I hope you're having as much fun with NaNoWriMo as I am! Everyone is doing such an amazing job so far. I had my typical slower start, while getting to know my characters and story better. Now, I hit the stage where the words are flying onto my computer. What an incredible feeling!

Here are a few more NaNoWriMo tips I hope will help on your journey toward a 50,000 word novel by November 30th.

1. If you’re typing a little slower than you’d like, try to remember that this is a first draft—it’s not meant to be perfect. In fact, I think it’s impossible to make it perfect. So get plenty of BIC time (butt in chair), and write, write, write. Let the words flow, and try not to edit them too much. There’s plenty of time to revise later. This fast-paced writing will probably add many wonderful surprises, like humorous scenes your internal editor might have nixed, and plot twists you never would have considered until they magically appeared in your manuscript.

2. Think about your story and characters during the day…when you’re driving, in the shower, before you go to bed. And keep paper nearby, because I have a feeling you’ll keep discovering new things about your characters and their story, even when you’re away from your computer.

3. Did an unexpected character pop up? If you want to quickly find a great, current name for your characters, check out this social security site: http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/decades/names2000s.html

4. If you haven’t started NaNoWriMo yet, don’t be afraid to jump in at any time. I was revising a novel when I participated for the first time in 2006, and didn’t think I’d be able to take the plunge. (Okay, maybe I was a little scared that I wouldn’t be able to do it, too). But on November 7, I was thinking about my synopsis while getting ready for a party, when a brand new novel idea hit me. I ran downstairs to create a file of notes, and couldn’t stop typing. (Yes, I was late to the party. Very late! But it was worth it.) I ended up writing 60,000 words from November 7 through the 30th that year. So sit down, and write, write, write. I love NaNoWriMo because it forces us to set aside more writing time than usual—so even if we don’t hit that 50,000 word goal, we’ll still have more accomplished by the end of the month than we would without the NaNo push. Which makes us all winners!

Here is one of my favorite tips. Don’t forget to celebrate each milestone! So many of you have written over 10,000 words in the past six days. When I first started writing, I only wrote picture books…until one idea sprouted wings and surprised me. I kept typing and typing, not sure what I was creating…until I hit 10,000 words and realized that I was actually writing my first middle grade novel. I jumped out of my chair and danced around the room. Now, I do a happy dance for every 10,000 word milestone. You can also do something special for yourself—get a massage (which feels amazing after hunching over your computer all those hours), take a hot bubble bath, buy a favorite treat, get a manicure, eat lunch out with friends…whatever works for you.

I’m sending lots of good (and fast) writing vibes your way, and can’t wait to hear more about your NaNoWriMo novels!

A few friends have asked me for some NaNoWriMo tips. With a few hours left, I figured I should lock myself in my office and type them up for you. I'll add some new ones throughout the month. I hope you're all having a wonderful Halloween, and are ready to attack your new novel at midnight. I can't wait to dig into mine...and hear all about your progess.

Here are some tips you can use before NaNo begins, and also tonight at midnight, as you plunge into your new novel.

