I can see them out of the corner of my eye pulling their library cards out of their wallets and taking scissors to them, swearing that they will never read another book in their life.

It's enough to make me grip the sides of my laptop and promise that I will never leave my desk or home ever again. All of my promotional work on my books will just have to take place behind my computer screen so that I can edit out all of my uhhhs and hmmms. I love to write, but I am the worst at promoting it.

Anyone with me?

Oh, did I mention? I've got an interview tomorrow with a local TV station about my newest novel, Sketchy Behavior.

On TV. Without my laptop. Outside of my house.

Please be praying for me. I get very nervous before ANY type of interview, but at least with radio/phone interviews, I can pace the house and make the people listening believe that I'm just calmly sitting in a chair, drinking a mocha and painting my toenails. Not so with TV interviews. With those, I have to look calm as well as act calm.

No pacing allowed.

The pacing might just detract from what I'm there to talk about.

Because, honestly? The writing is not about me. The book is not about me. When all is said and done, the book is totally for, completely wrapped around, tightly tied up in Christ. All I do for a living is write silly stories to convey the love of Jesus to whomever might be picking up my novel.

And that's what my book is about.

Bookmark This: True Confessions of a Living, Breathing Editor

2011-08-25T11:14:00.000-07:00

One of the best things about writing a novel (you know, besides the obvious) is the privilege of working with your developmental editor. :)

Sure, at first, it's a bit daunting as he/she (in my case, she) tries to poke holes in your plot, challenges you to rethink the scene that you thought was absolute perfection, asks you to change the name of a character that you got really attached to, etc. But as you go through the process, you notice that somehow, some way, these suggestions helped make your work so much stronger.

I had one of those fantastic editors, and her name is Jamie Chavez. Not only did I feel like she really got my style of writing, but we shared a mutual love of LOST, a sarcastic sense of humor and a previous hometown of mine, namely, the Nashville, Tenn., area.

So naturally, when I saw that she finally started a blog, I was downright thrilled, and I know you will be to. Not only does she have great behind-the-scenes information on how to succeed in writing novels, but she has encouraging posts like the one that's currently on the top of her page. Even though I've been writing for a living for a while now, I was so encouraged by the post about doing what I love (and how they money will come if you're doing just that).

Good stuff, my fellow Scribble Chicks, good stuff indeed...

Question from a reader...

2011-08-24T04:57:00.000-07:00

A dear reader emailed me the other day and asked the following question:

On Scribblechicks, you address finding and struggling to get ideas, but I can get ideas. My problem is that I don't stay excited about them, or think they are good ideas for more than a few days. I'll start fleshing it out and then think "this sucks, it'll never be good enough and is not worth writing if it'll never be good enough". Any advice?

In a word, yes! :)

First of all, never feel alone when it comes to self doubt and insecurities in the writing field. This is a tough business, whether you're published or unpublished. Unpublished authors fight the growly monster of Self Doubt in contest feedback from judges, or critiques from critpartners or other authors, etc. And published authors find that mean monster when it comes to bad reviews, low ratings, low sales figures, and rejections from other publishers on new proposals, etc. Never be so disillusioned that you think getting published one time means you have arrived, and will never struggle with Self Doubt again. NOT TRUE! You need to learn how to handle this difficulty NOW because it doesn't go away completely. Learn today how to commit to a project and stick to it, and hand over the negative to the Lord - He is the only one who can truly give you the strength and confidence inside to complete His will, and go for your dreams.

The above is very important - spiritually and emotionally and mentally, you have to be in a place to be able to stick with a project and turn off that negative voice inside that truly is from the devil...the devil, you ask? Really? YES. After all, when was the last time you heard God tell someone "you suck"? Hasn't happened ::grin::)

That said...the next step after prayer and getting your head/heart right, is commitment. Pick an idea you really like and are excited about and give yourself a deadline. If you commit to finishing a book in 6 months or one year or whatever works for your schedule and life, set the deadline and work toward it as if a real publisher was the one who had set it. This is good training because one day, that will hopefully be the case, right? :)

Get into the habit now and find someone to keep you accountable to your goal. A crit bid, a fellow author, even a non-writing friend who cares about you and will ask you "hey, did you write today?" It really does help. Working toward a goal and knowing someone is holding you to it does wonders for your creativity and motivation. A lot of writers actually work better under pressure. So put that pressure on!

If you find yourself losing interest halfway through (or whenever), stop. Ask yourself, is this boring? Why don't I care anymore? Figure out why you don't like it anymore and then fix it. Usually this can be fixed by adding more conflict to your original plot or by upping the stakes or by adding a ticking timebomb of sorts to your story. If you get stuck, don't quit. Brainstorm. Email or call another writer and say "help". Find someone in the writing world who can be this person for you. There's no shame in needing help sometimes, even the award winning, multipublished authors have brainstorming buddies and crit partners.

