Notes from an Aspiring Writer

Bookish Saturday (4)

2012-01-28T14:57:00.005-06:00

Two nights ago, I finished the fantastic novel, Sisterhood Everlasting. I began this series in 2005, when I was a freshman in high school. Finally, seven years later, I got to the end of it. I was so excited to find out how it all ends that I couldn't sleep when I was done with it! I loved the book, and I love the Sisterhood, and I can guarantee you that someday, my daughter will read these books.

However, it is a new week, which means it's time for a new book! I am very excited about this one, because I am reading a book by one of my favorite authors, Jennifer Crusie! Maybe This Time was released last year, and I have been so excited about getting a chance to read it! If you're not familiar with Jennifer Crusie, she is a romance writer, with a bit of a twist. She is extremely talented, and I always have so much fun reading them!

On the other hand, I will also begin Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross this week for my Contemporary American Lit class. It is a play that I have never heard of, but which is apparently very popular, seeing as how there is also a movie, starring a few pretty big games. I'll be honest, when it comes to plays, I'm a little clueless, with the exception of a little Arthur Miller. I'm hoping to be caught up pretty soon :)

Happy reading this week!

xoxo,

Vicky B

Fictional Character Friday--The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

2012-01-27T10:05:00.005-06:00

In my Creative Writing class last week, we discussed out favorite authors, and the difference between literary fiction and genre fiction. "Literary fiction is more profound and meaningful," ended up being the conclusion the class came to. I beg to differ. Last night, I finished the last and final novel in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series. I began reading this series in 2005, when I was fifteen, the same age as the girls. Seven years I've spent with these girls, and at one time or another, the books expressed emotions I was feeling and I identified with one of the girls. To me, they were four of the most amazing, strong girls ever, and I continue to love them today, and they are a part of what made me who I am today.

Carmen Lowell- Carmen's parents were divorced when she was very young (like mine) and throughout the series she works hard to develop a relationship with her father and her new family when he gets remarried. She is overbearing, overdramatic, passionate, and obsessive (like me). Oh, and let's not forget that she's hispanic (like me). Of all the girls, she, in my opinion, is the most independent. She never takes crap from anyone, and she won't sacrifice her own happiness for what anyone else wants.

Bridget Vreeland- Bridget is easily the person the least like me. Her mother commits suicide before the novels even start, and she spends the rest of the series coping with the life she's been handed. She's restless, outgoing, adventurous, and fearless. Early on, she meets Eric, who is essential to the rest of the series. Of all the characters, I think she is the most profound. She is always changing, and it is hard to really know what she'll do at any point in time.

Lena Kaligaris- Lena and I are very similar. She is quiet, shy, and a little uncertain of herself. She is a beautiful person, but she has almost no confidence in herself, which often gets in the way of her and her happiness. She spends a large part of the series in Greece, with her grandmother, and it is there she meets Kostos. For the record, Kostos and Lena are probably my favorite couple from any book. I waited 7 years to see how their story ended, and I was not disappointed.

Tibby Rollins- Tibby is such a unique characters. If any of the girls are the most confusing, it is is Tibby. She has so much heart and wants to take care of her sisters, but at the same time, she is stubborn and sarcastic (Much like me). Throughout the series, she creates many fantastic relationships, the two most important being with Bailey, a young girl with cancer, and Brian, her boyfriend for the rest of the series.

Say what you want about Young Adult, but these four girls helped me through a lot of my high school experiences. I always wished I had a Sisterhood like this one. Sure, I have fantastic girlfriends, and we have fun, heartbreaking moments, but not like this.

The movies they made are not spot on. There are two instead of four, and they change around the stories a little bit, but I sincerely love them anyway.

xoxo,

Vicky B

Share a Scene Sunday (5)-- ABNA edition

2012-01-22T09:54:00.003-06:00

Have you ever been completely confident in the quality of a novel and then gone back to read it and gone, "Oh my gosh, why do I even bother? I'm a terrible writer!" ...that's what I did to myself last night. Tomorrow is the first day os registration for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest, and well, I didn't get a chance to revise the book I want to enter, and the only novel I have that's remotely good is not finished (my WIP). I could always enter the same one I did last year, but my pitch sucked, and I didn't make it to Round Two, so I'm thinking not.

Not sure exactly what I'm going to do, but I guess I have until midnight to figure it out! Until then, here's a little taste of Limelight and Dust:

She got started on the long hike back to her car, passing Sybil’s trailer, where she could see through the curtains that the lights were still on, and then she passed Cassey’s trailer, where loud music was emitting, howling through the night and making Juliet walk faster. She kept going, wishing she had a golf cart or something that she could just drive all the way across the lot, but then she passed the make-up trailer and froze. She could hear a squabble of voices, but they were too loud to be coming from inside the trailer. Leaning forward a little, she peeked around the side of the trailer and found that all the artists were gathered on the other side, so that the trailer was situated between them and her.

“How are they not an item?” one girl asked, whose voice she recognized as Paula’s.

“Oh my God, I know, right? How could you spend all day making out with Seth and then not want to go home with him at the end of the night?”

She didn’t recognize that voice, but that didn’t really surprise her. She had only worked with the other artists one day and she could barely tell them apart.

“They’ve got to be doing something, you know? I mean, they’ve known each other since they were like teenagers.”

Juliet tried to block out the things they were saying and was about to start walking to her car again, when she heard Paula again. “And what’s with him making the new girl his personal? What kind of bullshit is that? I earned that job.”

There was a sound of affirmation from the rest of the group, and Juliet tried to get closer to them, crouching down by the very corner of the trailer in hopes that she could see who was talking without them seeing her.

“Do you think he’s sleeping with her?” one of the girls asked, her eyes wide.

Another one rolled her eyes. “No freakin’ way. If you had a choice between that girl and Sybil, who would you choose?” The other girls nodded and agreed, like it was common sense, and even though Juliet knew it was ridiculous, she was wounded. It was true that she was nowhere near as pretty as Sybil, but she didn’t think she was all that bad looking.

“Besides,” one of the girls, who hadn’t said a word up until then, said, “I heard the only reason she got hired was because Sybil begged Sebastian. She’s nothing but a charity case.”

“If she’s such a charity case, then why does she have my job right now?” Paula demanded, putting a hand on her hip. The other girls looked at each other, like they all needed to come up with an answer for Paula, and quick. Eventually, one of them shrugged and Paula rolled her eyes. “Whatever. I don’t even care. But that tramp better watch her back. Just because she can get my job by being friends with the star, doesn’t mean she’s going to be able to perform well enough to keep it.”

Juliet’s lunch jumped up into her throat what she heard that, because of course, Paula was right. Sebastian hadn’t said anything about Seth’s make-up being inadequate, but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t be in the future, and it didn’t mean she was as good as Paula. Sure, she had a certain amount of job security as long as Seth chose to keep her around, but it certainly didn’t mean that Sebastian couldn’t fire her.

She couldn’t listen anymore. It was bad enough that Paula hated her, but she couldn’t believe that everyone did, and that they all thought Sybil was the only reason she got the job. She got the job because she was a good artist, but that just wasn’t enough for everyone.

She took off as quickly as she could, but apparently someone else was in as much of a hurry as she was, because when she turned the corner around the side of the set, she had to stop short to keep from bumping into someone moving just as quickly as she was. “Sorry,” she muttered, getting ready to move around them without even looking, but then there was a hand on her arm.

So, are you entering ABNA?

xoxo,

Vicky B

Bookish Saturday (3)

2012-01-21T09:03:00.006-06:00

I am very excited to announce that I finished Forever last night. I'll be honest, I was horribly afraid to get to the end, and this is why: I have a terrible disorder that causes me to skim the last page of most novels. Now, here's a little tip that can help you beat this disorder: reading the last page can sometimes (all the time) completely mislead you. This one included. Thanks to my disorder, I had prepared myself for the saddest, most heartbreaking end. But I got just the opposite. The end was beautiful in every way. I sincerely recommend the entire series. OH! But, um, if anyone can explain chapter 58 to me, I would really appreciate it, because I have no clue what happened!

Anyway, so onto this week. This week is very exciting (much like last week), because this week, I'm reading Sisterhood Everlasting! It's all very exciting, because I have been waiting for this moment, not only since the book came out, but since the last book in the series, Forever in Blue, came out. You see, there was a certain story line that was left wide open, and I didn't appreciate it (to say the least), so I'm very happy to see what happened.

However, that's not the only book I'm reading this Saturday. I'm also working on a book calledCeremony, by Leslie Marmon Silko. I don't know if you've read it, and to be honest, I'm not sure how I feel about it myself. I like it, but I don't like it all at the same time. I'm reading it for my Contemporary American Lit class, and I just can't decide on this one. I'll let you know what I think when I'm finished.

Happy reading this week!

xoxo,

Vicky B

Thoughtful Thursday-- Can You Be Original?

2012-01-19T17:03:00.002-06:00

This morning, as I sat outside of my first Lit class of the day, I happened to be approached by my Creative Writing teacher from last semesters, who I built a close friendship to over the course of our time together, and we had a little chat. Well, eventually we got around to the subject of originality, since he is delving into screenwriting right now, and let's face it, there's just not a whole lot of originality to be had.

Now, we've all heard, I'm sure, the saying that there is no such thing as a new story. "There is only one story," some wise author once wrote in a book. It makes complete sense, and I can't say I disagree. They all have the same premise, and they all have the same goal.

But that's not the only thing I mean when I say that originality is hard to find. Have you ever been walking through the bookstore, browsing the shelves of your favorite genre, and you pick up a book you've never seen before, and you read the jacket...and it sounds exactly like the manuscript you have at home, waiting for submission? Yeah, that's the worst. It's never happened to me, but I did once get an email from a reader, saying that she had just seen a book online that sounded just like my second novel, Anti-Boys.

Striving to find new, unique ideas is something that every artist in the world struggles with every day when they sit down to work. We've heard it all before: boy meets girl, vampires, aliens, superheroes, CIA agent, serial killer, wizard, elf, fairy, movie star, parent, teen, widow, sibling, sisterhood, brotherhood. It's all been done, and it's been successful because we all love it.

What do you think?

xoxo,

Vicky B

Music Monday (9)-- Glee

2012-01-16T13:14:00.002-06:00

You heard right, kiddos. This week is Glee week! I know that a lot of people are tired of hearing about Glee, The BF included, but I love Glee. They represent good view, encourage teens, and they sing great music! I've recently purchased a lot of the music featured on the show, and I would like to share my favorites with you, and believe me they were hard to pick!!

Yes, I'm very aware this one is in Spanish, but the song is in English, and that's what matters.

There are very few Glee videos I can watch without getting teary eyed. I just love them all, and I can't wait for Glee to come back!!

Happy listening!

xoxo,

Vicky B

Share a Scene Sunday (4)

2012-01-15T12:15:00.002-06:00

Alrighty, it's that time a week again! I've been trying hard to keep myself on track this week, getting through my novel, but it's been hard. I haven't been to work since Tuesday, I've been out of school, and the weather has been divine. How can I be expected to stay inside and work?

Well, anyway, I pulled out a random scene for Share a Scene Sunday, from my current WIP, Limelight and Dust. This is one of the very first scenes in the book, where the MC, Juliet, goes to work on a new set, where she will be catapulted into much drama with the other artists, actors, and such. Here we go:

Juliet’s fingers shook as she unpacked her make-up kit. Even though she wasn’t particularly glad to be back in the business, she was glad she had kept her kit updated, or she might be in big trouble. Looking down at her many brushes and powders, she knew she was prepared for anything they threw at her.

