Take a second... or a few

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.

This Week's Topic:

For many, December is a post-NaNoWriMo revision haze! How do you approach editing/revising? Any tips or tricks or resources you can share?

My biggest tip is TIME. Away from the story. Due to life stuff I had to step away from my story for a bit and it's not even quite done but my brain has been ticking over all the gaps that when i stepped away I would have said weren't there (it's genius... of course.... perfect draft... not....).

When life settles I'll be able to go ahead with fresh purpose but even more, I'll get stuck into the beginning and make it the story I first saw in my head.

CPs are the other greatest tool. Those fresh eyes who don't (most of the time) read it straight from your head but deal with mere words on the page. They're just like readers... only they love you and aren't afraid to tell you it sucks and offer ways to fix it.

Or at least commiserations as you try to fix it.

What about you? Any tips?

It's all about the boys

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.





This Week's Topic:
What was your best book for October?


Reading this one came about with a google search of 'best YA boy POV books'. I found 'Try Not to Breathe' by Jennifer Hubbard on a few lists and it was there on my kindle app a few minutes later.

I read the opening and was hooked. Here's the blurb:

 

Try Not to Breathe

Learning to live is more than just choosing not to die, as sixteen-year-old Ryan discovers in the year following his suicide attempt. Despite his mother’s anxious hovering and the rumors at school, he’s trying to forget the darkness from which he has escaped. But it doesn’t help that he’s still hiding guilty secrets, or that he longs for a girl who may not return his feeli...more

Learning to live is more than just choosing not to die, as sixteen-year-old Ryan discovers in the year following his suicide attempt. Despite his mother’s anxious hovering and the rumors at school, he’s trying to forget the darkness from which he has escaped. But it doesn’t help that he’s still hiding guilty secrets, or that he longs for a girl who may not return his feelings. Then he befriends Nicki, who is using psychics to seek contact with her dead father. This unlikely friendship thaws Ryan to the point where he can face the worst in himself. He and Nicki confide in one another the things they never thought they’d tell anyone—but their confessions are trickier than they seem, and the fallout tests the bounds of friendship and forgiveness.

 

It was painful and messy and made me think - probably what I liked best about it in the end. Instead of making me think about the boy POV I was working on it raised questions for my girl MC. And she has nothing like this going on. But the brain works in mysterious ways.

=)

What bout you? Read anything excellent in October?

Lights, camera... read!

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.

This Week's Topic:
We'd like to know, in your opinion, what is it that makes some books seem ideal for a film translation?

This is interesting. When I write I generally 'see' the scenes playing out as a movie in my mind, but my WIP had a beta reader commenting 'I could see this being one of those movies where everything happens on one amazing weekend'. When interrogated... i mean, questioned, he didn't know whether it was different writing or what.

For me, it's a combination. i would consider something that paints a vivid picture in my mind. it needs a good pace and a great hook to make a good movie poster.

A cute hero and kissing is nice too!!
=)
What do you think?

meandering me

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.

This Week's Topic:
Are you doing NaNoWriMo, or have you ever? Does having a deadline inspire you?


I am a complete deadline fangirl*. If I don't force some kind of goal I tend to meander about and not get anywhere pretty much.

I love the pressure and the words mounting up. Seeing the story evolve fast is all sorts of rush. But it's also HARD. and hard is, well, hard.

Cos November is all things summer and outdoors here the RWAus run a 50k in 30days in June where we can all sit inside in the cold and write. i completed that for the first time this year. Usually I'm more of a 44k in a month as my upper limit.

What about you?




*Note I might change my tune if/when I have someone else's deadlines to work to.

Full of awesome

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.

This Week's Topic: What do you hope to be writing in one year? Three? Five?

 

I can actually answer this one pretty easy... Something AWESOME!

Definition of awesome - so good it needs to be read on a swing.