I hope that helps answer your question, dear reader! Who else has questions for the Chicks this week? :)

Getting Your Groove Back

2011-08-23T16:34:00.000-07:00

Admit it. You slacked a little this summer. All those plans and writing ideas and somehow… the months just slipped away. Now you’re looking at a (maybe) half-finished project.

How do you regain your momentum?

Here’s one thing that always helps me. It's going to sound lame, but:

Stick-it notes. I’m not gonna lie – as much as I love my iPad and its sticky-note function, there’s nothing like having a check-list right in front of my face. All. Day. And if it practically glows in the dark it’s hard to ignore. :)

Sticky notes are not just for lists, though. My favorite way to organize my writing during the brainstorming season is with the medium-sized, brightly colored notes. I sit at my desk and write every chapter idea down… stupid or not. Later I throw out the bad ideas and arrange the chapters where I can see them at a glance while I write. Eventually they go into an envelope where I can pull them out of my file for future reference.

So maybe stick-it notes aren’t your thing. Maybe there are other tools that motivate you to get organized with your writing, or to stay that way.

Your turn! Tell us all about it in the comments.

****

B.J. Hamrick writes non-fiction for teens and for you, especially at www.realteenfaith.com

Like a Pumpkin Seed Caught Between Your Eyelashes

2011-08-22T10:29:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite, favorite, FAVORITE things about writing fiction - and particularly romantic comedies - is that I get to make up all kinds of new analogies.

Anytime I'm sitting down to write, whether it's a blog or novel, I try my absolute hardest to not say analogies that have already been said once or three million times. A word of warning - you can over-do unique analogies, but a few perfectly placed sayings can take your book to a whole new level. And new levels are great for catching editor's eyes.

Here's a few common cliches for example:

I love him like I've never loved anyone else.

It itched like ants in the pants.

I stuck out like a sore thumb.

He looked healthier than a horse.

Instead, why don't you try something else a little more...unique?

I love him more than a midget loves to limbo.

It itched like a dandruff-stricken measles patient.

I stuck out like a pink, inflatable elephant at a wedding reception.

He looked about as healthy as the tomatoes in my Gran's fridge. And Gran always kept the best-looking tomatoes in her fridge.

Now it's your turn! Here's a few common cliches - how could you rewrite them to sound more eye-catching?

1. Don't be such a stick in the mud!

2. We feel like we're meant to be.

3. He was going to be toast.

4. There are lots of fish in the sea.

Have fun!

How 'Bout Some Information, Please?

2011-08-18T13:53:00.000-07:00

As any author will tell you, one of your biggest challenges (after you've written your magnum opus, natch) is effectively marketing not only your work, but yourself.

So you step up your blogging, sign up for Facebook, Twitter and whatever other social networking sites are hip at the moment, and you launch your official website.

But every once in a while, you've got switch things up so that people will continue to be interested, which is precisely what I'm doing with www.christabanister.com as we speak. And now that I'm in the process of making tweaks, I wanted to ask you, our loyal Scribble Chick readers for your feedback on the following...

And to sweeten the pot a little, the first five people who respond will win an autographed copy of one of my novels (your choice). As always, thanks for taking the time to read, and please let us know if there's anything you'd like us to address in future posts.

1)What components do you like seeing on your favorite authors' websites? What could I add that would make you want to visit regularly?

2)If you're a writer, would you enjoy reading a special section that gave specific tips about the craft, writing for publication, etc.?

3)Do you like websites that are basically the author's blog? Or a more of a standalone page like I have with links to everything else? Why?

4)Do you like receiving regular author e-newsletters? Why or why not? And if you like them, what makes one an absolute must-read?

5)Any other feedback/thoughts? Please don't hesitate to let me know...

Because we gotta share the love...

2011-08-17T07:38:00.000-07:00

Because Erynn is one of our own Scribble Chicks and because I seriously loved my preview copy of her newest release (August 16th 2011) SKETCHY BEHAVIOR from Zondervan, I had to use my week to post the review I just put up on Amazon...

Erynn Mangum is a well known coffee addict, so I can't resist using coffee metaphors to describe her newest release, SKETCHY BEHAVIOR. This novel is like the perfect blend of coffee. Instead of milk and steam and chocolate, however, SKETCHY BEHAVIOR mixes fun, romance and suspense into a delightful concoction that will send you running for your favorite mug! (and stashing this great read on your keeper bookshelf)

SKETCHY BEHAVIOR is the story of a young teen who by happenstance (or was it by God's Will?) is thrust into the spotlight as a forensic sketch artist. The tables turn when 16-year-old Kate Carter realizes that her sketch wasn't just a get-lucky kind of coincidence in art class, but rather a real gift that might just be more trouble than its worth...