1. Let your idea simmer. Jot down any notes that pop into your mind. It does help to have at least a few plotting notes (some writers swear by outlines, but that’s definitely not my style). Character sketches are great, too. If you can find photos that look like your characters, keep them in a place you can easily see…especially in the beginning when you’re first getting to know your characters.
2. Brainstorm! Just sit down and type or write out all the possible plot and character trait possibilities. Don’t edit yourself, even if some of the ideas seem silly. Some of my favorite NaNo novel parts might not exist if I thought about them too much as the ideas formed. Now, you’ll have a list of possibilities if you get stuck! You can also stop writing to do a quick brainstorm to break through a writing wall, too. Don’t take too much time out from writing—plow through it, even if you know there’s a transition needed. You can jot down the page and what you need to fix—and once you reach the end of your novel or the perfect solution hits you, go back to that area and add it in.
3. Have a notebook next to you, so you can easily keep a list of all the amazing things you learn about your new novel. You can add character traits, school schedules, details you don’t want to forget, parts you need to change in the beginning once the novel is finished. I once had a tile floor that turned to wood a few chapters in, and made a note so I’d know to keep it wood from then on, and to change it in the early chapters once NaNo was over.
4. Before midnight, have your file formatted and ready to go. You’re probably on a sugar high from Halloween, and can’t wait to sit down and finally write this new novel that’s been simmering. Just a few more hours, and the fun begins. I can’t wait!
5. Buy extra underwear for everyone in the house. And do as many loads of laundry as possible before 12:01 am on November first—then break out the butt glue and shackle yourself to your computer.
6. Try to type at least a page after midnight tonight—hopefully more. For me, ideas flow the easiest at night (even though they often need more editing the next day). This might be just the jump start you need to turn that blank page into the beginning of your novel.
7. Here’s the most important one…
HAVE FUN!!!!! Enjoy the journey, because this kind of fast-paced writing helps hush the annoying internal editor inside all of us. Let the words flow…and watch your characters and novel spring more to life each day. Just think—in less than a month, you’ll have an entire new novel to play with. One that could become your debut…or an amazing addition to your current list.
Good luck! I’ll add more tips during NaNo, and can’t wait to cheer you on every step of the way.

I absolutely LOVE the Rutgers One-on-One Plus Conference. It was great in 2005, but I realize that I wasn't quite ready to fly then. Now, I truly do feel ready. I had an incredibly sweet and fabulous mentor--Jocelyn Davies from HarperCollins. She showed me a few ways to strengthen my MG even more. I am so grateful to her! Some of the suggestions were minor tweaks, but they still made a huge impact in the feel of my novel. And there was one suggestion about getting to know a secondary character better, and seeing her friendship with the main character before things start to turn sour which gave me chills once I saw the final revision. It was a major 'aha' moment for me. And one I plan to keep in mind for all future novels and revisions.

Dinner with my Blueboard friends on Friday night was wonderful (well...the service wasn't exactly great, but I was having too much fun to mind). I wish we could all hang out more in person. It was so much fun meeting some of them in person for the first time, and seeing some friends again. And I loved riding to the conference together! I can't rave about all the wonderful mentors enough. They volunteered their time, and I enjoyed talking with several of them. I love their enthusiasm and dedication--and am so glad I had a chance to chat with them!

I was going to blog about some of the details, but two writers did such a fantastic job, I'll link to their sites instead.

Kimberly Sabatini listed all the highlights in great detail:http://kimmiepoppins.livejournal.com/67127.html

And if you want to know more about the fabulous editors and agents who attended, check out these helpful posts from Colleen Kosinski: http://www.writergirl.myartsite.com/

Think about applying to Rutgers next year. It really is an amazing experience!

I can't believe I leave for Rutgers in three days! I'm really looking forward to it, and also can't wait to meet up with my Blueboard friends on Friday night for dinner. I've been busy revising as much as I can before Rutgers. I've discovered that my biggest issue is nailing my opening hook/chapter, and think that instead of asking questions I can easily ask my fabulous mentor, Joyce Sweeney, I'll see if there's time to discuss the MG I used as a writing sample (Super Average Girl), and bring the first chapter of a few other MGs. And probably a few PBs, in case my Rutgers mentor is an expert in that genre, too.

I think I have the beginning of Step Monster all ready to go, but will know for sure after running it through my critique group tomorrow. I was a bit surprised when I looked back at Camp Captive. Yes, I found places to tweak, but the beginning looks really strong to me. I'm not sure if I'll bring In My Heart and The Wall. Both need more work than the others, and aren't humorous. I'm hoping that Super Average Girl will be my debut novel, and would love to follow it up with one of the above two humorous novels--or possibly the MG I plan to write for NaNoWriMo. Wow--it's coming up soon! I'm getting more ideas for it every day, and can't wait for November 1st!

I'm working a bit slower than usual, because I'm spending lots of time with the adorable Bullmasador puppy we adopted from The Humane Society. Here's a photo of Lollipop taken a little over a week ago. When we adopted her at about 8 weeks and 6.20 pounds (she's now 11 weeks and about 14 pounds.)