And yet, she was almost as nervous as she had been the very first day of her very first job, when she was sixteen years old and her mother was her boss.

“Juliet? Juliet?”

Sebastian’s high-toned voice rang out at her from the entrance. It set her heart to racing, and she dropped the bag in her hand. When it hit the floor, multi-colored eyeshadows scattered everywhere. Juliet bent to pick them up, hoping that no one else in the trailer had noticed. There were five other artists there with her, and she could tell by the way their high heels all froze that they had, in fact, noticed.

Then a pair of snake-skin cowboys boots stomped up to her, coming to a halt a few inches from her favorite set of eyeshadow. She wanted to reach for it, but she left it where it was and straightened to meet Sebastian’s eyes.

“Juliet,” he said, without greeting her in any other way, “this is Cassey. Cassey, this your new artist, Juliet.”

Juliet hadn’t even noticed the blond standing next to Sebastian. Thanks to her extremely tall heels, she towered a few inches over Sebastian, a detail Juliet found rather entertaining.

As she reached out to shake the girl’s hand, she realized it was the same girl that had been on set with Sybil a few days before, when Juliet had come to observe.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Juliet said loudly, trying hard to assert herself. Maybe that way she wouldn’t seem quite as terrified as she was.

The girl just nodded, giving Juliet what her high school speech teacher would have called a “dead fish” hand shake. “So, Paula is working with Seth now?” Cassey looked down at Sebastian and popped her gum. She placed a perfectly manicured hand on her jean-clad hip, sticking it out until it looked like she might fall over.

Sebastian rolled his eyes and nodded. “Unfortunately.”

Cassey rolled her eyes as well, chewing her gum loudly and with her mouth open. Well, at least Cassey had proven herself as an actress. She had certainly looked more ladylike the day before, when she had been rolling around in jungle mud.

“Such a waste,” she muttered. Although why she bothered to try and say it quietly Juliet didn’t understand. She obviously didn’t have any qualms about expressing the thought.

“Tell me about it.” Sebastian motioned for Cassey to have a seat in Juliet’s station, and Juliet suddenly felt like the red-headed stepchild. She should have known better than to think she would be welcome. Most of these people had been working together for just as long as she had known Sybil. She couldn’t expect to be welcomed with open arms.

She hadn’t exactly expected people to be mourning the promotion of her predecessor either.

Cassey dropped down into her seat with a sigh, without spitting out her gum or taking the sunglasses from her head, where they rested on top of her golden curls.

This has definitely been the most fun I've ever had writing a novel, and I hope the final product will be presentable!

xoxo,

Vicky B

Bookish Saturday (2)

2012-01-14T08:47:00.001-06:00

Two weeks later, I've finally finished Just One Taste. Siggghhhh. I just don't know what happened. The first two books of this series were so good. They were fun and romantic. But this one was...a little clumsy. The character development wasn't that great (other than Jesse and Frankie, who were already developed from previous novels), the plot line was cheesy and anti-climatic. I still had fun reading it, for the sake of the series, and characters I know and love, but I was very happy to move on to my next book for the year. the last book in the Wolves of Mercy Falls series, Forever.

This book came out last summer, and I have been waiting like a little kid on Christmas to read it! Three years ago, when I picked up the first one in the series, Shiver, at the Borders (that is now closed), I only did so because the cover was pretty. And then I read the first page, and it was love. You see, I'm a broke college student, and I don't get to spend a whole lot of money on new books, so I usually only buy books by my favorite authors, like Meg Cabot, Sarah Dessen, and Jennifer Crusie. But when this one came out, I knew I had to have it, so I spent my pocket money on it, and fell in love with Grace and Sam.

Now, Forever is the end of the series, and I'm very scared and sad to know how it will all end. If you haven't read anything by Maggie Stiefvater, do so, and quickly, because she is amazing!

xoxo,

Vicky B

Thoughtful Thursday-- Couples Writing Together

2012-01-12T11:29:00.004-06:00

So, I've been writing novels for about seven years now. I've written 10 young adult novels and am currently writing my first adult novel. I've been around the block a few times, and I know a lot of writers, including my wonderful mother and sister. However, when The BF came to me about writing, I was a little surprised. Not too surprised, because he had mentioned to me in the past that he liked to write short stories, but when he came to me and asked, "How would you feel if I told you I wanted to get published?" I wasn't entirely sure what to say.

I definitely don't have a problem with it. I actually really enjoy lying in bed with him, both of us writing on our computers and talking about our plots. It's always fun to have someone around that you can share things like that with, and I'm certainly not a competitive person. Now, I'm not going to lie, if he got published before I did, I would be a little bitter, only because I've been working toward publication for the last four years, but I would certainly be happy for him.

Besides, no one in my family even writes in the same genre, really, that I do. I write Mainstream Young Adult fiction, whereas my sister writes under the Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre, and my mother writes religious fiction. The BF wants to write Middle Grade fiction, which is an area I doubt I'll ever touch. So, there's really not a problem here. We wouldn't be in competition in any way.

It's always nice to have something you can share with your significant other, but I know that having the same career can be hard on some couples. What do you think?

xoxo,

Vicky B.

Wednesday Wishlist-- The Scorpio Races

2012-01-10T23:37:00.005-06:00

Can I just pause for a minute and mention how horribly behind I am on my Maggie Stiefvater reading? And yes, I understand that I'm only behind because I had a bout of insanity last year, but still...not cool, because I seriously, seriously want to read Forever (which I'll be getting to before the end of the week). However, even though Forever, Lament, and Ballad are all sitting on my shelf, it's The Scorpio Races I have my eye on.

Here's a little bit about it: Some race to win. Others race to survive.

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line.
Some riders live.
Others die.
At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.
Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn't given her much of a choice. So she enters the competition - the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.
As she did in her bestselling Shiver trilogy, author Maggie Stiefvater takes us to the breaking point, where both love and life meet their greatest obstacles, and only the strong of heart can survive. The Scorpio Races is an unforgettable reading experience.

Maggie Stiefvater is a truly gifted writer. I'll be reading Forever in just a couple of days, and I can't wait any longer! If you don't know anything about her, take a look. She is a fantastic person, and an amazing artist!

Music Monday (8)-- Hot Chelle Rae

2012-01-09T11:00:00.004-06:00

Once upon a time, before they were known for Tonight Tonight, Hot Chelle Rae put out a fantastic album called Lovesick Electric. It was much more rock than their newest album, Whatever, and one song on it, called Never Have I Ever, sits perfectly on my playlist for my WIP, Limelight and Dust. The song goes well with the scene I posted yesterday, and very well describes the relationship between the hero, Seth, who is known as the Hollywood playboy, and Juliet, who somehow manages to get under his skin early on in their friendship.

Also, there are a few other songs by HCR as well, just a few of my favorites! Well, I really hope you like the music!

Also, as a bonus, I'd like to share with you a song called We Are young, originally by the band FUN, but redone by the fantastic cast of Glee! It has been a serious inspiration, and I love it with all my heart! Plus, Chord Overstreet, who plays Sam on Glee, is the young brother of Nash Overstreet, who is the lead guitarist of Hot Chelle Rae!

xoxo,

Vicky B

Share a Scene Sunday (3)

2012-01-08T10:59:00.002-06:00

Since November 1st, I've been working on a little novel called Limelight and Dust, my very first novel that cannot be categorized under the Young Adult genre, and it has been quite a ride. I think it's almost done, but it certainly has figured out a way to draw itself out into something rather interesting and complex. Basically, it's about a make-up artist who falls in love with an actor, which gets her in a lot of trouble, especially since she managed to get herself a little stalker. I've had a lot of fun with this one, since I haven't had to censor myself. I love being able to let lose and really get the story out the way I want to. So, here's a little scene for you:

Seth noticed her as soon as he walked into the room, but he wasn’t the kind of guy to seem desperate, so he went to the bar first. His whole body was hot just thinking about her looking at him, and he knew she was. He ordered a Jack and Coke and leaned against the bar, but then he couldn’t keep his eyes from straying to her.

He had no idea what she was doing there. Make-up artists were certainly never invited to these sorts of things, but he also knew that most make-up artists weren’t friends of Sybil’s, a fact that Sybil could no longer deny, since they looked awfully cozy, sitting next to each other.

She stared back at him for a few seconds, but then her eyes widened, as if she had just noticed he was watching her, and then she looked away. He couldn’t tell if she was blushing, thanks to the annoying pink lights, but he could certainly hope.

He planted himself against the bar and watched her and Sybil talk, and then Sybil got up and went to talk to someone across the room. The girl sat there by herself, as the other girls around her also got up, and he wanted to go over there. He wanted to sit next to her and run his hand up that sexy leg of hers. He wasn’t quite sure how it had happened, but since he left her trailer that morning, he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her.

It took him a very miserable second to realize that Cassey was coming straight toward him. He looked away from the make-up artist and turned to face the bar, hoping she would think he wanted to be alone. Sure, Cassey was hot, but she was also nineteen. He was rounding thirty, and wasn’t particularly interested in boinking a teenager.

“Hey, Seth. What’s going on?”

Thankfully, the bartender chose that moment to set his drink in front of him. He snatched it up and gulped down as much of it as he could before his eyes started to water. “Hey, Cassey. What are you doing here? Aren’t you too young to be in a place like this?”

The beautiful blonde bimbo rolled her eyes. “Please. They let me in here without any questions, you know that.” She took a step closer to him, so that he could feel the heat of her body against his. “I guess that’s the benefit of working with someone as amazing and sexy as you. People get to know a girl like me.”

Seth nodded and turned toward the bar again, trying to make his point clear. He had never been more uninterested in Cassey than he was right then. All he could think about was the woman on the other side of the room. “Cassey, if you don’t mind, I kind of just want to be alone.”

He spoke into her reflection in the mirror over the bar, and he took pride in her next expression. Her mouth fell open a little, and her strategically placed body went stiff. “Whatever, Seth.” But she did exactly the opposite of what he hoped she would. She leaned in closer and pressed her lips against his ear. “Look, I know you want me, and it’s only a matter of time before you give in.”

Her hot breath sent chills down his spine, and he turned to look at her, his face just inches from hers. They were both silent for a second, but then Cassey stepped back, winked at him, and walked away.

He watched her go, until she had moved far enough away from him that he could focus on the make-up artist again. She was still there in the corner of the room, practically disappearing into the couch, and he knew he had to save her.

If there are any writers out there, reading this, I hope you'll share a scene of your own, and I would love to read it!

xoxo,

Vicky B

Fictional Character Friday--Frasier Crane

2012-01-06T08:28:00.004-06:00

When I was a kid, I watched a lot of TV shows with my mother. I was always really into black and white television shows like Gilligan's Island, The Munsters, and I Love Lucy, but there was also the occasional episode of Frasier. When I was younger, I really only watched Frasier because of David Hyde Pierce, who, in my opinion, is freaking adorable, but about two weeks ago, they put Frasier on Netflix instant, and now that I'm old enough to understand all the jokes (made all the better by the fact that I'm a Literary Studies major), the show is twice as hilarious as it used to be.

Now, before I delve into just how much I love Frasier, I should start by saying that I never watched Cheers, a fact The BF finds blasphemous, since I'm such a fan of Frasier, but there was always something appealing about Frasier that just wasn't appealing about Cheers, and I'm not sure why. I never watched Cheers, so I'm not sure if it has the same kind of intelligent humor that Frasier does, but I think that's what I love most about the show.