 

 

It's maybe simplistic but it's true. In a perfect world there will be agents and editors and readers finding it full of awesome but the first person I need to wow is myself. Because to slog through the months of writing I need to be convinced it's great. I need to love the character and hate the character and bleed on the page for them. Or why waste my time?

 

What about you?

 

 

Some magic required

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.





This Week's Topic:
What was the best book you read in September?

I read a few books this month, as usual, and they were all pretty good. But the things that sticks in my mind most wasn't something i read but was read to me.

Last Tuesday i had one of those sweat-inducing days where my computer decided to

WIPE EVERYTHING OFF ITS HARD DRIVE!

I didn't breathe all day. What had I backed up? What had I missed? Stories? Pics? Important emails? yeah, so I wasn't a pleasant person to be around while I waited for hubby aka Computer Nerd to get home.

All this while entertaining my mil who was staying and prepping for my 7yo's 4th ear operation Wednesday. it wasn't something easily fixed and we had to leave it while we went with princess to the hospital.

I couldn't read. I couldn't focus for worrying. But then while we waited - for hours - Princess read to me. She's a really good reader and a really passionate one. I met the lovely Amanda Ashby at a RWAus conference and she signed the first 2 books in her Sophie's Mixed Up Magic series to my girl. And it made all the difference for Princess to persist with a book that she had to work hard to read.

So i sat in the hospital and listened to Princess read Wishful Thinking and was able to relax for a while. I really enjoyed the story. It was my definite fave book in September and I'd recommend it to any lovers of fun MG.

And for a happy ending, Princess can hear again and is reading Book 2 and Computer Nerd saved everything like a true hero.

What was your fave book in September?

Don't go changing...

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.





This Week's Topic:
What word processing program do you use to write you manuscript, and can you share one handy trick you’ve learned in that program that has helped you while you write?

Okay, this is one road trip i plan to follow with interest. because I am back in the old word dark ages. i see people using interesting programs but the thought of change...

*shudders*

The best trick is more about critting and it's not anything spectacular, but the track changes function is awesome. It's helped me to incorporate my CPs wisdom.

Also the simple find and replace has helped when I've inadvertently aussified something (the use of some Australian slang that NOBODY will ever understand outside of a stone's throw from where I live) and can check the rest of the doc for the same thing.

But I know other programs do even more. So tell me, what do you use and why?

Lucky me

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.





This Week's Topic:
Back to school time! What's your favorite book that you had to read for a class?

Love this topic. Have to say I devoured anything I was set at school. Didn't love it all but I'm a fast reader and just inhaled anything i was given. However the two I really, really enjoyed (don't get me wrong i really liked others so no disrespect) were by local Aussie writers.

The first... Tomorrow When The War Began by John Marsden. We had to read the first and I read the whole series. I've seen the movie and I think it was great. however after chatting on an earlier blog I appreciate that such real violence might not be appropriate in every school. our time/school was pretty fortunate and it was a wonderful book.

The second is now one of my fave authors... Looking For Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta. How lucky to have such a great author to read cos I had to. It's not my fave of hers but I really liked it!

What about you?

Conference reads

This is a RWAus conference and a RTW post combined.


Because I actually read both my fave books for this month while travellling. It's amazing for me to have hours and hours and hours to read without interruption (unless you count bouts of nervous nausea for my pitch appointments). This year's conference was on the sunny (compared to icy Sth Australia) Gold Coast in the funkiest of hotels, QT.


The whirlwind weekend included meeting brilliant people, old friends and learning so much my brain hurt. The cocktail party on the Friday night let me get my Grease on:



With Pink Ladies Rach Johns (Aussie Mira author) and Jackie (Entangled and Samhain author).

The workshops were amazing (am still processing) and the awards dinner was inspirational. Kind of like the early morning view. What made me think a 7am breakki Sunday was a good idea? But even only 3h sleep Eloisa James was worth listening to although I've never read Historical Romance.

Was a brilliant time but I was also really happy to get back home to the family!
Anyway, that brings me to the two best books I read this month:



Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.





This Week's Topic:
What was your best book for August?


