A Saturday Quote

Everybody walks past a thousand story ideas every day. The good writers are the ones who see five or six of them. Most people don't see any.

- Orson Scott Card

Back on My Bike!

If you remember a post I wrote months back, you would know I was scared to get back on my bike. You can read that post and see a pretty gross bruise here. Well I'm happy to say I pushed past the fear this weekend and on Sunday I was back on the trails.

I learned I am out of shape. One hill and I was gasping for air, downing water like I was in the Sahara. But when I wasn't on the verge of dying, I loved every second of it. Just being in the middle of the woods, ripping down these trails, dodging trees and watching squirrels run alongside of me felt amazing. Even came pretty close to a mama deer and a baby deer. (Can you see them in the pic)

It's easy to let fear keep you from doing things, the hard part is refusing to let the fear run your life. It's the same way I feel about writing. Starting a new WIP or querying. There is no denying that querying is a scary time. Every time I send a query my heart stops, and then after I send I panic that something went wrong. Then the fear continues as I wait for a response. And when the response comes the fear escalates to new heights. But what's the alternative? Stop doing what I love because I'm scared. No way! Not going to happen. I refuse to let fear hold me back!

Is there anything you were scared to do and then once you did it you were happy you did? Even if you looked like this:

Where to Start?

I can honestly say, every single one of my manuscripts I started in the wrong place. Either I start too far into the story and fill the pages with back story, or I start way too early and fill the pages with unnecessary information. It's something I never realize until my CP's point it out to me, then I smack myself on the forehead.

My current WIP I started with the main character a girl who is the subject of bullying walking the halls of school, listening to the taunts and explaining about what happened at a party that caused everyone to go against her. When I should have started it where the story began. At the party! It seems like a no brainer, right? Well it took me three critiques and a comment from my mom to make me finally realize, I need to make a change.

I rewrote the first chapter, starting at the party and I honestly believe it made a world of difference. We'll see for sure when I jump back into querying.

So my question is, how do you know if you are starting in the right place? Do you ever really know?

I'm still here!!!

I played another disappearing act. Sorry about that. I'm finding it hard to balance work/writing/critiquing/blogging and life in general. There simply is not enough time to do everything I need to do. Seriously there needs to be more hours in the day. However, after two months at my new job I think I'm finally working it out. So expect more blog posts because they are coming.

Speaking of my new job, have any of you seen Invention Hunters on Food Network? If not it's a show where the two hosts go around the country looking for the next great kitchen gadget. They show three inventions and narrow it down to two and after a test run with the product they choose one. The one they choose they bring to Lifetime Brands to pitch in hopes they can make a deal.

Well, that's where I work. The stairs they walk up when they arrive are the same stairs I walked up the day of my interview. The boardroom they stand in to pitch their invention, I've sat in.

Pretty cool, huh?

I think so.

So that's where I've been. I really like my job, it's pretty darn cool actually, but I miss the months of being home and being able to hop around to all the awesome blogs and to write whenever I want. But it's a stepping stone in my life and in the two months of working there I have met some great people and have even filled up an entire notebook with ideas for future WIP's that would never have come about without this job.

How do you balance life/work/writing/blogging?

Marketing Plan, do you have one?

Maybe it's because I have a degree in Marketing or maybe I just like to waste time, but I love to come up with marketing plans for my manuscripts. Am I the only one who does this? Probably. The rest of you are likely writing while I'm day dreaming about promoting my book on the chance the moons align and I get published. Not that I will ever stop day dreaming.

The marketing opportunities for writers are endless especially with the whole world embracing social media. Now with the click of a button you can interact with someone in New York and someone in India at the same time. How awesome is that? Twenty years ago this wasn't possible.

Twitter, Facebook, Blogging, Pintrest so many awesome ways to promote your book and most importantly interact with readers and other writers. And I emphasis the importance of interacting. If you use social media only to promote your book, I will stop following you. You want people to like you, to want to read your book, not to black list you for being annoying. I can't tell you how excited I get, as a 27 year old, when one of my favorite authors tweets me back. I want to print that tweet out and hang it on my fridge. A simple tweet that took all of two seconds and it made my day. Social media is a huge opportunity for writers and aspiring writers as long as it is used with more than the intent of promotion. Believe it or not, interaction is key in a marketing plan. I can't wait to see what the future holds for social media.

Do you come up with marketing plans for your manuscripts? And do you agree with me about social media?

(This post went in a totally different direction than I was planning) 

Awards Galore!

I disappear from the blog world for a few days and I come back to Awards Galore! I have my floor length, form fitted, Oscar Red Carpet worthy gown on and am ready to accept my awards.