Lolly's favorite place is hanging out in the office with me. Most of the time, she's wrapped around my chair. I'm having so much fun with her, but it's almost like having a baby again, and I'm trying to find a way to give her quality time and still make my writing goals. It's amazing to have sweet puppy kisses and cuddles in our house again. No dog could ever replace Bandit, our 13 1/2 Siberian Husky who passed away in December...but Lolly has definitely taken away some of the sting. My girls can't wait for Halloween now--they've never celebrated one without a dog in our family, and are anxious to dress Lolly up in her first costume.

I was thrilled to receive my acceptance to the Rutgers One-on-One Plus Conference, and can't wait to attend! I had just completed my first MG and had a few chapters of my second novel written when I attended in 2005. It was a fabulous experience, and I learned so much that day--and from the many conferences, workshops, and writing intensives I've taken since then. I'm definitely going to be busy polishing up my manuscripts before the conference (and writing down any questions I'd like to ask my mentor or five on five group)!

I hope to see many of my LJ/Facebook/Blueboard friends there--it looks like we're all getting together that Friday night.

My girls were upset that I won't be home on my birthday, but I'm flying home that day and plan to go out and celebrate with them that night. I can't think of a better way to spend my birthday weekend, then celebrating with my family and attending a fantastic conference.

I just realized that I didn't post a photo from Danielle Joseph's signing for her fabulous debut YA, Shrinking Violet.

I've been busy spending quality time with my girls while they're between school and camp, celebrating my 16th anniversary, revising an MG and a PB, and catching up on critiques I owe by the end of the month.

I promised you more information about the 2-Day Revision Intensive with Julie Strauss-Gabel and Suzanne Supplee, and here it is! So many participants had wonderful 'aha' moments. If you ever have a chance to take it, send in your registration ASAP because the spots fill up fast!

We had the amazing opportunity to read one of Suzanne's manuscripts exactly as she submitted it to Julie Strauss-Gabel. We had plenty of time to share our thoughts (with Suzanne out of the room), and then we read the editorial letters sent during her revisions. I'm reading the published version now, and have learned so much about the revision process from this exercise.

We also read e-mails and parts of a manuscript that changed while an author worked with Julie Strauss-Gabel for over two years! It's incredible to see how much the book changed over time--including an 'outstanding first line' that caught her immediate attention, but ended up being moved much later in the book.

Each of us brought copies of the first two pages of a completed MG or YA manuscript for everyone to read. We broke up into groups of four, removing our manuscripts from the pile, then had the chance to read through them all and discuss which we liked the most, and why. One thing that stood out was how much our personal preferences guided our choices. It really showed us that when editors or agents say a manuscript isn't right for them, it still might be amazing, but the subject or writing style didn't speak to them the way it might with another editor or agent. We also read some of our favorite first pages of published novels aloud.

We did so many wonderful hands-on exercises on voice/character, plotting, and were able to fill out a Title Information Sheet (and see examples of ones used for two Dutton Children's Books).

There are so many exercises I'd love to share with you--but it wouldn't be fair to give all their secrets away. It's hard to choose just one--so many of them gave me new insight into my manuscript. I'll summarize two parts of the voice/character exercise. First, write a journal entry in your character's voice, focusing on how he or she would've responded to a miserable day at the beginning of your novel. Then write a journal entry your character might write if he or she had the same miserable day at the end of your novel.

Here's a photo of Suzanne Supplee and Julie Strauss-Gabel:



Here's one of Lin Oliver, Bonnie Bader, Julie Strauss-Gabel, and Suzanne Supplee:


And here's a photo of Julie Strauss-Gabel, Martha Mihalick, Suzanne Supplee, and Dorian Cirrone.

Linda Bernfeld and Gaby Triana put on another amazing workshop. I'll post more about the Writer's Intensive tomorrow, but have to say that if you ever have the chance to take a workshop like this with Julie Strauss-Gabel, jump at the chance! So many of us had those amazing 'aha' moments and came home fueled with ideas and knowledge to take our manuscripts to the next level.