Erynn creates a great balance of crime-scene realism with humor and lighthearted fun, (and even romance!) so the reader doesn't get bogged down in grit, but at the same time, gets to enjoy a suspense ride with all the trimmings.

Don't miss this great read by Erynn Mangum! I couldn't put it down...

Emotional Connections - Not Just for the Bachelorette

2011-08-16T13:08:00.000-07:00

Imagine for a moment there’s a hot guy staring at you. You’re also single. (I didn’t say this wouldn’t be a stretch.)

You glance back and your eyes meet Hot Single Guy’s momentarily. He looks away. So… he’s not a creep.

A hot guy who doesn’t treat you like a fresh piece of meat? You need to find out more.

Your heart pounds as you approach. “How’s it going?” you ask.

Then he proceeds to tell you. His grandmother died last year. His Great Aunt lives about 20 minutes from this park bench. He was born in Delaware. He likes cats. He, he, he…

He seemed so normal before he started talking.

In five minutes, not once has he asked a question about you. Not once has he tried to connect with you. There was that first alluring glance, but it was all in the toilet after that.

Sadly, we’ve all met someone like this man. But we, as smart, caring women wouldn’t dare be “that person” to anyone else… would we?

I hate to say it, but there are a lot of writers out there (I’m guilty! I’m guilty!) who treat our readers just like the guy on the park bench treated you. Writers (that’s me!) who say nothing at the beginning of a chapter, at the beginning of an article, at the beginning of a poem, to help the readers feel connected to us or our story.

Oh, we talk about ourselves or our characters plenty. But there’s no common emotion to bring the reader into our world.

And to be honest… it makes our readers feel a little used.

So I challenge you – let's start our stories in places where the reader can emotionally relate. No dry monologues, please. Let's ask ourselves, What could I say that would make the reader relate to the character emotionally?

As for the answer to that question, I defer to you lovely ladies. It’s time to pitch your ideas. What makes you want to keep up a friendship, even if the guy isn’t hot?

What are some ways you're trying to connect through your story?
****
B.J. Hamrick writes for you and for teens at http://www.realteenfaith.com/

The Unexpected

2011-08-15T19:04:00.000-07:00

Writing, like life, needs to have a few unexpected twists and turns.

Like life, the characters in your novels need to have a few surprises. Characters need to be upset or overcome or completely shocked by something.

Say... for example... that your character is having a pretty normal day, changed a few nasty diapers but all in all was pretty much going about her day when she got home to discover that the dog had completely gone all upset-stomach all over the kitchen floor.

See? Unexpected.

Then say, for example, that your character spends the next hour sanitizing every single tile on the floor and is so covered in the stench of antibacterial spray that she can barely breathe, much less cook dinner for her family. She's tired, she's grouchy and she's about to either make the dog an outside-only mutt or find a new home for him somewhere where there are lots of kitchen tiles that no one cares about so he can get all upset-stomach on every day without getting in trouble. So, her husband takes her and their baby out for dinner.

Again. Unexpected. But this time, in a good way. :)

Like life, your characters need to feel emotion - they need to be shocked, sad, confused, angry. But don't just tell it - show it. How do you act when you're upset? How do you behave when you're tired? Do you ever snap a short, sarcastic reply when someone asks the wrong question at the wrong time?

Writing, like life, needs to be full of life. And life abundant.

And as for the dog, I am still deciding whether or not to let him back into my good graces. Maybe once the scent of sanitizer fades from my hair. I'll keep you posted.

From 60 Rejections to Success

2011-08-11T12:29:00.000-07:00

Fellow writers,

Need some inspiration? Well, Kathryn Stockett, you know the best-selling author of The Help has a great story of how 60 (yes, 60!) rejections still didn't get her down.

Guess it's a good thing she didn't give up, right?

Don't Forget to Share...

2011-08-11T10:08:00.000-07:00

And no, I don't mean gossip...but seriously, isn't this picture just too cute for words?

Ok, back on topic...Betsy's fantastic post about encouraging other writers yesterday made me immediately remember an idea I'd planned to write about long, long ago. You know back before I got really busy and disappeared for a while...

I always said that if I had any measure of success as a writer that I'd share what I knew with others who aspired to do the same. And while I haven't exactly hit the New York Times' bestseller list yet (but boy, would I ever freak out if I did), I've had many opportunities to do just that—and it's been one of the most rewarding things about the writing life.

Back when I was the new kid on the block in Nashville and had just started working for CCM Magazine, my editorial assistant duties mostly considering of typing and html coding back issue copy (apparently, just scanning it in wouldn't work). And considering the magazine had already been in print for twenty-something years when I started, well, there was lots and lots and lots of typing to do.