First up, the awesome Christine Rains has honored me with the Stylish Blogger Award:

For this award I have to share the last time I dressed up.

I have to admit I dress up everyday for work. I love heels even though my feet hate them. However, just because I dress up for work doesn't mean I actually feel pretty. The last time I dressed up and felt pretty good was probably Easter. Cute jeans, killer heels and a pretty top, accessories to match. However, the last time I felt amazing was probably when I went out with my friends. When we go out we always spend hours getting ready. Why? No idea. But it's fun and sometimes a girl needs to spend forever on her makeup and hair.

I pass this on to:

Becky @ Once Upon A Time

Kelley @ Between the Bookends

Danielle B @ Entertaining Interests

Jaycee  @  Jaycee DeLorenzo

Juliana  @ Juliana Haygert

Next award is the Kreativ Blogger award from another very awesome person A.K. Fotinos-Hoyer. In order to accept the award, I need to answer 10 questions and also share 10 random facts about myself. Now this was one of the first awards I have ever received, but since it has been so long and because I am so honored I'm going for it again.

10 Questions

What is your favorite song?  

Oh God this is a hard question. Gavin Degraw's Not Over You, Dave Matthew's Band's Why I am, My Chemical Romance's I'm Not Okay, Saves the Day's Rock Tonic Juice Magic, New Found Glory's Hit or Miss, Anything Matchbox Twenty. I can keep going, but I"m going to stop. 

What is your favorite dessert? Ice Cream and brownies

What ticks you off? Unnecessary drama.

What do you do when you're upset? Have a glass or three of wine. Crawl up on my couch with a blanket and book and let my mind wander somewhere else.

Which is/was your favorite pet? I can't choose! That's wrong. I love all equally. Lady my cocker spaniel (RIP my sweetie) Frank my Yorkie and Milton my bulging eye goldfish!

Which do you prefer, black or white? Black. Though I do love white, but whenever I wear it, it's a target for coffee stains.

What is your biggest fear? Never finding satisfaction in my career (never making it as an author). I second A.K.'s thoughts.

What is your attitude mostly?I used to be bitter. I blame it on working at a job for 10 years and never being appreciated, but now that I am out of there I refuse to go back to that mindset. I like being positive and happy and I'm sticking to it!

What is perfection? New York City at Christmas, The Northfork of Long Island in the Fall, New Hampshire in the Fall, The Atlantic in the summer and Central Park in the spring. 

What is your guilty pleasure? Teen TV shows.Gossip Girl, Vampire Diaries, Secret Circle, Dawson's Creek, One Tree Hill, Jane by Design, Gilmore Girls, Pretty Little Liars, The Lying Game, The OC, I'm stopping.

10 random facts about me:

1) I mountain bike
2) I have a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing
3) In middle school I played soccer, basketball, volleyball and softball
4) I smoked (a lot) as a teen, quit when I was 17 cold turkey and haven't had one since
5) I joined a softball team at work
6) I can't watch The Breakfast Club without reciting every single line
7) I have written eight manuscripts
8) There are at least 2 or more notebooks in my bag at all times, including pens and highlighters as well.
9) I never leave the house without a book in my pocket book. (It's a crowded bag)
10) Next year it will be ten years since I graduated high school and I get anxiety every time I think about it!

Now I pass this on to:
Carrie Anne @ Carrie Anne Brownian
Rachel @ Writing on the Wall
Chandra @ Chandra Writes
Laura @ Stranger Than Writing
Tara @ Tara Tyler Talks

Next up is the Booker Award! Thanks Kelley! You already know you are awesome.  

This award is for book bloggers only. To receive this award the blog must be at least 50% about books (reading or writing is okay)
Along with receiving this award, you must also share your top five favorite books you have ever read. (More than five is okay) You must give this award to 5-10 other lucky book blogs you adore.

Here goes:

1) Perfect Chemistry Series Simone Elkeles
2) Ruined Series Simone Elkeles

3) Going Too Far Jennifer Echols

4) Anna and the French Kiss Stephanie Perkins

5) The Darkest Powers Series Kelley Armstrong

6) Fixing Delilah Sarah Ockler 

7) The Destiny Series Toni Blake

8) The Beautiful Creatures Series Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

9) Sean Griswald's Head Lindsey Leavitt

10) The Next Best Thing Kristan Higgins (Anything by Kristan Higgins really)

I pass this on to:

Suzi @ Literary Engineer

Cortney @  Cortney Pearson

A.K  @ A.K. Fotinos-Hoyer.

Christine @ Christine Rains

Shiela @ Writings, Workouts and Were- Jaguars

Oh wow that was a whole lot of awards. If you made it to the end thank you! I think I need a nap now!