It was great seeing my Chautauqua mentor, Bruce Coville again. He gave me some wonderful advice on my first fantasy MG, and made me smile when he said it has some deliciously chilling moments, and mentioned a few parts that are terrific and one that is just aces!

I am so grateful to the amazing editor who made me see how I can make my MG, Adventures of Bra Girl, even stronger. I'm definitely changing the title. I believe the new one will be Super Average Girl. I was thrilled to see several smiley faces and areas of my manuscript that she found funny and loved--and have some great new ideas to work in, too. I can't wait to dig into my revision!

It was wonderful seeing so many writing friends this weekend! I hope I'll see you again at the Miami Conference on January 15-17. I'm definitely going to sign up for the Writer's Intensive with Richard Peck and Alex Flinn!

I leave for Orlando tomorrow and can't wait for the Writer's Intensive! Our homework was to read a novel exactly as it was sent to Julie Strauss-Gabel when she decided to acquire it. The novel is now in print, but we have the rare opportunity to read the entire manuscript and discuss what we believe should be revised, then we'll get to see the editorial letter. The manuscript is amazing, but I still made lots of notes about areas that could be improved, or events that might be stronger in another order. I'm looking forward to seeing the editorial letter, and reading the published book.

I can't wait to have three different manuscripts critiqued(one PB and two MGs). My fabulous mentor from Chautauqua, Bruce Coville, is critiquing my first fantasy MG, that I wrote for NaNoWriMo 08 and have been busy revising. I'm also excited to get feedback on manuscripts I believe are ready to submit from agent Mark McVeigh and editor Jennifer Rees from Scholastic! And I'm looking forward to seeing all my writing friends, too.

I recently went to a signing for Alex Flinn's amazing novel, A Kiss in Time.

Alex Flinn's first retelling, Beastly is already being filmed, starring Vanessa Hudgens, Mary-Kate Olsen, and Alex Pettyfer. That's one movie I will definitely rush out to see!

In a little over a month, I'm heading to Orlando for a revision intensive. Today, I received a nice introduction note from the instructors--Julie Strauss-Gabel, Associate Publisher of Dutton Children’s Books, and author Suzanne Supplee. I can't wait to attend the intensive--it sounds amazing!

If you're looking for a good excuse to take a Disney vacation, think about coming to the Orlando Workshop. Co-Regional Advisors Linda R. Bernfeld and Gaby Triana have lined up an incredible faculty! The revision intensive is full, but I believe everything else is still open. The illustrator's intensive is on June 19, and will be led by author/illustrators Jarrett Krosoczka and Janeen Mason.

Here are the workshop tracks for June 20, at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort.

Picture Book Track
Author/Illustrator Janeen Mason
Author Alison Jackson
Editor Jennifer Rees, Scholastic

Middle Grade Track
Executive Director, SCBWI and Co-Author Lin Oliver
Editor-in Chief Bonnie Bader, Grosset & Dunlap/PSS; Penguin Young Readers Group

Young Adult
Editor Martha Mihalick, Greenwillow Books
Author Dorian Cirrone

Science Fiction/Fantasy Track
Author Bruce Coville
Agent Michael Stearns, Firebrand Literary

Graphic Novel
Agent Mark McVeigh, The McVeigh Agency
Author/Illustrator Jarrett Krosoczka
Illustrator and Comic Artist Mac McCool

You can find more details here: http://scbwiflorida.com/jun09.html

I hope to see you in Orlando!

Yesterday, I wrote my seventh picture book manuscript in a week, thanks to the seven in seven day challenge called NaPiBoWriWee on http://paulayoo.com/. I've been a huge fan of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) for the past three years, and love writing the first draft of a novel in less than thirty days. This is the first time I've participated in a picture book challenge. I love the quirky surprises that popped up due to the quick pace, and can't wait to revise my new manuscripts and send them through my critique groups.

Thanks to Paula Yoo for coming up with this fun challenge! I can't wait to participate again next year.