While Niles is definitely my favorite character in the show, I love how completely complicated Frasier is. He has this view that he deserves the best in life, and that he just might be better than everyone else, and yet he feels the need to protect people's feelings for the sake of their "mental health". He is always so level-headed until something causes him to snap, and then his outrageous anger is nothing short of hysterical.

If you've never watched Frasier, I suggest you get right on it. The fantastic relationship between Frasier, Niles, and Martin is just priceless. Happy viewing!

xoxo,

Vicky B

Wednesday Wishlist-- All These Things I've Done

2012-01-04T00:06:00.002-06:00

Once upon a time, I was a member of a book club. Mind you, I'm not very fond of book clubs, mostly because I don't like reading deadlines, and I don't like it when people pick my books for me, and, well, I just don't like books clubs. Nonetheless, I was part of the Poteet High School Book Club, run by the librarians of the school, and I managed to discover a few good books, and one fantastic author, that I'm sure you've all heard of: Gabrielle Zevin.

When I was a Senior, I read Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac, a book that has really stuck with me for the last three years. So, I was walking through the bookstore (which I rarely visit because I never have money for books), and I happened to see Gabrielle Zevin's new book, All These Things I've Done. And it sounds sooooo good! I won't lie, I've had Elsewhere sitting on my shelf for about two years, but I'm definitely going to read it this year, and I'm also going to add her new novel to my collection. Here's a little blurb so you can add it to your wishlist too!

In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city's most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.'s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidently poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she's to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight—at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family.

Bookish Saturday (1)- New Year's Eve edition

2011-12-31T10:53:00.005-06:00

So, in order for me to explain what I plan on doing with Bookish Saturdays, I first have to explain exactly what I was doing for most of 2011. You see, somehow I decided it would be a good idea to read nothing but classic literature, written before 1960. At the time, I understood that this would be a difficult year of reading. I knew it would drive me a little crazy, but MAN! Did it drive me CRAZY! I loved the majority of the books I read, but now that 2012 is just around the corner, I sooooo badly want to read books written in the last five years! So, that's what Bookish Saturdays are about. I want to celebrate the reading of books! So, every Saturday, I'm going to do a little blurb about the book I'm reading.

This week, with 2012 a mere 13 hours down the road, I have already chosen my first book of the year, and while it might be a little anti-climatic, due to number of books on my list that people have been rubbing in my face for the last 12 months, I chose Just One Taste by Louisa Edwards.

I chose this particular novel because it happens to be the last one I wanted to read at the end of 2010, but thanks to a mix up at the library (which the attendants were so rude about that I never want to go back to that library again, and that's saying a lot), I did not get to read it before the year was up, so I decided that I should just pick up where I left off and since I purchased Just One Taste in 2011, I don't have to rely on the terrible library again (even though, since I moved, that library is much further away than it used to be, and it doesn't even make sense for me to go there any more, when I have, like, the best library in DFW just down the street).

For those of you who don't know who Louisa Edward is, she is a very gifted romance novelist, and Just One Taste is the third novel in her Recipe for Love series, the first two of which were fantastic! All three of the books center around the love lives of famous and talented chefs and their women, and we all know how well food and romance go together. Yum!

So, there you have it. This year, I plan to go through all the books I spent 2011 pining for, including such popular titles as If I Stay, The Hunger Games, Hush Hush, The Eternal Ones, and I Am Number Four. I am really very behind and look forward to spending the next 12 months catching up.

Guys, 2012 is going to be a great year. I feel like I've been waiting for it for a long time (4 years to be exact. Thank the Lord for the 2012 London Olympics!), and it's going to be epic. Hopefully, by the end of the year, I'll have a new job, I'll have my work published somewhere, and I'll be engaged! But let's not get ahead of ourselves. 2012 doesn't even start until tomorrow!

So, I'm going to go, but I hope you guys have a great time ringing in the new year!! Go out and party, like I plan to! Kiss your loved one at midnight, and thank our Saviour that we have another great year to look forward to!

xoxo,

Vicky B

2011 End of the Year Book Survey

2011-12-28T20:08:00.005-06:00

The 2011 End of Year Book Survey is hosted by The Perpetual Page-Turner. This is the first time I've heard of it, and I thought since I feel like I had such an epic year where reading is concerned, that I would go ahead and participate.

1. Best Book You Read In 2011?
Jane Eyre, hands down. I'm still ashamed that it took me this long to read it, because I think it is now one of the best books I've ever read. It was so amazing, and so beautiful, and I will be a Rochester fan for life (especially since Michael Fassbender portrayed him. Whew!)

2. Most Disappointing Book/Book You Wish You Loved More Than You Did?
I guess I always imagined that there would be some sort of life-altering aspect toThe Catcher in the Rye that would change my reading forever, sort of like Jane Eyre, but I was really disappointed. I could see how this novel would be ground-breaking in its day, but I was extremely unimpressed.

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2011?
Probably Hound of the Baskervilles. I always knew I would eventually collide with Sherlock Holmes, but I never imagined I would enjoy it so much. I'll admit, part of the reason I decided to get involved is because of Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, because come on, ya know? But I fell so in love with Sherlock Holmes inHound of the Baskervilles, and I cannot wait to read more!

4. Book you recommended to people most in 2011?
Probably...hmmm...I guess either Jane Eyre or The Dew Breaker, or And Then There Were None. There were just so many good ones.

5. Best series you discovered in 2011?
Actually, I didn't read a series this year, discover one, or anything else. Just wasn't that kind of year I guess.

6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2011?
Wow. Um. Edwidge Danticat and Henry James, definitely. And all the Bronte sisters.

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
Probably the more sci-fi novels like Clockwork Orange and 1984. It takes a lot to get me to read really dark novels, and both of these novels are dark.

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2011?
And Then There Were None. That probably sounds really cheesy, but it's true. That book is intense, to say the least, and even though it was written years ago, I was still a step behind all the characters, and about ten steps behind Agatha Christie. I mean, wow.

9. Book you most anticipated in 2011?
Probably either Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights. They're both have such a huge following in the kind of reading circles I'm a part of that I was really looking forward to finally reading them.

10. Most memorable character in 2011?
Probably Rochester. I know this is all totally cliche and boring, but it's the truth. I fell massively in love with Rochester, and I think I would read Jane Eyre over and over just to experience him more.

11. Most beautifully written book read in 2011?
I'm going to say The Dew Breaker. Seriously, if you haven't read anything by Edwidge Danticat yet, please do. She is an incredible writer. I have never felt so inspired by this kind of story before, and I would recommend this book to anyone who called themselves a reader.

12. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2011?
Impact is a big word. See, this semester, I took a lit class that focused a lot on genocide in Rwanda and Haiti, so it's hard to use the word impact lightly after such an experience, so I'm honestly going to say that We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families probably impacted me the most as a human being.
However, as a writer and a reader, it was probably Wuthering Heights. This book confused me in the darkness and violence of it, but yet, in the end, I understand why it's so loved, and I think it is beautiful.

13. Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2011 to finally read?
Jane Eyre. I can't possibly push that enough. Why, oh why, wasn't I reading this in high school when all I wanted to read were sappy love stories???

14. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2011?
" 'I wish they may shovel in the earth over us both!' and I wrenched more desperately still. There was another sigh, close at my ear...I felt Cathy was there, not under me, but on the earth. A sudden sense of relief flowed, from my heart, through every limb... Her presence was with me; it remained while I re-filled the grave, and led me home." -Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights
Okay, so, even though I couldn't decide how to feel about a single character in this book, I still cried like a baby when I read this part. There was something about Heathcliff's love for Catherine that sincerely touched me.

15. Book That You Read In 2011 That Would Be Most Likely To Reread In 2012?
Probably Hound of the Baskervilles because I'm hoping to read all Sherlock Holmes soon.

16. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!
The very end of And Then There Were None. No joke. I did not see that coming! I immediately called my mother, who had read the book before, and was like OMG!

This has been a truly unique year of reading, and to be honest, I hope I never have a year like this again, because 26 books later, I'm miserable, and while wiser, dying to read some MEG CABOT! Year of Classics, I bid thee farewell!

xoxo,Vicky B

I'm Back!

2011-12-23T18:43:00.002-06:00

For good this time, too. We're going to pretend like I didn't horribly fail my last challenge and abandon my blog so that I could focus on NaNoWriMo and school, although it ended up being for the better, since I managed to get a 4.0 for the semester! But that's besides the point :) I'm back, and I plan to revamp a little bit (but just a little bit). You see, 2012 is the year of publication, and before you laugh, I don't mean any of my many novels, which are still eagerly waiting to be represented by a publisher who can sell my work to HarperCollins.

No, what I mean by the year of publication is, this is my year to get experience in the industry. I'm going to perfect my work in short stories, poetry, and maybe even non-fiction articles, and try to get them published so that I can have a bit of a platform for my work. I also have a Facebook page, and I'm hoping to actually maintain it this year.

I guess all of this stems from the fact that it seems like all of my writing buds hit it big in 2010 and 2011. Two of them got published, one got an agent, and one is self-publishing some time in the near future. I think my work is in a really awesome place right now, and if I can just focus on it, I can get representation for my novel before I graduate in 2013. So, that's the plan, and I'm going to need this blog to do it. I'm hoping to get back into posting a few times a week, with interests and book talk, and I'm counting on my fantastic readers to stick in there and recommend me! Thanks for reading guys, and Happy Holidays!

xoxo,

Vicky B

X is for Xenophobic

2011-08-30T16:22:00.002-05:00

If there's anyone who is afraid of change, it's me. I'm not nearly as bad as I used to be. I couldn't even buy a new comforter without a panic attack. But one place I have always been comfortable making change is in my writing. I love finding new things to do with my novels, different kinds of structure, different writing methods. Changing it up is the best way to grow in your writing.

Every time I start a new novel, I decide on something different I'm going to do with it. My first two novels were what I considered to be normal: It was first person, past tense, chapters that contained multiple scenes, a mainstream novel, and your basic love story. Now, I still love a good love story, but a lot of things have changed along the way. In my third novel, not only did I write a little sci-fi, but I also wrote in the present tense, a feat which was very difficult to accomplish and that I will never try again. In my fourth novel, I wrote from the point of view of a mother and a daughter, each telling their part of a timeline in each chapter. In my fifth, sixth, and seventh novels (all parts of a trilogy), I wrote from the POVs of two people but both told the story in first person, which was challenging and fun, especially since one was a girl and one a boy.

In my eighth novel, well, I didn't really experiment with that one. This was primarily due to the fact that it was for NaNoWriMo, and I was keeping it pretty basic for the sake of getting it done.

In the novel I'm working on now, the story is separated into four parts, in honor of George Orwell's 1984. I thought it would be a great way to allow myself to skip around and tell a story that took place across a longer span of time than I was used to. It will also feature titled chapters.

Finding something new, even if it's a tiny little thing, to do in your novels is a lot of fun. It opens you up to new things, and gets those creative juices flowing even faster. Give it a try!

xoxo,

Vicky

W is for Wordcount

2011-08-24T15:33:00.002-05:00

Wordcount is something I've talked of so much in the world of publishing. Too long? Too short? What's right for a novel? Well, there's no right or wrong answer, but there are a few general examples that you can follow, in my opinion:

1. If it's less than 50,000 words, it can usually be considered a novella. That's not say that there aren't novels that are under 50,000 words, or that there is some concrete number to abide by. This is just a ballpark estimate, where you should be safe.

2. A young adult novel is generally between 50,000 and 80,000 words. When Harry Potter and Twilight came out, the word count that was seen as adequate for teen novels went up, but most agents said they were turning down novels that were over 100,000 words because they were just too long.