And because there was sooo much typing, I was pretty sure I wouldn't actually be writing for a good, long while. But before I contracted the hideous case of carpal tunnel that I often stayed awake worrying about, one of my editors surprised me with a short feature writing assignment. It was only 400 words, but to me, it was the equivalent of being asked to pen a sequel to The Great Gatsby.

Once I turned it in, other opportunities started becoming available to me, too, and I was immediately struck by the generosity of my superiors. Sure, they were also writers, but they had no qualms about introducing me to people who could help further my career, too. And once those very people left CCM, they made sure to keep me in the loop for other editorial projects as well. Plus, whenever I needed career advice, they were more than happy to meet for coffee or chat over dinner, and that encouragement was pivotal in me launching my own freelance writing business.

So long story short, that's exactly what I try to do now. I've had four different interns in the past couple of years, and teaching them the proverbial tools of the trade has been such a joy. I see the same hunger and passion for writing in their eyes that I had in the beginning, and pointing them in a helpful direction so they can succeed—or even sharing my contacts with them—is an absolute pleasure.

See, there's always enough writing to go around, no matter how competitive the market, so I guess what I'm trying to say is sharing is definitely the way to go. And when you do so, you never know what might be around the corner when you're generous with your own resources...

"Clear!"

2011-08-10T04:20:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning, walking to work at my parttime job (I have a 2+ block hike from my car to my building downtown) I heard shouts. Male shouts, and many of them.

"Great," I thought. "A riot."

But thankfully, no. (and yes we've had them before so don't just think I'm paranoid lol) It was a group of bicyclers. They were riding in formation, and judging by the calls of the man in the front and his obvious leadership position, it was some type of training class. Most of the guys were in their 30's and had on shirts that boasted either Police or Fire Department, which was interesting. They were all taking turns riding in different positions, and as the traffic changed and they paused at redlights (they were beside me for awhile, remember - 2 block hike) they would make different calls that would be passed down the line to the last rider, regarding cars in which lane, or "clear", etc.

I found it fascinating, even though I still am not entirely sure what they were doing or why. But it was a great example of teamwork. From the confidence of the bike leader to the very last rider on wobbly wheels (yes, I almost reached over to steady him more than once! Poor guy!) they had a mission and a purpose and they were all working together to accomplish it.

Writing might seem like a solitary act, but it takes a team. Think about it. While most writers tend to be introverted, they still crave the friendship and understanding that comes from other writers. Nothing can replace that. And when it comes to the actual act of publishing, it definitely takes a team - the writer, possibly an agent, the acquisitions editor, the copy editor or line editor, the marketing department, the art department, etc. Then it takes a team to sell books - your friends and family, your writers group, word of mouth among peers.

Teamwork is crucial to almost everything that's important in life. Think about it - raising kids ideally takes the team of a husband and wife. Our jobs/career take teamwork to produce a product or sell a product or maintain a business. Our spiritual walk even takes a team - you, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, not to mention the fellowship and encouragement received at church and the teaching from our pastor or sunday school leaders.

Why should writing - our goal, our ministry, our dream - be any different?

Just like the wobbly guy at the end of the line, we need support to do our best work. To remain motivated to stay the course. To improve in our craft and get better with each block. Each traffic signal. Each deadline. Each rejection letter.

So take a minute today to encourage a fellow writer. To holler back to the end of the line "You're doing great! Keep it steady!" Or even just call to the leader at the front of the line - "HELP!" Veteran writers (or in this example, riders) should have no qualms about offering advice and instruction to new riders (writers). We've all been that wobbly guy in the back, and should be eager to help strengthen and advise.

How can you bless a fellow author today?

Mastering the Interview

2011-08-09T15:50:00.000-07:00

I used to look forward to interviewing people for my stories. I also looked forward to minor surgeries, root canals, and trips to the zoo with hoards of three-year-olds.

In all seriousness, there was at least one thing to look forward to about these events -- the moment they were over.

Then I went to school for journalism. And I found out interviewing wasn't as bad as I thought. In fact, I learned five tips that transformed my interview skills:

1- Focusing on the fact that it wasn't about me. Most interviewees are nervous. In fact, they want me to put them at ease.

2 - The right tools make all the difference. For in-person interviews, a pad of paper and a pencil are a lot less intimidating to most people than a laptop or recording device. (ALWAYS let a client know if the interview will be recorded.)

3 - Respect the person's time, but don't be in too big of a rush. Try to start out with common ground and establish yourself as the nurturing, caring person I know you are.

4 - Do your homework beforehand. This may sound like common sense, but a lot of people don't take the time. If the person you're interviewing has a website, read it. Learn as much as you can about the interviewee or the topic so you can ask intelligent questions and not waste his or her time.

5 - Find put beforehand if you are allowed to let the interviewee see the final product before print if you plan to sell it to a publisher. If it's for your own private use, this won't be as big of an issue.