On Tuesday, I was thrilled to attend a book signing by my mentor, Joyce Sweeney. I believe The Guardian is her fourteenth published book--very impressive! A huge crowd of people came to watch, and she sold out of every book. I can't wait to dig into The Guardian as soon as I finish my current book!

Here's a photo from Joyce's signing:


We have so many wonderful books coming out in Florida. I'm looking forward to attending signings in the next few months for authors including Alex Flinn (A Kiss in Time), Danielle Joseph (Shrinking Violet), and Gaby Triana (Riding the Universe).

I feel lucky to live in an area with so many talented authors. Joyce has helped twenty-six authors become published, and has helped me in so many ways since I joined her weekly invitation-only workshop/critique group. And I've met so many wonderful authors and illustrators since I became active in local events in 2005. I'm really excited about the Two Day Novel Revision Intensive I'm taking in June. It filled up quickly, but all the other tracks are still available for the Orlando Workshop on June 20. I'll post more information about it soon.

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend. :)

Lindsey Leavitt is having a contest on her blog, celebrating her luck (for signing with an amazing agent one year ago today and having her first book published one year from today). Help her celebrate by sharing your lucky experiences here: http://lindsey-leavitt.livejournal.com/98082.html?view=1086754#t1086754

This is what I wrote:

I got lucky when Hubby pretty much shoved me into my first SCBWI conference--in 2005 (I didn't think I was ready). I had arranged to meet a few writers for dinner through the SCBWI message board, and headed up to my room directly after.

Hubby was glad I went to dinner--but told me to get out of my room and go to the bar. I hate going places alone, but he said I needed to meet people. That's what he'd do. I circled the lobby several times before getting a glass of wine and reading the conference schedule. A group of writers were celebrating the success of one of their members, and invited me to join them. They gave me amazing tips--and I've attended some of my favorite conferences because of them (Chautauqua, Rutgers One-on-One Plus, and the Poconos Retreat). It was such a great first step for me--and I feel so lucky to have met such helpful writers, and lucky to have an understanding husband who helped me follow my love of writing and dream of publication.

I didn't write this, but I also feel lucky because:
* I have an amazing family.
* I have incredible friends--in person as well as online.
* I'm doing something I LOVE every day.
* Florida has an awesome SCBWI chapter--one that is supportive, active, and manages to get some of the best faculty around.
* I am so grateful that I'm working with my mentor, Joyce Sweeney. Having her in FL and being able to work closely with her has really helped my writing improve!

So why do you feel lucky?
Happy St. Patrick's Day!

A couple weeks ago, I completed my most intense revision ever! It was for an MG I wrote for NaNoWriMo 2007. I had received a revision request on it, and went through the manuscript once with the suggestions in mind, then changed whatever jumped at me and made pages of notes for areas I could improve during round two. Each time I went through, I could see how much stronger it was...until I finally thought it was ready. I am so grateful that a blueboard friend offered to swap manuscript critiques. Even though this had been through my groups several times, having a fresh set of eyes helped me see new areas I could improve, and some ways I could make the revisions requested even stronger. So I finished those revisions and rode off into the sunset...

Okay, not quite. I was surprised how many revision rounds it took. Strengthening one area often gave me new insight into others, and it just kind of snowballed from there. Then, I got to that magical place, where it felt like I went through a couple of rounds changing a word here or there. And I knew it was ready.

Finishing that revision felt amazing! And yes, I did my typical happy dance celebration, like I do with every milestone.

And then I took out my NaNoWriMo 2008 project and dug into revisions. Except, my head was still in polishing mode, and I had a few intense days trying to take the manuscript up many levels at once, before I realized what I was doing. I practically knew the other manuscript by heart. I could be in a situation and know exactly what my other MC would do or say. But after writing this new novel in 16 days, and not really looking at it since...I was back to square one. Double checking my character sketches, looking at the list of changes I made while writing it (since I couldn't really edit during NaNo).

At first, it was kind of scary. Unfamiliar. But now, I really love getting to know these new characters better. And I love, love, love the story! So I'm excited to be working on this revision...but know I have to take it one step at a time. I can move this manuscript up one or two levels during this revision--and take as many rounds as I need to make it shine, like the other one.