3. A general fiction novel can pretty much be as long as you need to tell the story. I'm almost positive an agent never turned Stephen ing down because his novels were too lengthy

4. When writing a novel, don't focus on word count. Do what you need to do to tell the story. If someone doesn't approve of the length, well there are others out there who will.

xoxo,

Vicky

V is for Villains

2011-08-22T13:26:00.003-05:00

Now, I had this blog post planned out when I first started this challenge, but now that I'm closer to NaNoWriMo, it has taken on a whole new point of view. Literally. Come November, I'll be trying my hand at a villain's POV. I don't want to go into too much detail, but it's going to be a real challenge. I've never written from the POV of a crazy person, so I think it's going to be a lot of fun. So, let's talk about villains.

There's something really fun about writing villains. I think it has something to do with getting out the author's truly cruel side without any sort of repercussions. You can be as mean as you want and say all the things you might have always wanted to say, but you're too nice of a person...

Is that just me? Or that everyone?

So, the best type of villain to write in my opinion, is the unknown villain. That's the one that you think is a good guy until the last few chapters, when they turn on the hero and ruin everything. They're fun to read and fun to write, because all along you knew something wasn't right, but you just can't place it. And then BAM! They turn out to be a traitor. Fun all around!

What's your favorite type of villain to read or write?

xoxo,

Vicky

U is for Untitled

2011-08-08T12:20:00.002-05:00

For most writers, titles are the ever elusive step in the process toward completing a novel. It's true that titles are important. Along with the cover, the title is the first impression a reader gets about what kind of book they're looking at. And of course...most authors suck at titles. Come on, admit it. When you're done with your book (or even when you're not done), you sit in front of your computer (or piece of paper) and say to yourself, "What would be an awesome title for this book???" You try to come up with something, and maybe it's good, but 90% of the time...it's not.

Of course, I'm just generalizing. There are some people out there that ROCK at titles! Here's what Meg Cabot has to say: Titles are tricky! I don’t usually think of a book’s title until the book is almost finished. Sometimes I can’t think of a title at all, and the publisher will have to come up with one. Sometimes my publisher won’t like my title, or there will already be a book with that same title published recently. I would say of all my book titles, 50% are ones I’ve come up with, and 50% are ones my publishers have come up with."

Yes, I go to Meg for everything. She is my hero, and I look up to her in every way. But that's not the point! Yes, titles are important!!! However, titles don't make a story! I read somewhere (can't remember where) that most agents or publishers barely give the title a second look when reading through a query. It's true! Because titles can always change. They are definitely not a way to judge an author's writing abilities. If that was true, man would I be screwed!

So, to wrap up this little ditty, I would like to just say, that my novel DOES have a title, for once, and it doesn't completely suck. The one I am currently working on is called How to Drown. I think it works, but that's just me. Have a great weekend!!

xoxo,

Vicky

T is for Tragedy

2011-08-07T10:54:00.004-05:00

I don't care what it takes, I'm going to finish this challenge some time before NaNoWriMo, which is in 85 days, if you were curious. But that's not the point. The point is Tragedy. Here's the thing about tragedies: I don't write them, and I very rarely read them. But that doesn't mean I don't know a thing or two about them, like that usually tragedies are the best stories, even if Comedies are what make you feel good. Think about it: you love the happy endings, but the deaths are the ones that stick with you.

Saying that, I've always just sort of assumed that there would come a day when I would write a tragedy. It's just one of those things I want to do once, like writing a Cinderella story or a period piece. I want to write one story, where one of the lovers dies at the end. While I don't think it's something that I would be able to pull off now, I know there will come a day (maybe when I have the BF sitting next to me the whole time to make me feel better) when I will write a tragedy.

In the long run, tragedies are generally more popular. Think about it, Jane Austen is a very famous author, but Pride and Prejudice while extremely popular, will never have the sort of fame and following that Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet does. So why is this the case? Why do people love being sad? Why are authors like Nicholas Sparks and Jodie Picoult so popular in our culture? I'm all about the comedy and the happy ending, though I do appreciate a good tragedy.

What about you?

xoxo,

Vicky

S is for Shakespeare + Sherlock Holmes

2011-07-17T11:47:00.003-05:00

I know I'm rather ridiculous. Obviously, I've failed this challenge, but I still feel the need to finish it! So, when I actually have time, I have to do it! So, here I am, I have an hour before work, and I must write about none other than, William Shakespeare!

Once upon a time, after reading The Tempest and As You Like It, I thought Shakespeare rather overrated. In AP English, I studied King Lear, Richard III, and Macbeth. They are all, of course, well-written and interesting, but I just didn't see what all the fuss was about. Until I read Hamlet. Yes, Romeo and Juliet is good, and so is A Midsummer Night's Dream, but nothing tops Hamlet. I've read it many times, studied every word with my English teacher at the time, who was a complete Shakespeare genius, and bought the 4-hour Kenneth Branagh version. I am obsessed.

So, what does Shakespeare have to do with anything? He simply serves as an example of why we have to study our history. It is true that we cannot write effectively without studying other authors in our own genre, but I believe it is also true that we study the people who were considered great in our past. This doesn't just mean Shakespeare, but also Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Earnest Hemingway, and many, man others. This is, in fact, why I decided to spend the year reading nothing but classics by authors whose works are considered stepping stones to the kind of fiction we write today.

Thing brings me to my newest Blogging the Classics. I recently finished The Hound of the Baskervilles! I was very impressed by how ahead of his time Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was. I was expecting a novel that was confusing and hard to keep up with, with lots of winding dialogue and mystery that was too deep to crack. But I was very surprised and entertained by the story and by Doyle's ability to spin out an incredible piece of fiction. I will forevermore be a Sherlock Holmes fan, that is for sure.

I have nor more to say today, and I hope it won't be another month before I have the time to come back for T!

xoxo,

Vicky

R is for Rejection

2011-06-28T10:30:00.004-05:00

Ahh! So, it's been an insanely busy month, which is just one reason I am so horribly behind on blogging. I'm pretty sure I failed the challenge, since you're not even supposed to miss a day. But I am determined to finish, so here it is. REJECTION. Rejection is the worst. I remember reading an article that some magazine did about Stephenie Meyer, author of Twilight, and the article was like, "she was rejected over a dozen times!" OH NO! Not over a dozen! -__- Let us count the number of rejections in my special rejection folder...

After querying for the last 3 years, I have received...wait for it...18 rejections! I've sent way more queries than that, but those are just the ones I actually received replies from. Rejections don't bother me. Yeah, I may be a little downhearted for a few minutes, but I immediately jump back in. I take another look at my query, tweak it, and send it again. Don't let rejection get you down. There's no one way to deal with it, other than to let it help make you better.

xoxo,

Vicky

Q is for Query

2011-05-26T11:24:00.004-05:00

If you haven't noticed, I'm a little behind in my A-Z Blogging Challenge, and this is why: I created a list of writing-related terms that I was going to blog about back when I decided that I was going to do this thing, and I was going at an ok pace. There were a few days when I missed out, but that's just because life got hectic. But then, obviously, the posts came to screeching halt, and this is why: I can't write about queries. Why? Because if I knew anything about queries, I would be a published author, right? I would at least have had one of the over a dozen recipients of my queries over the past three years request a partial, but I haven't. The only thing my queries have done for me is get me to Round Two of the Amazon Breakthrough novel Award contest, which may seem cool, but then my novel was seriously ripped to shreds by the judges.

I'm no good at queries. I've queried two books in the last three years, my first two, It's All About the Music and Anti-Boys, and while I have received good wishes, that's really about all. I have rewritten and rewritten and rewritten my queries; I've submitted them to query critique sites to get outside opinions; I've read books solely on how to create a query that will catch attention, but to no avail. I guess that's not to say that my queries suck. it could also mean that my novels suck and no one wants to read them, which at this point I'm rather inclined to believe.

So, there you have it: the reasons I'm not qualified to write about queries, because the only thing I have to say about queries is that they suck, and I suck at writing them.

That is all.

xoxo,

Vicky

P is for Prologue

2011-05-18T10:58:00.003-05:00

Even though I don't particularly have anything against them, when I open a book and see that it has a prologue, I sigh and roll my eyes and it takes me much longer to read it than it should. Because let's face it, prologues generally suck. Sure, every once in a while you get a good one, but it's rare. One of the first things a critique group (or an agent for that matter) will say when they see that you have a prologue is, "Lose the prologue." It happens every time.

So, the question is, why are prologues so dreaded? Well, here are a few reasons:

1. They're boring. The reader wants to get to the story. They don't want to sit around for 10+ pages waiting to get into the action.

2. They're too long. Prologues that are a page are two are generally not that bad. But prologues that excess about five pages is crossing the line. get on with it already!

3. They're all about the past. Yes, the past is important in a novel, but it's better to show the past along the way instead of shoving it in the reader's face to begin with. A very wise editor once told me, "begin the story on the day that everything changes."

That's really all I have to say for prologues. If they can be avoided, avoid them. Because sometimes, a reader might pick up a book, open it up to find a prologue, roll their eyes and put it right back on the shelf. Don't give them a chance to want to put it down! Nix the prologue, and get to the story :)

xoxo,

Vicky

O is for Opening Line

2011-05-12T09:29:00.000-05:00

Other than a happy ending, the opening line of a book is my favorite part. It's what decides whether or not I'm going to spend my time on it, so it better be good. To me, opening lines are the first bite of a dessert. It can either make a funny face and order something else, or you can go, "Mmmm," and smile and gobble down the rest of it. Those are the best, aren't they? The ones where you read the first line, or the first paragraph, and immediately buy the book because you can't imagine putting it back on the shelf.

I'm not very good with opening lines. To me, they are witty and fun and deep and beautiful, all at once, just like a title. And I suck at those, too. But that's not the point. I want to share with you some of my favorite first lines:

"I remember lying in the snow, a small red spot of warm going cold, surrounded by wolves." -Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

"This story begins within in the walls of a castle, with the birth of a mouse." -The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

"Jason was going to Brain Camp. It had another name, a real name, but that's what everyone called it." -The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

"Alice waited for Paul on the ferry dock." -The Last Summer (of You and Me) by Ann Brashares

There are a lot more, but I can't remember most of them, and my books are all packed away :) Anyway, you get my point. Opening lines make or break a novel, at least for me. It's what reels the reading in, and it's what makes them want to invest in your story. They're important. Period.

xoxo,

Vicky

N is for Nepotism

2011-05-11T12:14:00.000-05:00

Okay, so nepotism might not be the right word, but when I heard it a couple of weeks ago, it seemed to fit the topic that I wanted to discuss, and that is getting famous off of your friends, family, whatever. I know that contacts are important in an industry like ours. If you know someone who knows someone who knows someone, why wouldn't you use that in order to make your dreams come true? But what about riding on the fame of your loved ones?

Take Tabitha King for example. Now, if you read Stephen King's autobiography (of sorts), On Writing, you find out that Stephen actually met his wife in a writing group. They were both writers, and I'm sure Tabitha is very talented (I've never read one of her novels), but you know there had to be a form of favoritism there with Stephen's agent or publisher. Now, I'm not saying this is completely true. I don't know the whole story, but I have my suspicions.

Many of my family members are writers. My mother writes Christian fiction novels, my sister writes fantasy novels for young adults and adults, and my aunt recently mentioned that she's writing a romance novel. I also have a few friends who have been published or at least have agents, and even though it would be cool to someday have connections, I don't want to be famous just because I have famous family or friends. Thankfully, I have a different last name than both my mother, my sister, and my aunt.

