Book contest

If you liked Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore, this is her next thing out (not until 2011, though). She's running a contest right now--not for this book, because it's still too early, but she does have others up for grabs. So hop on over here to enter, if you're interested.

For future, reference, here's what I love about Jackie's books (basically everything I've ever read by her): cool costumes! food! humor! fantasy! romance between smart people!

Made of win, I tell you.

Don't give up

Wow, the writing is going really well right now. I've now had three days basically in a row (discounting the weekend Halloween events) where I've topped a thousand words in not very much time. I'm a slow writer normally, and I know there are still some major plot points that I need to iron out, but it's like the book is writing itself. It's my first foray into MG, and I wouldn't call myself primarily a MG reader OR writer. But after spending months trying to figure out last year's NaNo project (sorry, NaNoWriMo basically made me hate the story and everything to do with it), I lay down in August and the whole story came to me as I was drifting off to sleep. Wish that would happen every time! It's so rough right now, and I know I've got tons of places I need to expand and go back and fill in, but I'm getting down the bones, and it feels good. Especially as I spent the end of September and the beginning of October doing intense revisions on something else completely.

Also excited to hear that someone I've been exchanging critiques with just signed with a very well-respected agency. This is what I admire about this writer: he had an idea, he kept at it, and he didn't give up in the face of rejection, nor did he insist he was right and the rejector was wrong. Instead, he took every scrap of feedback he got and applied it to his book. I do often see writers with talent who give up too soon. I've seen people who have a lovely natural gift for voice, but get discouraged with rejections, when all they need to do is address plot a bit more and they'd have it. (Especially as plot's a LOT easier to learn than voice.) Of course, you don't want to be the person working on the same one and only project for 37 years--even if you never really give up, you need to be writing new things, too. But that's my thought for you today--don't give up, bite the bullet, swallow the criticism, and make it better.

Lastly, I took care of voting today. Half the spots were uncontested. (I mentioned this was a one-party state, didn't I?) I did vote for the one candidate who included "ways to expand rural libraries" as one of his concerns. I wanted to circle it and put stars around it, but don't worry, I restrained myself. Maybe tomorrow I'll go try out ILL from the other library in the area, though.

For those doing NaNo (or something like unto it, like me finishing my draft this month), happy writing, everyone! And don't give up!