This is no particular order....

On the way to the conference I read Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry. And... wow. These two people were so full of pain and so strong. i laughed, i sobbed. i sobbed more... I was thankful my eyeliner stayed more or less in place (am not used to dressing up and these days). It was one of the best books i've read in ages... but there was more to come...


And on the way home i read First Comes Love by Katie Kacvinsky which didn't make me cry... as much... (i'm not usually so weepy, honest) but I loved for the fact it really seemed like it was HIS story more than hers despite them being told in alternate POV. Was really interesting.




What about you? What did you like in August?

=)

Now i remember.

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.





This Week's Topic:

What is your novel's "Love List"?

  First, a love list is the things about your WIP that you LOVE. And I'm so excited by it. Sometimes it gets hard to remember what drew me to start this thing and why I want to spend so much time in this world.   Here's a few things on the love list:     secrets purple ribbon ice-cream electric blue runners pine needles the flip of a coin real   What about you? What do you love about your WIP?    

Playing in my head

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.





This Week's Topic:
What is your Summer soundtrack?

Thanks to the wonders of hemispheres mine is actually a winter soundtrack. I actually mainly listen to music when I run (to try to keep the boredom at bay) because i prefer quiet when I write. I get lyrics in my head and then they infect what comes up on the screen.

My soundtrack this winter has be affected by my princess learning guitar. So lately it's been all about Back in Black and Boulevard of Broken Dreams. The latter has really resonated. Something about walking an empty road keep playing in my head as i think about my next story. At the moment it's a billion possibilities but I think it just might have a road trip.

What about you?

Me first... Sigh...

Friday is the end of the week and we all breathe a big sigh of relief. Yay for the weekend! I want to start it full of awesome. Here at the blog, I'm dedicating Fridays to those sigh moments. I'm planning to collect from friends and other writers and anyone else who will answer my annoying questions.

*looks around for the dog*

What was the most sigh-worthy gesture someone did for you when you were in school/college?

Today's guest is ME!!
=)

When: I was at University

Who: New-ish boyfriend

What: I studied at a campus out of town a little and he was in the city. I had a long afternoon stretching in front of me in an Earth Science lab (i know, rocks never really were my friends. i think they would have served me better as pets) and I hadn't seen my new boyfriend forever (a couple of days).

The murmuring of students actually quietened. I glanced up.

My stomach flipped. There stood dear BF in the front of the lab filled with maybe 50 first year students. But it couldn't be. He'd emailed me from the city earlier and to get to my uni he would have had to walk.

But it was him. So, cute. So sweet. So awkward-looking.
Everyone looked as he walked up to me (near the back) and stopped in front of my work bench.

He grinned. "I just wanted to say hi."

I think i fell in love with him there and then. Sigh...

Have you had a surprise visit to melt your heart?

Tell me where to go... seriously

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.







This Week's Topic:When you need creative inspiration, where do you go? This road trip comes at a handy time. At the moment i'm feeling a bit lacking in inspiration. I'm a bit between projects and while I have a couple of ideas I LOVE i'm not sure I'm equipped to do them justice. I need some inspiration. Or maybe a kick in the pants. Usually I find inspiration everywhere. I grabs of conversation, in the news, in gossip of my friends... and in books. LOTS and lots of books. But at the moment I'm a bit flat. Maybe cos it's birthday season here smack after school hols. So, where do you go? Inspire me. Please.

Bring me the popcorn instead

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.

This Week's Topic:

What movie have you seen that actually (gasp!) improved on the book?

This week's questions stabs straight to my heart of 'books rule' with the chants and pthe placards and the insistance my kids will read Harry Potter before they see the movies. I think there's something so deep and immediate about a book and being in the character's head...

 

But...

 

And there's always a but. I find that if I see the movie first I can become attached to that condensed version and if it's done brilliantly then it can bring a scene to life in a way a book can't. Not better always... just different.

 

The one that springs to mind is Trainspotting. The book didn't show me the world the way the movie did. Both pretty intense though.

