Happy Veteran's Day

Today I am thankful for our veterans. I know that doesn't really have anything to do with writing, but as it is Veteran's Day, I think I'd be horribly remiss if I failed to thank these incredible men and women for keeping our country and way of life safe.

I have a comic-a-day calendar with that crusty old Shoebox lady :) Today's comic said "You're free to thank a veteran today. And for that, you should thank a veteran today."

So I'd like to send out a sincere and heartfelt THANK YOU to all our veterans and active duty soldiers. Because of them, I have the freedom to sit at my computer and write whatever I want about whoever or whatever I want, be it boring, offending, or (hopefully) entertaining. :)

The spouses and families of our veterans and sevicemen and women also deserve a huge thanks for the numerous sacrifices they make so that their loved ones may serve our country. To those who hold down the fort at home - THANK YOU! (and thank you to Cole for reminding me how awesome these people truly are) :)

Happy Veteran's Day everyone :)

Today I'm Thankful For.....

My wonderful followers, readers, and commentors. 

Today on this brisk and clear Monday morning I'd like to express my thankfulness for all of you awesome folks. Without you guys, I'd be floating along in the blogosphere chattering away to myself with nary a friend to share with :) You guys are incredible and I feel a little thrill of glee every time I see a comment from someone or get to welcome a new follower.

To show my appreciation for all you fantastic folks, I'd like to pass along the One Lovely Blog Award that was given to me recently by the fabulous Natalie Murphy over at her blog The Sound of Rain. If you have a blog, post this award with pride.

And thank you all so much for all your comments and support and for taking the time out of your busy days to read what I have to say. You make posting on this blog every week worthwhile and sometimes are the only reason I keep going :)

Also want to send a special shout-out to Michelle Gregory - there is an interview with me over on her blog Beautiful Chaos and on her website michelledgregory.com. Check it out! :)

The F-Bomb by Jackson Pearce

Yet another awesome vlog by author Jackson Pearce:

Friday Funnies

"Writing is 1 percent inspiration, and 99 percent elimination."

-Louise Brooks

"I have made this letter longer, because I have not had the time to make it shorter." -Blaise Pascal

"Your manuscript is both good and original, but the part that is good is not original, and the part that is original is not good."

-Samuel Johnson

Blog Chain - Draaaaaama

This round's topic was chosen by the ever fabulous Christine. She would like to know:

How do you create a wonderfully dramatic story? Are there any questions you ask yourself, or specific things you keep in mind to ensure that you have the level of tension necessary to propel the story forward?

You know, the first thing that came to mind when I read this question was something I learned from someone in this chain a while back (and I apologize because I can't remember for the life of me who brought this up, but it turned into an awesome discussion - I am pretty sure it was in the chain about the mean things we do to our characters :D ).

Anyways, the thing I took away from that discussion that I try to use as I write my stories in order to create drama and tension is - whatever your character wants, say no. 

I think that simple phrase is incredible. SAY NO!

They have a dream, a goal, a desire, a need? Take it away. Play hard to get. Make them work for it. Make them suffer. Make them grow and stretch themselves. Challenge them. Don't give in. Don't make it easy. SAY NO!!!! 

If you do this, then the journey toward the end of the story is full of drama and tension. If everything is easy for your character, just handed to them, there isn't any drama in the story. This is something I sometimes struggle with, especially in my lastest book (we won't go there - that one is sitting for a while so I can play with something new for NaNo :D ) But it is something I try to do in all my stories. 

Just say no. Simple. Sweet. Drama inducing. Tension maker. Just say no.

The wonderful Bonny answered this question before me, so be sure to go back and get her view on this if you missed it, and the awesome Shaun is up next so head over to his blog for his thoughts!

Today I Am Thankful For......

One of the most valuable groups of people in the writing world are agents. They are definitely worthy of a thankful post :) I am extremely thankful for my agent, Krista Goering. For non-fiction, many publishing houses will accept unagented submissions. However, while I could figure out how to send a query and proposal, after that, I'd be pretty clueless. I certainly wouldn't be able to negotiate better terms for my contracts or make sure I'm getting the biggest advance or royalty possible. I have no contacts in the non-fiction world and pretty much no idea who would be the best editor to contact or the best house to query. Krista handles all of that for me.

Not only does she handle all the paperwork, she also helps me with my projects, editing, coming up with new ideas, finding ways to get my name out there, be more marketable. She's always available if I have questions and quickly gets back to me no matter what the reason for my email.

I think agents are some of the hardest working people out there. I know writers often get frustrated, especially during the query and submission process, with non-responses or slow responses. But think about it from the agents' perspective. They get thousands of queries every year, hundreds of submissions - and that is on top of all the work they must do for their clients. And they don't get paid for most of the time and effort they put in. Agents are simply incredible and I, for one, am very grateful they are out there.

Thankful Awards

The super sweet Mary Anne Gruen over at the Starlight Blog awarded me and the rest of her followers with the Icing on the Cake Award recently. And I tell ya, this is one of the things I am incredibly thankful for - awesome fellow bloggers who take the time to do things like this. I am grinning ear to ear and drooling over the yummy award LOL


Thanks so much Mary!!


So, I want to pass on the Icing love - if you are a follower, commenter, reader, or what have you - consider yourself Iced! :D Post this award on your blog and know how wonderful I think you are that you take the time to read my ramblings. Can't tell you how much I appreciate each and every person who stops by this blog. Thanks to all of you!!!

 On a down note...day 3 of NaNo and I'm already behind :D How's everyone else doing?