How would you feel about sharing the fame with your family? Or using their connections to get published?

xoxo,

Vicky

M is for Mainstream

2011-05-10T13:07:00.004-05:00

Ok, so yesterday I talked about what usually qualifies a romance novel, today I will talk about Mainstream novels. I realize that mainstream is a very broad term, but for some writers, that's the only term that really describes what they write. Not everyone writes Fantasy, Science Fiction, Romance, Mystery, etc. Some people just write everyday books by everyday people, and that's where the mainstream genre comes in.

What do you call a book about a girl whose parents are getting a divorce, she's working her butt off at a job to pay for a prom dress, she's dating one guy but her best friend is in love with her, and she finds out that her mother has been paying her bf to date her (no, we do not call it a terrible book, even though it is)? That's called mainstream fiction. Yes, it would usually just be filed under young adult, and everyone would move on with their lives, but for most people, that's not good enough. We want to dig deeper. We want to understand what makes up the plot.

Yes, I would qualify my novels under the genre Young Adult Romance, but you're generally not going to find a genre like that. Most of the time, it's just going to be classified under Young Adult Mainstream Fiction. Yup, that's the life of someone like me :) I don't like to write about unicorns and space ships. I don't want to write murder mysteries or courtroom dramas. I just like to write about normal people in maybe not-so-normal situations. And mainstream is my genre.

What's your genre?

xoxo,

Vicky

L is for Love Stories

2011-05-09T14:30:00.003-05:00

Romance novels have somehow been given a bad name over the years, which is ironic, since romance sales make up 13.2 percent of the market (basically the biggest part of the market). And yet people say it's trash. But not all love stories have to be romance novels. I, for one, do not write romance novels, in the sense that romance novels are usually classified as adult novels with sexuality (don't get onto me for generalizing, especially when we all know it's true.

I write Young Adult romance novels, which might sometimes include sex and might also involve adults, but don't necessarily have to include either. The reason I like love stories (and the reason I write them) is because I like happy endings. I like people to find their other halves, to have someone who can help them through their problems. Everybody needs a little help. I think the other reason might be because I was pretty lonely in high school. Everything started with my idea of the perfect guy (see J is for Jonathan Vogel), and everything just exploded from there. I love the thrill of the chance and the drama of the break-up, then the passion in the reunion. It's fin and it's beautiful, and I love to do it!

But there's much more to love stories than just boy meets girl, boy falls for girl, boy loses girl, etc. It's about companionship and healing and self-confidence. My favorite part is finding new ways to screw my characters up so that I can find new ways to heal them. And maybe the love story is the healing, and maybe it's not. Who knows? Love stories are my favorite, and even though I dream of someday writing a story that doesn't end happy, it may never happen, because happy endings make everything better.

So, yeah, that's why I love love stories!

xoxo,

Vicky

K is for Killing Characters

2011-05-08T08:59:00.006-05:00

I know better than anyone how hard it is to kill off a character. And this is how I know: I've never done it, and I've never done it because it's too hard! And because I write young adult romance novels, and most of the time, it's just not necessary to kill off a character. I mean, I have killed off one character, but he was a villain and it was a very much needed death. It wasn't like anyone was going to miss him.

But when it comes to a hero that everyone loves? No, not so much. I can't just pick them off the way JK Rowling did, and I can't write a novel about someone who was destined to die, like Jodie Picoult. Heck, I can't even read books like that. It's just too depressing.

Yet, here I am, in the midst of writing a novel where someone is set to die. It's not one of the main characters, but it's the mother of one of the main characters, will be almost as hard, since she is going to be a sweet woman, and she is based off The BF's mom, who is very much alive and kicking. I'm not entirely positive how I'm going to go about this. You see, the last time I even came close to killing a character, it was a very emotional time for me. I guess it was probably more emotional because the character wasn't actually dead, but everyone just assumed she was. So, I honestly have no idea ow emotional this one is going to be. She's going to suffer and then her son is going to take it pretty hard. It's going to be a disaster, and I'm a little afraid.

Any advice about killing a character?

xoxo,

Vicky

J is for Jonathan Vogel

2011-05-05T11:31:00.003-05:00

I know what you're thinking: who the heck is Jonathan Vogel? Only a small handful of people know the answer to this, and I don't think any of them read this blog regularly. Jonathan Vogel was my very first character. It's true that he's not the hero of my first book, but the supporting character to the hero. And even though she was the first character I put on paper, Jonathan Vogel is where it all started. My first novel, It's All About the Music, started with a paragraph about a random guy, singing on stage, and that guy was Jonathan Vogel.

Jonathan is so dear to my heart, and I love him so much. At times, my boyfriend gets jealous and talks about him like he's a real guy that's trying to steal me away. I love it. Because Jonathan is where my entire career started, he will always be my most important character.

First characters are important. They're the ones you will never forget. Where would Stephenie Meyer be without Bella? Or JK Rowling without Harry? Or Stephen King without Carrie? The characters sometimes are more important than than the writer. They're the ones telling the story, not us. All we are is the translator.

xoxo,

Vicky

I is for Incomplete

2011-05-04T09:34:00.003-05:00

Here's the truth about a novel: it's never finished. When you write it the first time, it feels so right! It's like everything fell right where you wanted it to! And then you go back and read it...and you realize it's nowhere near what you wanted it to be: there are grammatical errors, inconsistencies, plot holes, you name it. So, you go back a re-write. And then you have your novel group look it over, and whoa! They rip it part. Another re-write. From then on, every re-write or revision you do is just because something wasn't quite perfect.

But like I said, it's never finished. Even when a published novel is sitting on the shelf, the author still finds something they wish they could change. A writer's life is just a series of incomplete works. So, when do you call it quits? I stopped working on my first novel after about five complete re-writes. It is what it is, and that's it. Of course, I know there will be revisions if I ever get published, but for now, it stays. I stopped with my second novel after three re-writes. After that, I decided to allow one complete re-write and only smaller revisions for my other novels.

Meg Cabot, the reason I became a writer, said that there are two kinds of people: those who lay the eggs and those who polish the eggs. You can usually find two to three releases from Meg every year, because she is an egg layer. She gets her books on paper and doesn't worry about making them perfect. Some authors, on the other hand, write and re-write and revise until their novel is absolutely perfect, and may not have as long of a Works List as others.

I, for one, am an egg layer. I would rather write and write and write and never look back. What kind of writer are you?

xoxo,

Vicky

H is for Heroes/Heroines

2011-04-27T15:01:00.002-05:00

My favorite part of starting a new novel (and of writing one) is getting to know my hero/heroine. What's better than meeting the person/people who will be the center of your creative universe for the next few months?

I don't know it works for other writers, but on most cases, my main character is just a skewed version of myself. There will always be one person in her life who is like a person in mine, she'll have one major character trait that I also have, and she will experience at least one thing I have experienced. I love to get way down deep into my characters, so deep that I feel like they are real. I often create back stories that no one will ever know about.

Heroes are supposed to be strong, resilient, and complex. My favorite type of character to work with is the kind that I have to scrape off the floor in the beginning so that they can go through a journey that has them standing at the top of the world in the end.

Here is a picture of my normal heroine: she's hurt for one reason or another, she's keeping secrets, she has one (or two) very close friends, her parents are causing her problems, she's not looking for a guy, she needs help solving a problem that she's having.

And my hero: he's looking to help, he won't take no for an answer, he has baggage that he's dealing with, he easily falls in love, he's strong and unafraid.

Those traits are in every one of my heroes and heroines, and those are the types of characters I like to learn more about. I take problems that I or others I know have dealt with and I shove them on my characters (usually way more exaggerated than in reality) and I watch them go. Sometimes they can do it on their own, and sometimes they need major help, but ether way, I have a lot of fun with it!

xoxo,

Vicky

G is for Groups

2011-04-25T13:01:00.003-05:00

If I were ever asked that really cliche question that every author is asked, "What advice would you give to aspiring authors?" This would be my answer: "Join a group!"

After I wrote my second novel, I posted some of it on a writing site, very appropriately named Writing.com. I had been a member for years and had posted poetry here and there, but now I was writing novels, and I was joining in with the big leagues. After my novel had been up for a while, I received an invitation (from a woman who is now a very good friend of mine, author Dawne Dominique) to join a novel group for writers of Young Adult novels. I'll admit, the very first review I got, from Dawne herself, made me cry. For a newcomer, those first few were always difficult. Sure, I had received criticism before, but not the way they do it in the novel groups!

Over the years, and there were quite a few of them, I learned things that completely transformed my writing, and I met amazing authors, most of which are still very good friends of mine. A writing group is a fabulous place to learn the ins and outs of the English language and the well-crafted novel. If you can't find any great ones, check writing.com. I guarantee you can find a place that suits you!

xoxo,

Vicky

F is for Falling Behind

2011-04-23T18:42:00.003-05:00

There was a time when I spit out three books a year, because I thought there was no way I was ever going to stop writing. I didn't like to take breaks between novels, and I would edit one novel while writing another (something I never do now). I thought that if I wasn't writing every single day, I was falling behind. My best friend would sigh if I told her I hadn't made my quota for the day.

Things are a little different now. I don't have nearly as much time as I did in high school to write every day. I have a job, I have classes, and I have a boyfriend. I try my hardest to get to my writing every day, but most days, it just doesn't happen. In fact, I've been writing this book, How to Drown, for almost five months, and I'm only a quarter of the way through it. It's never taken me this long to write a book, and if it did, I would have given up on the idea. But this "falling behind" isn't really falling behind.

Taking it slow has been a real blessing. Yeah, it's going to take me a LONG time to finish it, but in the end, the plot isn't going to have holes (I hope), because I'll have analyzed every step of the way, and I'll know my characters better than if I was just with them for a month. Taking longer, or "falling behind," might just be a good thing. At least, it is for you. Different things work for different people, and even though I understand that writers have deadlines, sometimes, it's good not to stress about them.

xoxo,

Vicky

E is for Erase

2011-04-22T16:05:00.003-05:00

I'll be honest, the delete button is my least favorite part of writing a book. When I'm handwriting a scene, and I realize it's complete crap, the thing I hate the most is having to draw a big X over it (which I do frequently). Erasing a scene is the hardest thing a writer has to do, even if they know it is complete crap.

There are certain things that I take as a sign that the scene I'm working on needs to be seriously ERASED:

1. I'll find my character blabbing. Whether it be in their head or to another character.

2. I've used the same sentence structure for every sentence in the scene.

3. It's so boring, I don't even want to read it.

4. Nothing seems to be happening.

5. It feels fake.

I have completely come to terms with the fact that I sometimes write really sucky stuff. There are times when I just can't get out what I need to say, and there are times when I'm just not feeling it. If you're not completely invested in writing, don't do it, because then you'll sit in front of your computer and write stuff you don't even like. And while some people may say it's better to write something bad than nothing at all, I really hate going back and re-writing a scene that could have been good the first time if I had been focused enough for it.

Of course, writing a bad scene only covers half the times when you're going to just say, "ERASE!" The other half is when you have something in the plot that is muddling it up. Sometimes, it's an entire plotline. Maybe there's just too much going on, and it's time to lighten your load. My biggest problem is having needless characters. Yeah, it's okay to have characters that blend into the background, but most of the time, every character (or plotline) needs to have a purpose! If it doesn't get rid of it. And believe me, I know how hard it is. I've had to delte entire characters in the past, and it hurts. But I have faith in you!

xoxo,

Vicky

D is for Dreams + Divine Comedy

2011-04-21T11:19:00.005-05:00

I always thought that I wasn't a true author until I had a dream that sparked an idea for a book. It seems like all the really great ideas come from some person in a dream or some crazy thing that happened in a dream. Dreams are like the creative portal. And by the time I had written four novels, I still hadn't been delivered an amazing plotline in a dream!