 

What about you, is there a movie you loved but the book was a bit ho-hum?

 

 

The girl most likely

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.

This Week's Topic:

What yearbook "most" category (also known as superlatives) would your character win?

 

For my WIP it probably depends on when in the story the award was given. At the beginning it would definitely be 'MOST LIKELY TO BE FORGOTTEN BY MOST OF HER CLASS' and that's just the way she likes it. Fitting in, going under the radar... it works for her BIG time.

 

However by the end of the story she's changed. She's never going to be an extrovert but she's found her spunk. She'd be right up there for 'Most likely to confront her mortal enemy in front of the school' and 'Most likely to pull a prank that fools everyone'.

 

What about your characters? You?

 

 

 

 

 

Best this month

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.





This Week's Topic:
What was your best book for June?

Where the #$%@ did June go? I think I must have blinked and missed it. Kid sickness and trying to do the 50kin30days we do here in Aussie through RWAus meant the month passed pretty quickly.

However i did sneak in some reading (or i might have exploded) and I had a favourite.

It was Starters by Lissa Price.

I've actually had this on my TBR since Mother's Day and have been holding off. I was writing in contemp land and didn't want to be thinking Dystopian. But as my reward for finishing my draft I was able to get stuck in.

And it was well worth the wait. I read it fast but it left me thinking - a great combo. And isn't the cover awesome?

What about you?

Summer Loving

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.





This Week's Topic:

How did you spend/how will you spend the summer after graduation?
                                                                                                                           
I remember that as one of the longest summers ever. here our summer/end includes Chistmas and New Year so there's a lot happening. University starts about a month after school goes back so I had 4 extra summer weeks.

The first thing was farewell my best friend. She was off on exchange to Germany and I was pretty jealous and a bit sad. We'd been inseperable and I was going to have to negotiate all those weeks without her.

Luckily another friend and I grew closer so i had someone to go out with since legal age here is 18 (and I was almost 18...).

The best thing I did that summer happened near the end. I was actually getting over glandular fever that made me miss most of my final school year and staying up late didn't really happen well but this night I managed nearly 4am. My friend cornered two boys on the side of the road.

Being the nerd I am I was pretty sure they were serial killers but it turns out one of them... the one I didn't really notice at first... would be my husband.

Falling in love was the very best part of my summer!

What about you?

Retreat

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.








This Week's Topic:
If you could go on a writing retreat anywhere, where would you go & who would you bring?

Oooh, now this is a fun question to think about! With three little kids a writing retreat is a way off but one day it WILL happen.

And I know the perfect place to go.

Last summer we went on a driving holiday up the east coast of Australia and stopped at a heap of great places. My favorite for a writing retreat would have to be a caravan park we stayed at near Bateman's bay. We had a beautiful new cabin and we were across the road from the beach.

It was inspirational. The peace I need to write and a lovely town with awesome take away thai food only 15 mins away. I'd have to take a CP or two for brainstorming of course.

Where would you go?

Simply the best

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.

This Week's Topic:

What was the best book you read in May?

This was a tough decision for me. I've been on a contemporary binge lately because of the work in progress. I read 6 great books but when deciding my very best book in May I had to toss a coin between two.

And the reason was pretty simple. It's the one that stayed with me long after I switched off my eReader. I couldn't stop thinking about Anna and St Clair and I knew in my heart they lived on even though I'd stopped reading.

They existed outside the book for me.

That's magic.

What about you? What did you read and like BEST!!

P.S. the lineball book... 'Lola and the Boy Next Door.'

Soaking it up for real

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.









This Week's Topic:What book and/or writing conference would you love to go to? 

Where to begin?

 

My main goal is to manage to go to an overseas writing/book conference. But living here in Australia even making the trip interstate is a bt difficult and expensive. I love the online community and have participated in some online conferences but to soak up the atmosphere with real live people and all woyuld be fabulous.