So there ya go. One topic down, two to go. Next time we'll discuss how to tackle the root canal head-on, as well as the trip to the zoo...

Or maybe the rest of you experienced ladies could give us a few tips in the comments?

****
B.J. Hamrick writes for you and for teens at www.realteenfaith.com.

****
P.S. - Sorry this is late today -- I took the wrong computer to my "office" (a.k.a. the library) and it didn't have my post on it.

Rose Colored Glasses

2011-08-08T14:41:00.000-07:00

I have a tendency to look at my characters in a not-quite-fully-dimensional light.

Since I'm the one writing them, it's easy for bits and pieces of myself to end up in their character qualities. My interests start to become their interests. My thoughts, prayers, etc. become their thoughts, prayers and etc.

But sometimes, my faults tend to not end up on the page. And I end up with "perfect" characters who never make any mistakes.

I know we've all read novels where the main character is sickeningly perfect. She never has a bad thought about anyone. She never messes up. She never makes any kind of mistakes and she never uses contractions when she speaks.

I have nothing in common with this character.

And, I might go out on a limb and say that most readers have nothing in common with her either.

Look at your current WIP. Does your character make mistakes? Does he/she have to work hard at something? Does he/she have a fault that no matter how much she prays about it, she still can't move past it?

These are the characters that will resonate with readers! The ones who feel so real and so human that they might walk off the pages and sit across from you in your favorite coffee shop. Read back through your novel and ask yourself, "Would I have done that in that situation?"

Where in the World is Christa Banister?

2011-08-04T00:41:00.000-07:00

Call off the search parties, my fellow Scribble Chick readers; I'm back after an embarrassingly long hiatus...

Truth be told, the time that's elapsed between this post and my last one is a little sad to say the least. See, I've had countless ideas for my regular Thursday post, but I never quite got around to sharing them, thanks to, well, the constant push and pull of everyday life.

But that's all about to change, my friends. While my schedule is certainly no less crazy, I'm learning how to manage it better, to make time for the things that are really important—like dialoguing with my fellow writers. And I guess what I've been experiencing these past couple of months is something we all can relate to, which is exactly why I'm writing about it.

When it comes to what's really important to you, and I'm guessing writing definitely falls into that category since you're here, it's easy to let less important things (that's you, Facebook and Twitter) consume all your time. Even things that don't fall into the social networking category can also steal our attention and focus, meaning that current WIP remains just that—a work in progress—rather than the fully realized novel of your dreams.

In the past few weeks, I've made significant strides in fighting for what I love to do, rather than just what I have to do. And trust me, this wasn't exactly easy. After all, it required me to embrace something I'm not such a fan of—structure. While I'd like to think I can work on my WIP any time I feel inspired, it always seemed to take a backseat to something else. Deciding change needed to come now rather than never, I put a plan in motion.

So here I was, full of ideas and excitement about my novel, but my progress was moving forward at a veritable snail's pace. Discouraged and a bit disgusted by the fact that it was already late July, and I wasn't nearly as far into the story as I hoped to be, I did some serious reevaluating of my life, schedule—what I needed to give up and what I needed to shift in priority.

And while I'm still far from perfect and will always be, I've certainly noticed how these changes have dramatically helped my WIP. Not only do I know exactly when I'm going to write, but I look forward to it. I'm kicking procrastination to the curb, one small step at a time, and am so excited about where the story is taking me (and eventually, the reader).

Now how about you? What is holding you back from making the progress you'd like? Is there a bad habit that needs to change for you to take that crucial next step?

Cheep Cheep - Round Robin

2011-08-03T04:11:00.000-07:00

Writing exercises are very helpful in strengthening our craft.

There's several different types of exercises, including the ever popular "Round Robin", where one person starts with a story, and then another person picks it up, then a third keeps it going...usually this exercise has rules such as only two lines per person, and usually ends up being really silly and fun! :)

So in honor of the Round Robin, lets have some fun today. But instead of a Round Robin exactly, let's do a writing prompt, which is very similiar. This is where we all take the SAME first line and write 50 (yes, ONLY 50!!) words to finish it.

Fingers ready? Here we go!

Writing prompt:

One look into his shimmering, charcoal gray eyes told her everything she needed to know. She was without a doubt, completely and totally....

Take it from here :) Get creative! This could be a roamnce prompt. Could be a sci-fi. Could be a thriller or suspense. It all just depends on your perception. That's what makes it fun!

GO!

(only 50 words!!!)

Paragraph Swap

2011-08-02T12:57:00.000-07:00

Hey Ladies! I thought it would be fun if we shared a few paragraphs of our current works-in-progress. Here's mine -- leave yours (and any questions you might have for us to blog about) in the comments. Can't wait to see what you're working on!

****

...I was alone. Completely and utterly alone. Nothing but me and darkness. And the noise of the screen door, which chose that very moment to squeak open and slam shut again.