When it finally happened, I was a junior in high school, and it was much different than I thought it would be. It wasn't even a full dream. It was a tiny little flash of a girl smiling at two boys across a table of food and then a conversation between her and her best friend, in which they discuss how she can't be serious about being friends with them. This dream lead to the creation of my vampire novels, The Leo and Adriana Trilogy. It is the only series I've ever even attempted, and they are the characters I am the closest to.

But in the end, I learned that ideas that come from dreams are just as awesome as the ideas I come up with in the shower or late at night when I'm doing math homework.Today also marks the day I finished The Divine Comedy, which is pretty perfect, because

it's also a D! I really enjoyed Inferno, which I had read before in AP English senior year, but I had yet to read the others. I never understood why it was so easy to find Inferno by itself but not the other two! Well...now I understand why. While Purgatorio and Paradiso were good, they were nothing compared to Inferno.

It also doesn't help that the translation I bought was a little less than awesome. It was very hard to understand, even harder than the one I read in AP English. The Comedy is pretty intense, but this translation was just ridiculous. I thought I would like it based on reading the prologue in the bookstore, but I hated it. So, if you're going to read this book, find a good translation!

xoxo,

Vicky

C is for Characters

2011-04-20T14:35:00.004-05:00

You would think that having characters would be the most obvious thing about writing a book, but we all know that some writers aren't about the characters. Sometimes you get what's called a plot-driven novel instead of a character-driven novel, but I've never understood it. You see, I'm a character-driven person, who writes character-driven novels. When I start thinking about a book, the first thing that forms in my head is the characters. It might be their faces, it might be their families, or it might be their voices. But there's one thing I know: characters are important.

When I first started writing, I thought it was strange just how important my characters were to me (my boyfriend still thinks so), but now I know that's the way it is. It's hard to imagine your characters aren't real sometimes. Sometimes I spend more time with my characters than I do with real people. They're always there, always in my head. I know them better than I know myself, and most of them are just more dramatic versions of myself or the people I know.

In the end, the characters are the stars, not us. Without them, we wouldn't really have a story, would we?

xoxo,

Vicky

B is for Book Signings

2011-04-19T11:34:00.003-05:00

I may not be the expert on book signings, seeing as how I've never been a published author, but I've been to a few...ok, two book signings, and that has been enough to learn what to do and what not to do.

The very first book signing I ever went to was for Stephenie Meyer, author of Twilight. You would think it would be amazing. After all, Stephenie Meyer is a bestselling author who is famous across the globe! But it wasn't. In order for me, my mother, and my friend to get in, we all had to buy a book (which was fine for me and my friend, but my mother didn't want one.) Then, it was supposed to be at a bookstore, but the crowd got too big, so they moved it to a school. No big deal, right? Well, when we got there, we found out that because we bought our tickets a little too late, we would be in a completely separate room than Stephenie during her speech! Then, we all lined up, and each person got to ask Steph one question, while she rushed to sign every copy of her new book. Our cameras weren't even allowed within twenty feet! It was a very disappointing experience, even if I did get to meet one of my heroes.

On the other hand, a few weeks ago I went to meet Stephan Pastis, artist of the comic strip Pearls Before Swine, for the release of his new treasury. Even thought Stephan is well-known, there was fourth of the people that showed up for Stephenie's signing. We were in the back of a very sweet independent bookstore, where I was ten feet away from Stephan the entire time. When I finally got to the table, he personalized my book (drawing not one, but two characters from Pearls) and I even got a picture with him! He shook my hand and everything. He was super sweet!

I'll be honest, I don't know how the whole process works with the book signings, but I'm sure there's something the author and agent can work out to make sure that a signing is great for the fans, who paid to meet you! If it isn't for the fans, you can't make a living as an author, so be considerate and do your best to get personal with them!

A is for Aspire

2011-04-18T14:39:00.004-05:00

Dicitonary.com defines aspiring (to aspire) as directing one's hopes or ambitions toward achieving something. This means actively pursing a goal.

Now, I know that not all writers want to be published. Just like I don't want a record deal just because I like to sing while I drive. Some people do it as a hobby, and that's great. Some poetry here and there never hurt anybody. But about those novelists out there? I don't know about you guys, but I've never met a person who would sit down and devote time and effort into writing a novel, and then say they never wanted to be a published author. It just doesn't add up.

But that's what I hear when I see someone write a novel and then put it in their closet or filing cabinet or whatever, and say, "I'll publish it some day." To me, that's not good enough. You just wrote an entire novel! And someone, somewhere wants to read it! So, did it our of your desk drawer and submit it! If it never works out then you can't say you didn't try!

My mother wrote a novel when she and my stepfather first got married. That was ten years ago. She sent it to one publisher, who wasn't interested, and then locked it away forever. She is so terrified by rejection that she never tried to get it published again. Since then, she has started writing other novels, but she can't focus on one, and therefore has yet to finish one. I've suggested to her that she join writing groups and workshops, so that she can get help editing her work, but refuses. She always says, "If it needs work, I'll have a professional editor do it before it gets published." But she doesn't realize she'll never make it anywhere until she gets tougher skin and until she joins a group that can show her how to really perfect her craft.

Trying to get published sucks. I know it, you know it, everyone knows it. Querying sucks, getting rejected sucks, and editing sucks (for most people). But there's a reason we do it. We do it so that someone will read our work, so that we can get published, so that we can touch lives, and maybe even become a millionaire along the way ;)

So, I encourage you to ASPIRE. Don't just write, and don't just do. Aspire to someone amazing, who will change the face of the literary industry (and maybe even get us out of this slump).

xoxo,

Vicky

A to Z Blogging Challenge!

2011-04-16T17:53:00.002-05:00

Yup, I'm doing it! I'm doing my own version of it, but I'm still doing it! This is why I'm doing it, because as a writer, I just don't talk about writing enough! Writing is what I'm all about. it is my future, even if the agents I've queried don't necessarily think so. So, here's what I'm doing: Beginning Monday, I will do my best to blog every day about something writing related, beginning at the letter A. I will give myself one day off a week because, well, everyone needs a day off. This is a blog about my road to publication. It is not a blog about my top ten favorite whatevers. So here is my promise to be more focused. This includes writing more, because I have been seriously off my game this week! No more slacking! The agents are not going to come looking for me; I have to bring something to them.

Have a great day!!

xoxo,

Vicky B

PS Check out my facebook author page!

My Author Facebook Page!

2011-04-08T17:06:00.002-05:00

A few weeks ago, I asked my followers what they thought about an unpublished author having a Facebook page. Some advised against it, but some seriously encouraged it, so I did it! I figured, it can't make things worse, right?

So here it is!

I'll admit that right now it's a little pathetic, but I'm going to add to it over the next few weeks in hopes of introducing people to my (unpublished) work! I would love your support, and I encourage even just the aspiring writers to put themselves out there with websites or even just Facebook pages!

xoxo,

Vicky

Music Monday (7)-- Demi Lovato

2011-04-04T13:45:00.003-05:00

I know what people say about Disney stars. They say that Disney screws up all their stars, and I think it's true to some extent. They are over worked and shoved into complete stardom at an early age (but how much of that is the fault of the consumer, who demands so much?). I have a lot of respect for the ones that pull through, like Hilary Duff, Nick Jonas, and others, who have become good people. Demi was on the right track, but lately she has strayed. However, I have faith in her ability to make it back.

So, here's my pick for Music Monday, my Top 4 songs from Miss Demi Lovato:

Demi is gifted, and I believe she is gonna pull through and be a great girl.

xoxo,

Vicky

Wednesday Wishlist-- Writing Class by Jincy Willett

2011-03-30T16:14:00.006-05:00

Wednesday Wishlist is back! Every week, I'll pull a novel off of my wishlist to share with you guys! This week is Writing Class by Jincy Willett. Here's a little peek:

Amy Gallup was a promising writer once—published and highly praised at twenty-two. It was all downhill from there, and now, year in and year out, she teaches a writing workshop at the local university extension. And this semester begins just the same as the others. But then there's a threatening phone call, followed by obscene threats worked into the student's peer evaluations. Then a murder—and every one of the students is a suspect. The clues are hidden in their writing, and she (and we) can solve the murder only by looking more closely at each writer's attempts at fiction. Hilarious, vicious, and elegantly written, The Writing Class examines the desperation, perversion, and mania of the writing life through an unforgettable mystery story.

This sounds cute and it is definitely on my list!

xoxo,

Vicky

Blogging the Classics-- Crime and Punishment

2011-03-29T12:02:00.004-05:00

Sorry I have been gone for a while! But I have been working hard trying to finish Crime and Punishment! Finally, after skipping Biology lecture yesterday and reading 110 pages (which for any other book is not a whole lot, but for this novel can seriously exhaust a person), I finished it yesterday. And let me tell ya, Crime and Punishment is not for the weak.

I'm not sure what I was expecting when I started this book. I guess I expected it to be boring and, to be honest, to be from the point of view of a police officer. I never expected what I got. The main character (whose name I'm not even sure I have been pronouncing correctly this whole time) is so complex and crazy and intense in everything he does. I loved all the characters, right down to the guy who throws our "hero" in jail. They were all so much fun.

The hardest part about reading this was not the very complex language, the long paragraphs and the long, winding sentences. The hardest part were the names. Each character had three different names, and since I'm not Russian, I didn't understand the significance of them. After a while, I memorized the look of the names and skimmed over them without even trying to pronounce them.

Other than that, this was a great book. It had a little bit of everything: romance, suspense, mystery, murder, repentance. It was great.

xoxo,

Vicky

The I Heart Fragrance Event

2011-03-18T21:27:00.006-05:00

I know it's probably the cheesiest thing in the world to plug something going on at your place of business, but I just really don't care, because tomorrow, every Bath and Body Works in the nation is celebrating the I Heart Fragrance Event! Allow me to tell you a little bit about it.

When you first arrive at Bath and Body Works, you will be able to vote out of four fragrances which fragrance you want to see Bath and Body Works sell this summer!

Then you can take a Fragrance Personality Quiz to find out what fragrance style is best for you!

Then you can meet with an expert (us!) to find out what level of moisturizer is right for you! The options are our Body Butter, Shea Hand Cream, Body Cream, and Body Lotion.

Finally, you will get the opportunity to preview our new fragrance, released at the end of the month, called Country Chic. When you purchase something off of our Signature Collection, you receive an awesome tote bag and a full-size bottle of Country Chic!

So be sure you head over to Bath and Body Works between 1 pm and 5 pm tomorrow to take part in all the fun and free stuff!

xoxo,

Vicky

Tips for Writing Tuesday (5)

2011-03-15T18:17:00.004-05:00

Over the last few days, I've heard a lot of people talking about how they can make a lot of money writing. This is something that break my heart. Yes, I would like to make tons of money writing novels that people all over the world love, but I'm not writing to make money. I'm writing to keep my head from exploding from all the ideas rolling around in there.

So, here's my short little tip for the day: figure out why you're writing. I used to think that I wanted to write to be famous. I thought I wanted to write as a job. I still do. But now I'm looking into other careers, because I would be okay with writing as a hobby for the rest of my lives. There would probably be days when I would feel so discouraged I would want to quit, but I would never stop. Never. Just like I wouldn't stop reading just because print books are going out of style.

