The fun theory

This is awesome:

(With thanks to my friend Christine.)

Have a fun weekend, everyone!

Fix-It Friday

As summer winds down, I bring you the last of this round of Fix-It Friday revision tips, courtesy of Kelly Parra, author of Graffiti Girl and Invisible Touch.

Revisions, revisions, translates to me as layers, layers.

I have never been able to focus on several elements of storytelling at once. So as I write my draft I’ll put down my first layer, which is usually action and some personality. Then I’ll add the second layer, description and setting. Then I’ll add a nice coat of tightening and emotion.

Same with revisions… If I feel something is missing, it will of course be another layer. I may scrape down a layer or two already written and reshape the layer once I get to know the character better and get a handle on her voice. Writing a new book is always about finding your voice. Once you get comfortable with that voice and know it inside and out, the revision comes a lot easier. Because your characters are suddenly your best friends and you just know what they’ll say and do. Just. Like. That.

So what did we learn today? Revision comes in layers, and there may be a hundred caked on before you’re through, and then once you know your voice, layers–er, I mean–revision comes a lot easier.

Mmm, layers…. Reminds me of cake. And this:

But I digress. Thinking of revisions as adding layers makes so much sense! Thanks, Kelly, for sharing this great tip! Drop by any time and I’ll share some cake with you in return.

Breaking News

The low-budget news team reports on a disturbance at the home of Aspiring Author.

Yes, it’s true. This round of revisions is done. But, you say, how is that possible? You were on vacation! Indeed I was, but it turns out sunshine and sand and family time and good books are all fine fuel for revising. Who knew? And now, the manuscript is off to my trusty crit partner and then should be winging its way to Brilliant Agent’s desk sometime next week (eek!) (um, unless trusty crit partner has devastating news for me after reading the manuscript… time will tell).

(Vacation pics under the cut.)

Breaking News

The lost generation

This is cool:

Peace….

Breaking News 3

The low-budget news team reports on Aspiring Author’s progress.

Aspiring Author disappears

The low-budget news team reports on Aspiring Author’s mysterious disappearance:

Revisions and the low-budget news team

I just received my first revision letter — yay! While waiting for said letter to arrive, I spent a little time procrastinating on the internet. Here, for your viewing pleasure, is the result of some of that procrastination time:

And now the hard work begins….

Global happy-dancing

Need a mid-week pick-me-up? Check out this global happy dancing.

(You can find out more about Matt HERE.)

Peace and joy….

Blurg*: Return to Bone Tree Hill

I just finished reading Kristin Butcher’s Return to Bone Tree Hill, a suspense-filled YA murder mystery. I had the pleasure of reading an early draft of this, so was eager to read the final, published version. I wasn’t disappointed! Here’s the blurb:

Eighteen-year-old Jessica Lawler has a dream that when she was twelve, she killed her friend, Charlie. Having the nightmare once would have been bad enough, but Jessica keeps having it over and over again. To make matters worse, she has no memory of that time in her life. Moreover, her family moved away right after the incident in Jessica’s dream is supposed to have happened.

So what does the dream mean? Is it truly just a bad dream? Or is it actually a horrible memory? Determined to discover the truth, Jessica returns to Bone Tree Hill.

You can check out the book trailer right here:

(*blurg=blurb in a blog)