 

The first step for me is the CYA conference here. The timing has been all wrong for me so far but I would love to go.

 

In August there is the RWAus conference and I am hoping to make that as all my stories have that romantic element.

 

Any recommendations for good overseas conferences I should be saving for?

=)

Factionless...

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.

This Week's Topic:

Which Faction from @VeronicaRoth's Divergent series are you? (Descriptions here bit.ly/KJQM58)

I love, love, love Divergent and have thought a fair bit about this one. I’ll start with what I’d like to be… definitely Dauntless.

from Merriam Webster:

DAUNTLESS: fearless, undaunted.

Undaunted: courageously resolute, especially in the face of danger or difficulty; not discouraged.

I would love to be this. I adore Tris and think that lacking fear would give me a freedom to act when I am so often caught up in indecision.  Being a writer means I’ve got the not discouraged (mostly) working though.

However… it’s not really me.

I crave peace and would love that about Amity and I have a PhD in laser chem so I’ve searched for knowledge for years and years (and years) which make Erudite appeal.

Rather than divergent though, maybe I need a new kind of faction… Messy?

How about you?

Growing up

Not me, don't want anyone to get confused.

Last night I went to my nephew's 18th birthday party. I was only a teen myself when he was born and I swear I blinked and he's officially an adult. And a great one, I have to say.

He stayed home the night he turned 18 (which is legal drinking age here) to have his first drink with his mum rather than go out with his mates. The hug he gave her when he thanked everyone for coming brought a lump to my throat.

Time does go by so fast.

And my tbr pile is HUGE.

Better get reading!

=)

That magic moment

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.

This Week's Topic:

A long-awaited kiss, a surprise ending, a character's sudden decision… these are the moments that make us smile, gasp, and LOVE a book for the rest of our lives.

What is your favorite literary moment?

My absolute favourite literary moment is the twist. And nowhere have i found it better than in Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card.

No spoilers but i never saw it coming and yet it made perfect sense. LOVE that in a book. To pull off that WTF but ah ha moment is brilliant. And so, so hard. it had to be foreshadowed and believable but not predictable. I admit i read it when I was 10 so maybe i was easily transported into suspending disbelief but it's stayed with me a LOT of years.

Oh, and i do love a kiss... one that has been suitably longed for and agonised over.

And a good death. Love to cry.

And a first... well... anything.

 

 

Seems I'm easily pleased. What about you?

my interesting (one day) life

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.





   This Week's Topic: Name This Life: What Would Your Memoir Be Called?  Okay, i admit it.... The idea of a memoir made me think all about reasons anyone might want to read a memoir of my life. I mean, yeah, I AM super interesting in my own head but so far there's not a heap happening that a complete stranger would be wanting to read. I haven't had any really big struggles, just the ordinary every day kind. And let me tell you i haven't faced those with lesson-teaching stoicism either *grin*. So why would anyone read a memoir? Tragedy... noble sacrifice... yeah, i don't think i'll ponder too long on that. It's a bit sad.  But fame.... and fame through famous author/brilliant book stuff. Wouldn't that me nice? i mean, won't that be nice. In the future. When it happens. But since I can't see too far (am working on psychic abilities to no avail) I can't see what will be the thing that brings me into the spotlight. So if I were to memoir RIGHT NOW. i think it would have to be called... Almost Ordinary. Because I am almost a lot of things. And I am kinda ordinary. But am also the only me so that could make me kinda special too. What about you? What would your memoir be called? 

Full of awesome

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.

This Week's Topic:

What was the best book you read in Feb?

 

This time it was easy. my road trip meant that i couldn't read the number of books i wanted to but the BEST was easily

It captivated me from start to finish and I can't express how much i hurt and loved it at the same time. I know I'm a bit late to this cos the buzz has been around for a while but I'm glad I finally took other RTW'ers advice and moved it to the top of my TBR pile!!

 

It made me ache to read it with some stuff pretty close to home but I love a book that can make me feel and this worked so well I'm still thinking about it.