Are you writing to make money? Or are you writing because you love it?

xoxo,

Vicky

Thoughtful Thursday (on Friday)-- Facebook Author Pages

2011-03-11T14:28:00.003-06:00

For those who don't spend a lot of time on Facebook, authors can have their own page, where they feature their work, their biographies, and the like. I have read on quite a few blogs that this is just one of the many things that can help with the author platform.

About a month ago I guess, I read on the blog of agent, Nathan Bransford, that it was a good idea to have an author page, and maybe even a separate page for your novels. At the time, I thought it was such a great idea! I know a friend who is making great progress by putting up an artist page, where he puts up videos of himself at Open Mic night. So, I thought I would make my own author page to get the word out, you know?

But the more I thought about it, and when I actually got ready to do it, the more I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Is that being cheesy? Having an author page when I'm not even a published author? It's not a writer page, it's an author page.

What do you think? Should I do it?

xoxo,

Vicky

Top Ten Tuesday-- Favorite Dynamic Duos!

2011-03-08T11:48:00.002-06:00

This week and The Broke and the Bookish, the Top Ten Tuesday choice is Dynamic Duos! I love it! They always come up with the most creative lists. So here's mine!

1. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern- I chose this particular team because Tom Stoppard's version of them is hilarious! While reading Hamlet, there is not a whole lot of them, but Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is great fun!

2. Edward and Bella- What can I say? What would a list be without a little Twilight? When I was a Sophomore, I finished the first novel, and I was immediately obsessed. These two are such a beautiful couple.

3. Frodo and Sam- Not a time goes by that I watch the trilogy (yes, watch) that I don't cry at the loyalty between Frodo and Sam. Frodo had a lot to go through, but Sam stuck by him the whole time.

4. Eleanor and Marianne- I tend to have a soft spot for sister duos, simply because I am so close to my sisters. But of all of them, this is the best. Eleanor and Marianne are complete opposites but yet complete each other perfectly. I even wrote my final paper in AP English IV on these girls.

5. Atticus and Scout- These two are incredible. I think that the relationship shown between these two is so unique and so amazing. There is respect and honesty that is so beautiful between people of their ages.

6. Inigo and Fezzick- Does it get much better than this? They are funny, loyal, and adventurous men, and The Princess Bride wouldn't be the same without them!

7. Harry and Ron- Here's why I chose Harry and Ron, instead of Ron and Hermione. It's true that Ron and Hermione are one of the best couples in literature. But Harry and Ron have a stronger bond. There's never been any doubt between them. They fought with the knowledge that they were brothers, blood or not.

So, I absolutely hate to cut my list short, but I just got called into work, and I gotta go!! Let me know who your favorite Duos are!

xoxo,

Vicky

Music Monday (6)-- AVRIL

2011-03-07T13:18:00.002-06:00

This week (tomorrow) is the release of Avril Lavigne's new album, Goodbye Lullaby. I know Avril has received a lot of crap over the years, but I think she is an amazing person and an amazing artist. In honor of her new CD, I chose her for today's Music Monday. Here are some of my favorite of her songs:

Have a great day!!

Blogging the Classics-- The Catcher in the Rye

2011-03-03T17:43:00.003-06:00

Alright, I'm ready for everyone to prove me wrong, because somehow, I don't see how this one is a classic either. Am I just too picky? Or maybe it's because I spent so many years in advanced English classes that taught me that something wasn't a classic unless it was full of complex characters and plots, rhetoric and symbolism. And maybe it's just been too many years for me to see that these novels do, in fact, have these things. But as far as I'm concerned, not so much.

I'm not saying that Catcher in the Rye wasn't good. It definitely was, though I could do with a little less pottymouthishness. I can't believe that he managed to do so much in two days. I really came to like the main character, Holden. He was funny and interesting, but I feel like the story wasn't complete at the end. The two chapters were definitely my favorite, and I'll probably have a soft spot in my heart for Holden's little sister for the rest of my life.

So, tell me, what do you think about the book that is so loved by so many people?

xoxo,

Vicky

Music Monday (5)-- The One and Only Christina

2011-02-28T17:33:00.003-06:00

So, this week, namely tomorrow, is the release of the movie BURLESQUE. If you haven't seen it, do so. It is beautiful, music, dancing, and acting! I grew up listening to Christina Aguilera. I'm pretty sure Genie in a Bottle came out when I was in the 3rd or 4th grade. And after all this time, I still love her! I know she is a total diva and all that crap, but I just don't care, because she is also a musical genius. So, in honor of her new movie, this is a day to listen to Christina! Here are my favorites:

Christina, we don't care if you messed up the National Anthem. It could have happened to anyone. So, if you're a Christina fan, go out and get Burlesque! I'll be getting my copy tomorrow :)

xoxo,

Vicky

Blogging the Classics-- A Clockwork Orange

2011-02-26T11:13:00.002-06:00

Today I finished the classic novel by Anthony Burgess, A Clockwork Orange. When I started the book, I wasn't too fond of the fact that the narrator had this completely different language that the author didn't feel the need to explain to the reader beforehand. Eventually, I got used to it, and now I think normal English might be a little funny to read. As I got the parts where Alex is in prison, I found the book much more enjoyable. From then on, I couldn't really put it down.

As of now, I don't think I'll be seeing the film. My mother says that the end is little different than the book, making it seem that Alex was permanently cured, which is not the case in the book. I really hate it when the movies change the endings of the classics to fit Hollywood. The worst I've ever seen is The Grapes of Wrath, which cuts the book almost in half just to make it seem like they all lived happily ever after.

I have heard many people speak of Alex as one of their favorite literary characters, but I don't think that's the case for m. I think he was just a little too evil, too annoying, and too naive. I saw development, but nothing that I found significant.

What do you think?

xoxo,

Vicky

Top Ten Tuesday-- Favorite Book to Movie Adaptations

2011-02-22T11:07:00.002-06:00

This week on Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, we are talking about our favorite book-to-movie adaptations. It's possible that this could be a touchy subject for those in the literary world who wish Hollywood would leave their favorite novels alone. Me, however? I love movie adaptations!! Here are my 10 favorites!

1. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 1 & 2- Even though there were some major changes and combining in both of the movies, I love the actresses chosen for my favorite girls, I love how beautifully they are made, and I really just enjoy the movies!!

2. Speak- I saw this movie when I had finished the book and was blown away by how emotional and well-made it was. I love Kristen Stewart, and she is so beautiful in this role!

3. New Moon- While I love all of the movies, the movie version of New Moon is my absolute favorite! It was so well done and the closest one to the novel. Go Team Edward!

4. The Tale of Despereaux- I admit, I saw the movie before I read the book, but I still love both of them! The book, of course, is way better, but the movie is so fantastic!

5. Hamlet- I'm talking about the Kenneth Branagh version. So beautiful and so genius.

6. The Lord of the Rings- Pick one, any one. They are all amazing. If they weren't 3 hours long (3 and a half with the extended editions), I would watched them ALL THE TIME!

7. Northanger Abbey- The BBC adaptation of this novel is so beautiful. All the actors are absolutely perfect for the parts, and I watch this more than is probably good for me.

8. A Christmas Carol- So, I pretty much love every adaptation of this book that has ever been made, but my absolute favorite is A Muppet Christmas Carol. It's genius. My mother and I watch it every year on the day after Thanksgiving, and I know all the words and lyrics by heart.

9. Cold Mountain- I think this is probably the most accurate adaptation I have ever seen. I can't even really remember any changes that were crucial. It was just as powerful and emotional as the book.

10. Harry Potter- I didn't love all of them. I was rather disappointed by The Prisoner of Azkaban and The Order of the Phoenix, but I still watch them all the time, and I always will.

What about you?

xoxo,

Vicky

Do Writers Even Have a Future?

2011-02-19T10:32:00.004-06:00

This morning, on my way to my favorite breakfast spot to get some writing done, I noticed a sign on my town's only new bookstore (by new, I mean not secondhand): STORE CLOSING. Needless to say, this ruined my morning. I know our economy sucks. Believe me, I know. But I just don't get it. Why will everyone in the world spend 500 dollars on a flatscreen TV or an iPad, but not 10 dollars for a paperback? I heard this week that they are taking textbooks out of classrooms to replace them with computers. Isn't that disgusting? I can guarantee that my children will not be attending a school where they stare at computer screens all day long. Does anyone else see a little 1984 or Fahrenheit 451 in all this?

So, this is only the beginning of what I want to talk about. What I really want to discuss is, where does this leave writers? I've been straggling for almost two years with what I should major in, because all the while that I want to major in English and Literature, I wonder if it's wise. Lit is the only thing that really makes me happy, but is there even a place for me in the industry? I have this beautiful dream of touching lives through my novels, but how can I do that if people refuse to pick up a book?

What can we do to turn the industry around? Or should we just give up and read the rest of our lives off of eReaders and computer screens?

xoxo,

Vicky

Blogging the Classics-- The Canterbury Tales

2011-02-16T15:31:00.004-06:00

So, I think I would be lying if I said I understood why The Canterbury Tales is considered a literary classic. And I don't think I'm just underestimating it, the way I did with Hamlet and Fahrenheit 451. I honestly think this is a not-so-great book. I'm not going to say it's bad, because it's not. I very proudly made it all the way through, even though it took me three weeks. There isn't really much of a basic plotline, and even though I knew it was a collection of short stories (sorta), I wasn't really expecting this. Most of the stories were inappropriate, and some didn't even really have a protagonist, since there was no one who was doing what was right! Most involved infidelity an murder, and even though Shakespeare wrote about such things in his plays, at least it was artistic. Even written in verse, these stories just weren't appealing. So, while I think it was bearable, I wouldn't recommend it, and I certainly wouldn't consider it a classic. But it's been years since I was in a literary criticism class, and this thing may be rife with symbolism and rhetoric, and all that good stuff, but I just don't see it.

Have you read it? What do you think?

xoxo,

Vicky

Music Monday (on Tuesday)

2011-02-15T11:38:00.002-06:00

So, I don't really have time to join in the festivities of Top Ten Tuesday (I don't want to look at the prompt because I know I'll be tempted), instead I'm doing Music Monday on Tuesday! Music Monday is about sharing music that's inspiring your creative process! Now, the songs I'm going to present to you are not helping my new novel. My character would probably never listen to this stuff, but I don't care, because this music made last week way awesome. So here they are:

When you listen to this song (if you are in a position to) turn it up. Loud. This song rocks and will have you dancing!

This next one I discovered on accident, and I absolutely love it!

This one is way sappy, but in honor of V-Day and the fact that I'm horribly in love with The BF, it's worth it.

And the last one is in honor of the fact that Avril has a new CD coming out soon, and I am pumped!

Happy listening! Please feel free to share some awesome music with me!!

xoxo,

Vicky

Top Ten Tuesday-- Favorite Debut Novels!

2011-02-01T09:45:00.003-06:00

I haven't done Top Ten Tuesday in a while, but this week looks like so much fun! Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the fabulous Jamie at Broke and The Bookish. This week's list is your top ten debut novels of all time! Sometimes we forget where an author got their start, and this is a great way for us to remember! So here is my list!

1. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer- This is such an amazing first novel. It is an incredibly touching story that absolutely broke my heart when it was over. It paved the way for Jon's other amazing novels, even though, in my opinion, nothing can beat this one.

2. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer- People can say what they want about Steph, but she is such an amazing story-teller, and I will forever love the characters of Twilight. But I encourage everyone to read her novel outside of the Twilight series, The Host, which is incredible.

3. The Sisterhod of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares- Even though her first stand-alone fiction novel is one of my favorites and I love it way more than the Traveling Pants series, this series is so amazing, and Ann is such an incredible writer.

4. Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier- There are very few novels that blew me away the way Cold Mountain did. This is such a beautiful and heart-breaking novel that I think everyone needs to experience.

5. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee- I think what's so amazing about this novel is not just that this was her debut noel, but that it was her only novel. And what a classic novel it is.

6. Shadow Dance by Susan Andersen- I'll never forget writing to Susan after I read this novel. She said she was so surprised that it was my favorite because she thought it was so poorly done. This is still my favorite so far, and she has written many more since this one.

7. Jemima J by Jane Green- This was the first of Jane's novels that I read, and I absolutely fell in love with it. I don't read Jane's work anymore because her recent stuff makes me sad, but her first few novels were awesome!

8. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine- Gail Carson Levine is a genius. When I was in middle school, I was so in love with her work, and I really still am. She was my hero.

9. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson- So, I'm not positive we can call this a debut, but it was her first YA novel, so I'm putting it on here. A complete work of genius, this novel is paramount for a teenager's reading experiences, and it will forever touch lives.

10. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen- Jane really fought for this novel, and even though she shied away from rejection, she came back with a bang so that she could share her novels with us. Thank you, Jane.

What does your list look like?

xoxo,

Vicky

Question: When Do You Quit a Book?

2011-01-29T08:37:00.002-06:00

I started Catch-22 at the beginning of this week, Tuesday, I believe it was. In the last 72 hours, I have only read 50 pages, out of 450. The reason for this is, I'm not really enjoying the book very much. I don' very much like the MC, and I'm not really sure I understand the plot very well. So, here is my question to you- when do you quit a book? When do you decide that you're not going to waste any more time on it, that it's not worth the time, and move onto the next one? THe last few times I've thought about quitting a book, I pushed through them, but they were probably about 250 pages each. This one is almost 500.

Has anyone out there read Catch-22 that might vouch for it? Should I just move onto the next one because this one may take weeks at the rate I'm going? What if I just truly have no interest in picking it up again? What do you think?

xoxo,

Vicky

Blogging the Classics-- And Then There Were None

2011-01-25T12:40:00.002-06:00

I finished And Then There Were None today and was not surprised to find that I was not only shocked by the ending, but I was completely in love with this book! Even though there was much more dialogue than description, I had no trouble at all seeing this vividly. I was sucked in from the second I started the first page, until I found out who the killer was at the very end. This book was truly a work of genius!

I will definitely be reading more Agatha Christie in the future. I was just so surprised in such a good way by how much I liked this. My sister has been trying to get me to read it for years, and I even borrowed her copy once, but it just sat on my shelf for like a year, and I never got around to getting pumped to read it. But now I am really glad, and I will forever encourage others to read it, so if you haven't read it, do so. Now.

xoxo,

Vicky

How Do You Get Your Mind to Stop?

2011-01-24T17:52:00.003-06:00

This semester, I decided to take a Yoga class with a friend of mine to fulfill a PE credit. I had done a lot of Yoga before at home, so I figured that it would be pretty easy to get into the swing of things in class. Unfortunately, it seems like I'm the only one in the world who is doing Yoga wrong. At the beginning of class, my instructor went around the room and asked everyone why they decided to take the class. Most said because they had heard the Yoga was relaxing and could relieve stress. I said I was taking it to improve muscle strength (which is true).

Throughout the class, my instructor is always emphasizing how we should be letting out cares fall away and be clearing our minds, and all that good stuff. But I just can't do it! I can't clear my head. No matter how hard I try, I keep thinking about things. Not always things I'm worrying about, but maybe just things that are going on, or even just scenes, always going round in my head. Trying to clear my mind is like trying to catch a mouse.

So, how do you do it? Any advice?

xoxo,

Vicky

Thoughtful Thursday-- Inappropriate YA Book Covers

2011-01-20T12:20:00.006-06:00

Before I start my rant, I would just like to say that I am, in no way, attacking the authors of these books or the publishers, or even the cover artists. I am simply attacking decision making.

In November, I happened to be going through the blogs that I follow, when I saw a cover for an upcoming YA novel that made me gasp and go, "Whoa..." Now, upon further inspection, I found that it was not nearly as bad as I thought it was...but it was still bad. I'll share that cover in a moment. Today, as I was again scrolling through my daily blogs, I saw yet another cover that made me stop and go... "what in the world?"

Last I checked, young adults are still young adults. I fully support the downfall of censorship and being realistic when it comes to the actions of teens. But we still have to be examples. Being realistic and educating teens about sex is not the same as encouraging them. Being a teen myself and seeing the decisions they make, flaunting sex on the cover of NOVELS is not a good idea.

So here they are, the two novel covers that make me scratch my head:

First is the cover of Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles

I thought I understood the meaning of this cover. I love it. I really do. I think it's beautiful in its intimacy and its creativity. But here's the thing, in my opinion, it's inappropriate. If my teenage child (and I KNOW that setting restrictions is the equivalent of covering their eyes and that teens know about sex and all that good stuff) came home with this book, I would take one look at it and say, "WHAT ARE YOU READING?" It looks like the cover of a teenage porn flick. Any minute now, they're going to tear each other's clothes off and do each other! And yeah, I started reading romance novels when I was fifteen, but that's really just not the point. Because this isn't about content, it's about advertising. And I know that "sex sells," as the saying goes, but that's not the saying that should be accurate for the young adult industry.

The second novel cover I have a problem with is Invincible Summer by Hannah Moskowitz

Tell me something: how is this cover any different from the cover of Maxim Magazine? Actually, during the research for this post, I found Maxim covers that were more modest. It's not that she is in a bikini. I've seen other covers with teens in swimsuits. It's her position in the sand, the fact that she is wet, and that they are only showing her body, no face. It's an advertisement for teen sex.

Okay, my rant is over. I just felt the need to address this. All I know is, if my publisher came to me with either of these covers for my novel, I would have a cow.

That is all.

xoxo,

Vicky

Tips for Writing Tuesday (4)

2011-01-18T11:28:00.002-06:00

The tip this week is: always try something new! When I first started writing, it was easiest for me to fall into first person narrative in past tense. That's what has always come easiest for me, even though that might not be as easy for you!

But the more I wrote, the more I realized I wanted to break out of my shell. I wanted to try writing in third person, writing in journal issues, writing by day instead of chapters, writing in present tense. It made writing even more challenging than it already was, and it introduced me to some ways of writing that were easier to others and, I found, easier for me.

So, this is a simple tip. Next time you decide to sit down to write a novel, try something new! Write from the perspective of the bad guy, use an outline (or don't), pick a different writing spot. Changing things up can really get those juices flowing, and you'll be surprised by what you learn.

xoxo,

Vicky

Blogging the Classics-- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

2011-01-17T16:38:00.003-06:00

So, there are about a million different reasons why I decided to read Alice in Wonderland this year. Most of them involved Tim Burton, to be completely honest. I wanted to know enough about the books that I could look at the old movies and the new one and make an intelligent decision on them, instead of just being a fan of the movies. So, that's what I did. And here is what I came up with.

First of all, I haven't seen the kid's movie, but I can assure you that Alice in Wonderland is as much as a kid's book as Stephen King is. I would never read it to my child, just as I would never in a million years read them Coraline (love you, Neil!). I mean, come on, is my goal in life to give my children nightmares? Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was hard enough, mostly because it's hard to journey through such an amazing place while having to put up with Alice's seven-year-old incessant wining. But then I got to Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There, and while the humor and writing was much more advanced and well-written, I began to truly wonder about Lewis Carroll. Sure, it was inventive, but it made me want to huff in frustration sometimes.

It wasn't until I was on the last few pages of Through the Looking Glass, that The BF's roommate mentioned that there was suspicion that Lewis Carroll might have raped the young girl that Alice was based on. Um, WHAT? That changes EVERYTHING! of course, I did my own research and found that this was just speculation, and although some inappropriate pictures were taken of the young girl (and some of her brothers and sisters), there was nothing to prove that Lewis Carroll did anything more than kiddie porn (NOT THAT THAT'S NOT BAD ENOUGH!). Either way, I am past my Lewis Carroll days, and will be moving on now.

Opinions?

xoxo,

Vicky

Tips for Writing Tuesday (3)

2011-01-11T16:14:00.002-06:00

During the month of November, I came across a rather shocking blog post by one of my favorite Young Adult authors, Maggie Stiefvater. The shocking bit was not that Maggie had a very strong opinion about something, because that's very Maggie. The shocking bit was that she had a very strong opinion AGAINST NaNoWriMo. I found this to be very discouraging because I was just about to get started on my own NaNo novel, and was more than a little excited about the whole expedition.

But the more I look back on the writing activities of November and the atrocity that I shouldn't even be allowed to call a novel, I think I might agree with Maggie. Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying writers shouldn't partake in NaNoWriMo. NaNo was so much fun, and I had a blast. It also forced me to write when I had taken months off.

Here is my point: don't push yourself. It's true that a writer needs a good shove every now and then to get the ball rolling on a new idea. But pushing yourself is just going to cause you spit out a bunch of junk that you have no passion for. Now, some writers would say that you should make yourself write, even if the writing is bad, because you can always go back and change it, and if that's the way they do it, well then I guess that's good for them, and if that's the advice of best-selling novelists, maybe you should take it. But here's my advice, and it comes with a little testimony. When I had finished my NaNo novel, I had before me a book about a girl I barely knew that had accomplished nothing I had hoped it would, and I still had a burning desire to write, as if I hadn't spent the last month doing so.

What do you think?

xoxo,

Vicky

Blogging the Classics-- 1984

2011-01-10T13:54:00.003-06:00

My sister seemed very shocked when I told her I had no real intention of blogging about my 2011 challenge to read only classics, and after much thought, I realized it just might be an ok idea. So here it is: Book #1- 1984.

After reading Animal Farm many years ago, I adopted quite a soft spot for George Orwell. I always had this picture in my mind of a truly brilliant writer who weaved fascinating stories. Upon reading 1984, my view of Orwell has not changed. I had a problem with 1984 when it first started. The problem I had with it was its parallel to Fahrenheit 451, one of my favorite novels. They had a lot of similarities- the secret fight against communism after the main character discovers the oppression of the world in which he finds himself. Halfway through, however, the plot twisted in a way that would make Ray Bradbury cringe. By the end of the novel, I was upset, disappointed, and a little sad, not by the writing, but by the plot of the novel and the characters. The end was sad, but it was really the best ending, and a beautifully written novel.

If you have a Facebook and you want to join in the 2011 Classics fun, join my group-- The JA Book Club-- Just ignore the JA. It stands for Jane Austen, when my friends and I started a Jane Austen book club, but that's long since passed. Happy reading!

xoxo,

Vicky B

Fictional Character Friday--Carrie Bradshaw

2011-01-07T13:15:00.005-06:00

I haven't had time lately to do Fictional Character Friday, and I have missed it! So, I think it's time to talk about the special character who has been such an inspiration to me over the past month, Miss Carrie Bradshaw!!

When I started watching Sex and the City, it was because I had seen episodes here and there, and I was just really curious. I wanted to know what it was about these ladies that everyone seemed to love so much. Well, I figured it out pretty quick. And I also figured out that Carrie was my absolute favorite! The two of us have so much in common. We're both eccentric writers who love fashion, are unbearably adorable :), and are slaves to our emotions.

I was never a fan of Sarah Jessica Parker until I watched every episode (and the first movie) of Sex and the City, and now I will be a fan for life. She is beautiful, funny, and outrageous, and I can't wait to watch Sex and the City 2! But I will definitely miss the girls!

If you're a fan, who is your favorite of the girls! If not, have you given it a try?

xoxo,

Vicky