I thought of Buddy, the camp goat. It was on this very mountainside he’d committed suicide. Okay, so maybe the hill was too steep. Maybe it was just a slip of his foot. Or maybe it was a night like this when Buddy was so scared he ran – right off the mountain – forgetting there was a rope tied around his neck.

Whatever the case, I wasn’t taking any chances. I slammed both doors tight. I double-checked the windows – the ones that could be secured, anyway. I hunkered down in a corner… and tried to sleep.

But the questions haunted me. Why the sudden darkness? Was it a downed power line? Or something more sinister? Why hadn’t I brought a flashlight? And most importantly… how could I know for sure I just peed in the toilet and not my suitcase?

Writing Pilates

2011-08-01T15:16:00.000-07:00

You asked for it! Get ready to stretch your writing muscles with a few little exercises today!

Creative (a.k.a. what-feels-like-pointless) writing can be actually VERY good for your current WIP. I hate, hate, hate, hate taking time away from whatever deadline I'm working on to write something meaningless, but I've noticed that after I spend a little bit writing something new, I get a quick breath and I suddenly have more inspiration to push through on my WIP.

So, are you ready??? :)

1. Here's an oldie-but-a-goodie from writer's conferences: Dig through a stack of magazines and cut out three pictures of different people - young, old, tall, short, thick, thin. Glue the picture onto a piece of paper and give yourself 10-15 minutes to come up with as many details about that person as you can (name, age, favorite color, favorite ice cream, weird habit, unique talent, etc). What is in their past that they want to hide? What is their biggest pet peeve? What (or who) do they love the most?

2. Close your eyes and think of the most desolate setting you can imagine. Now imagine a person who suddenly finds him/herself there. What would they live in? What would they eat? How would they stay alive? What did they bring or have with them? Do you think they will be able to leave there someday?

3. Pick a random object in plain sight - a cup, a table, a desk, etc. Now, set your timer for three minutes and write down as many adjectives about this particular object as you can. Is it soft, hard, squashy, sturdy, yellow, pink, wet or dry? Get creative - think of as MANY different, unique words as you can! And if you want to get really inventive, try making up a few words!!

Feeling inspired now? Great! Time to get back to work on your WIP! And please feel free to leave your answers to one of the exercises in the comments so we can all get motivated by you! :)

Genres, genres, genres

2011-07-27T04:38:00.000-07:00

The more I typed the title of this post, the weirder the word looked. Genres. Almost like "grenade' at first glance. I guess some of them can be a little explosive at times!

I digress. Sorry! lol

Okay, so Monday Erynn talked about writing Romance, and how it can be challenging...what genres do you find challenging?

Are they a good kind of challenging, as in "I want to learn how to do this right because I really love this genre so much!" or a bad kind of challenging, as in "I feel like I"m supposed to be writing this genre becaues that's where the market is hot, but man I can't do it well and it sucks!!"

If it's the former, grab some Starbucks and keep trying! :)

If it's the later, STEP AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER!

Seriously, we've talked a hundred times here on Scribble Chicks about NOT writing for the market, but this is especially true if you don't know what you're doing and even worse, you don't even enjoy it.

If you're busting your booty trying to write a thriller when you hate even the pretense of being scared, or are trying to compose a beautiful historical when you know absolutely zilch about the time period, or are trying to write a YA when you're eighty-nine years old and have zero access to teenagers anymore... PLEASE, stop wasting your time.

Instead...

1. Write what you know!

2. Write what you love!

3. Write what you like to read!

It's really that simple.

Any questions? :)

You Never Close Your Eyes...

2011-07-25T19:33:00.000-07:00

Sorry guys. My dad is a Righteous Brothers fan and I've had that song stuck in my head for DAYS. It's warring with the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme song in my brain.

Conditions like these do not merit well-worded blog posts. Consider yourself forewarned.

But, it did get me thinking about the ever popular genre of Christian romance. (Don't ask. I have no idea where the Connect-The-Dots in my brain were for that one.) While my books are more "Lit" style, they do, technically I guess, fall under the "romance" umbrella.

What are your thoughts on Christian romance? How many of you write it?

I tend to shy away from writing actual romance. When characters in my books fall in love, I like to show the fun and thoughtful side of it. Writing romance is hard work. You have to convey a certain amount of chemistry without sounding cheesy and at the same time figure out how to have it come across to the reader without sounding sappy.

I think we've probably all read books where we've gagged through half of the scenes featuring the hero and heroine together. If you want to write Christian romance, here's two little exercises:

First, find a Christian romance where you just loved the story. You really felt like the characters were in love and everything just worked without sounding goofy. Then read back through it slowly. What adjectives did the writer use in the scenes were the hero and heroine were together? What descriptions were used? Why did it feel real to you?