 

If you haven't.... READ it!!

 

What about you, any good books in Feb?

Road trip week

So the family went on a road trip. We covered over 3500km from Sth Aussie up the east coast and then back through the center... it was exhausting. I had no time to write or read but i did have some thinking time (in between the beaches and the waterfalls and the whining kids and the wine...).

I took a bajillion pics (in the hope of a few being decent). There were many things on the side of the road including machinery of all types and foxes and kangaroos and even emus. The odd shoe and burnt tyre too.

And an idea.

It's unlike anything I've tried before but i love it. my heroine is so great and angry and frustrated and angry and pissed at the world.

I love her.

But can i write her well enough?

What about you? Found any ideas at the side of the road (i found my other half that way coincidentally)? Been on any road trips? Doubt yourself?

On Valentines...

It's the day after Valentine's Day here in Aussie but i'm still kinda feeling the love. i was thinking about what to write about love and books. There are lots of books i love, and lots of authors I love but one book actually affected my lovelife!

A (not very good) Poem on Love and Books

Not only have I always,

Loved reading books so dear.

They’ve also played their wicked part

In my love life down the years

 A lifetime ago around this time

I met a handsome boy

I figured he was beyond my reach

And so I planned to just enjoy

 

We talked and talked until the dawn

(my reading time did wither)

I shared a secret in my state

Of glowing love and dither

 A book I thought he’d never read

By an author he didn’t know

I tried to explain why I loved it so much

And the ending stole the show

 In that rush of love I gave away

The book’s entire twist!

He complains about it to this day…

(Still in our end we kissed)

 I guessed we’d hang out for a while

And be nothing more than fun.

In my defence, I didn’t know

He would be the one

=)

Any books mess with your love life?

Brain sucking

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.



This Week's Topic:Jinx! What story ideas have you trunked because they were too similar to published/well-known stories?This is another interesting topic. once I had this idea for a boy wizard. he discovered his power and defeated a baddy and... Ok, that was Harry Potter and I just wish I had that idea. In fact I wish i had the idea for lots of great stories I read. Although i often am just as glad to sit back and be a reader taken on a wonderful journey.

i haven't had to shelve any ideas but i have had that panic moment where i catch a hint of someone's story and i am deathly afraid it is the same as mine. Usually the more i read, the less that is the case4. it's pretty hard to be exactly the same.

What about you? Anyone steal your idea from your brain?

Something a little different this time

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.

This Week's Topic:

What was the best book you read in January?

 

I didn't read any where near the number of books I wanted to in the last month. It was summer holidays here in Australia and with three littlies underfoot my concentration never lasted long. And we were BUSY! There were playdates and drives up the coast and trips to the shops (an outing in itself).

Above is water with a classy umbrella by the paddle pool at a playdate

 

But I read a few books and started a few more (new ereader and sample function... can't decide which to buy). The best i read was actually for research. I wanted to read more about something for an upcoming idea that's playing in the back of my brain. since that idea is still so nebulous I'll keep the title under wraps for now.

 

One book i really enjoyed was Orson Scott Card's PATHFINDER. It was just my kind of sci-fi... about the characters rather than too much hard science (that part of my brain hurts easily). It kept me interested and made me think a little.

 

What was the best book you read in January?

 

A rose by any other name...

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.




This Week's Topic: If you couldn't use your own name, what would your pseudonym or penname be? 

This IS a pseudonym actually. So probably Beck Nicholas...

=)

Why... well Beck is what I'm called usually anyway so it's kinda my real name. And I'm scientifically published under my last name so that's like a different side to me. Nicholas is someone i adore's middle name.

If I had to choose a different name altogether I would still use Beck of some sort because I can't imagine answering to anything else. As for last names... It has to matter. Cos if i get to choose I want it to mean something. And sound okay. And not spell out something offensive.

What about you? What matters to you when choosing a pseudonym? Does the name have to link to your family/life? Can you answer to a different first name (am imagining all those signings in my future)?