Next, take a book where something about the character's romance just bugged you. Then, rewrite the scene. Figure out how to show chemistry without telling. Think of original descriptions without getting too "flowery", like I can be sometimes. None of this, "His hair was like a flowing, brown river of chocolate with the occasional thin ripples of caramel." ;) (And can I just say, EW.)

Ha! While we're at it, get all your cheesiness out here. Got a sappy analogy you need to get out of your system? Leave it in the comments!! :)

Marketing 101

2011-07-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

I thought we'd chat about marketing today, as that's been on the forefront of my mind lately. I have a new Love Inspired novel releasing August 1st, FIREMAN DAD, and I've been trying to think of fresh ways to promote it.

So far, I've spread the word on Facebook, my blog, and this blog, gathered influencers to read early copies and spread the word/post reviews on their FB/blogs/Amazon, etc. and have a booksigning set up for Friday night, August 5th at 6:30 at Barnes & Noble here in my hometown. I'm fortunate that the store CRM wanted to help promote me, and she's turning the entire store that night into a fireman theme - children's story time in the back with books and crafts, and she even contacted the city fire department to come out and do demonstrations with equipment :) I also prepared a big giveaway basket, all fireman themed or red in color, to have a drawing for during the signing.

But I need to go outside the box a little more - because it's fun, and because that's where you reach people. Thankfully, Love Inspired has an amazing book club and do a lot of marketing for their authors, but this isn't always the case and I want to do my part, besides. So I need to find my audience - where are the firemen? Where are their wives and moms and aunts and grandmas and kids? How can I reach them with word of my book? These are the questions someone in marketing needs to ask.

Since my hubby IS a fireman, this is a little easier for me - I've spread the word at his station and with his captain and fellow firefighter friends who have promised to tell their families and help get word out. (though most of them refuse to read a romance for themselves! lol)

Oddly enough, I have a bunch of ideas of what to do for my YA releasing January 2012 with Barbour, because it's an entirely different niche. (will reveal these ideas later!) I'm trying to market to teenagers rather than adults, and for me I think that's actually a little easier. lol Go figure.

What do you think? Do you have any fresh marketing ideas? What have you done that works, or what have you pictured yourself doing once your book got published?

And on the other hand - what are you TIRED of seeing as a reader? What turns you off instead of makes you want to pick up the book?

For me, I think there's a fine line because exposure and overexposure. I've seen books mentioned so much everywhere I go, it actually makes me want to avoid it because I'm annoyed by seeing it. That is when marketing backfires!

What do you think? :)

The Budweiser Girl

2011-07-19T16:36:00.001-07:00

The office has plywood walls, oil-stained carpet, and grease thicker than a corpse's makeup. There is one purpose to this place: function.

Men come here every day to design and build things out of metal. From a woman's perspective, though, the walls need paint, the carpet needs replaced, and the hazmat team needs called before it's suitable.

There is one office-item in pristine condition, though: the Budweiser girl. She is tacked up squarely without a wrinkle or a stain. (Clearly the guys who work here have their priorities straight.)

I am 7.5 months pregnant. Looking at that bronzed, flat-ribbed girl makes me want to do something drastic... like draw stretch marks on her perfectly-shaped boobs.

I'm not gonna lie. I'm never gonna look like that again. (As if I ever did.)

But it won't stop me from subconsciously measuring myself against the airbrushed standard. I may not even realize it, may not have coherent thoughts about it. But it's there... the comparison.

The same thing is true about writing. We may not realize it, but some of us have immeasurable expectations of ourselves.

Can I encourage you today to push through that feeling? Lower you expectations just a little. Forget the idea that anyone's perfect. They're not. It's just a show.

The truth is, you are the only person who can write your story. It might come with a few stretch marks in the beginning, but are your readers really going to care?

Honestly... nobody likes the Budweiser girl anyway.

****

B.J. Hamrick writes for you and for teens at www.realteenfaith.com.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Why I Missed My Post Yesterday...

2011-07-19T11:36:00.000-07:00

We had a crazy weekend that involved a lot of this:

Ha! I'll catch up next week! Enjoy a cupcake in honor of the Nater Tot turning one! :)

How do you celebrate?

2011-07-13T07:06:00.000-07:00

There's lot of celebrating this week! :)

(in no particular order...)

First, while I did not win the ACFW Book Club November slot, it was an honor to have my chook chosen to be in the running!! The votes came in with my novel in second place. Not bad! I'll take it! :) (FIREMAN DAD, releasing August 1st)

Also, today...drumroll please...we are getting a driveway! YAY! I told my coworker that you know you're an adult when you get downright giddy over pavement. ::wink:: We live in the country on 3 acres, and had a gravel drive put in when we bought our land and put our house in 3 years ago. MUCH cheaper and what most people on our street did. (it understandably gets expensive taking wooded acreage and clearing it to put a house down, then putting in a well, and drainage ditches, and sewer system, etc.) We saved up some money and are finally getting an asphalt driveway, double carport, parking pad, boat pad, turn-around area...I'm stoked. No more wobbling around on high heels on the gravel, no more rocks skinning Little Miss's knees, no more flat tires from rocks piercing them, no more backing out of the LONG driveway in the pitch black at night, and of course - now Little Miss can ride her tricycle :)

Speaking of, next on the celebration list - tomorrow is my daughter's 3rd birthday. Can you believe that??? I'm still trying to. In some ways it seems like yesterday, in others, it seems like she should be atleast 13. haha. She definitely has the occasional sass of a teen. ::wink:: But you know what? She's a downright sweetheart, so generous and loving and precious. I love her more than I can almost bear! She had a fun party last Saturday (pics on my FB page) but we're celebrating tomorrow's actual birthday with cupcakes and Chick Fila. (her fav) PS - She's showing her southern roots - earlier this morning, when she spoke the word "mad", it had at least three syllables. ha! Happy almost birthday to my Little Miss!

And last but not least, I finished my book. Yep! HER FAMILY WISH, releasing April 2012, is now in the inbox of my fabulous editor at Love Inspired, and I'm giddy about that too. I made my deadline 6 days early, which is nothing short of a miracle and God's grace.

All of the above celebrations lead me to one serious, deep, emotional conclusion...

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Let there be cupcakes!

Questions and Answers :)

2011-07-11T10:08:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, a loyal reader asked me a few questions, so I thought I'd address those now! :) I'd mentioned that I had written two suspense novels prior to Miss Match that were never published.

Did you try submitting your first two novels at all?

I tried submitting one of them. I proposed that one to a few publishers at a writer's conference, had a couple of VERY sweet editors and multi-published writers sit down with me and show me exactly what I could do to make my book even better. I so appreciated the time and attention they gave me! I went home to rewrite and then came up with the idea for Miss Match. At first, MM was just a fun way to spend my time when I wasn't working or rewriting my "real" novel. Then MM took over and I found I had a lot more fun writing that one.

Did you have a feeling with Miss Match it'd be published?

Nope! I knew I really enjoyed writing it! Compared to the suspense novels that I had been writing, Miss Match was super relaxing and fun. I had an agent for a very short time before she decided to pursue other things and before she quit, she handed Miss Match to an editor at NavPress. A whole year went by and I didn't hear anything. So, I just assumed that nothing was going to come of it.

Then, I got a random email from an acquisitions editor who said the editor who had been given my book had left and they'd found my manuscript and thought it was very good and wondered if it was still available.

All goes to show that sometimes God uses very unique circumstances! You never know what His will for your life and your writing will be - so keep at it. Keep talking to people, keep proposing your work. :)

Plots and Themes and Concepts, oh my!

2011-07-06T04:39:00.000-07:00

Last week, a loyal reader asked a great question - what is the difference between plot, theme, concept, etc. in a novel?

By definition:

Plot: the storyline, plan, scheme, or main story of a literary or dramatic work, as a play, novel, or short story.
Theme: what the author is trying to convey, the central idea of the story, woven all the way through. The characters' actions, interactions, and motivations all reflect the story's theme.

Concept: is used at the beginning of the process. It’s the statement that keeps you focused as you write.

(the above Concept is typically used for screenwriting, but the idea still applies to novels)

Okay, so are you even more confused now? ;)

Let me try to sum up/clarify in my own words.

Basically, concept and theme can be considered the same thing, in my opinion. It's the higher, overarching message of the story. Such as: redemption, forgiveness, salvation, finding true love, letting go, taking risks, living out a dream...it's what you want your reader to feel and experience and hear from the story without actually telling them word for word. It's subtle and subconscious. It's not a sermon, it's not pointed out through the actual text of the story. It's deeper than that.

The plot is the more literal timeline of events, where the characters go from point A to point B. It's what HAPPENS during the story.

Let's use an example of my first Love Inspired novel, RETURN TO LOVE. The plot consisted of high school sweethearts finding each other once again in New Orleans, many years later, and finding themselves working together on a fundraiser project for the penguins at the Aquarium of the Americas. The theme of the story was forgiveness, healing, and second chances because throughout the story, that is what the characters sought out/desired.

In another example, RODEO SWEETHEART (my third LI novel): The plot consisted of a cowgirl trying to save her family horse farm by reluctantly running a dude ranch on the property and training to bull ride, then meeting and falling for a city boy who was actually there under false pretenses, and had the opposite goal as she did. The theme was sacrifice, the struggles of family relationships and love.

So in essence, you can think of the plot as what your characters do, and the theme/concept as the reasons why your characters do what they do.

Make sense now? :)

Fellow Scribblers, what do you have to add to this?