Have you noticed anything like this when you finish polishing one manuscript and quickly jump into revising an early draft of another one?

Thanks to all my friends who nudged me to post about the conference, I'm finally here! I couldn't wait to share all this wonderful info with you, but had such great insight about my MG which is almost ready to submit, that I had to dedicate all my time to it. Now, my revision is done, and I'm waiting to hear back from a writing friend who never read it before and offered to critique the full (and I can't wait to pay her back when hers is ready for a pair of fresh eyes).

Linda Rodriguez Bernfeld (RA) and Gaby Triana (ARA) put on yet another amazing conference filled with an incredible faculty, helpful information, writing exercises, and clowns. I'm not kidding! We actually had two stilt-walking clowns at our Saturday night Big Top Bash, where everyone (including some very talented and energetic editors and agents) danced their way through the night.

I'll give you notes about the wonderful intensive I took on Friday in another post. That afternoon, the conference began. One of my favorite parts was watching the first book panel. It was so inspiring to listen to the success stories of Marjetta Geerling, Debbie Reed Fischer, and Danette Haworth. I've heard so many great things about VIOLET RAINES ALMOST GOT STRUCK BY LIGHTNING, and can't wait to read my signed copy! And I love Marjetta's YA, FANCY WHITE TRASH, and Debbie's BRALESS IN WONDERLAND and SWIMMING WITH THE SHARKS. All three authors thanked my fabulous mentor, Joyce Sweeney, for her guidance and feedback (she has helped twenty-five writers become published!)

It's amazing how much was packed into Saturday! All the speeches were incredible and the day just flew by. It began with Arthur Levine discussing: Who You Are as a Writer=What I Publish. He said that humor comes out of warm appreciation of what is human. It has heart. He noted that a humorous book can be full of depth, like CRASH by Jerry Spinelli. He also said he wasn't surprised that people took HARRY POTTER to heart, because it's funny, exciting, and emotional.

Lisa Yee: Should Who You Are Dictate What You Write? She suggested writing what you know, what you want to know, and what is in your heart. She and Arthur Levine had a Q&A session together that was wonderful! I'm sure most of the writers in the audience hope to have that kind of connection with an editor one day.

Ginger Knowlton: Do's and Don'ts of the Agent Search (and Rescue). She said to always do our best--and stressed that our best will change from moment to moment. If you want an agent and an editor tells you he or she is taking your manuscript to the next level, let the editor know you are in the process of securing an agent. What struck me most, is how open she was with us. She mentioned a manuscript she had rejected, but looked at it again (I believe a few weeks later), and she called the author and offered representation--and ended up selling it! I'm so glad she shared this with us--it really does show that it takes having the right manuscript in the right place at the right time!

Alexandra Cooper: How and Why is a Manuscript Acquired? She said hardcovers generally receive more review attention, while paperbacks are more accessible because of their lower costs. She mentioned that the review publications seem to be a little behind now, and some authors wondered why they hadn't received reviews. She mentioned some of the differences between imprints. For example, Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers tends to publish contemporary, edgy (like Rachel Cohn), and high concept like THE MOTHER-DAUGHTER BOOK CLUB and THE HOMEWORK MACHINE. Atheneum leans toward more risk taking, quirky, and graphic novels. McElderry has a lot of fantasy and classic stories.

Mark Teague: Making Lively Picture Books. I enjoyed seeing the fire engine he chose for one of his books. He explained that current firetrucks would hide the Dalmatian firemen, so he searched older models until he found one that allowed him to actively show his characters.

Tina Wexler: Business Broker or BFF? Exploring the Author/Agent Relationship. An agent can be a friend, creative consultant, and a business partner. Think about the traits that are most important to you, like strong communication, and see how well a potential agent matches those traits.

Elaine Landau (who has written over 300 books) & Ruth VanderZee: Nonfiction--The Real Deal. After listening to them speak, many conference attendees are eager to try nonfiction for the first time! Elaine and Ruth suggest writing nonfiction with a twist, and gave examples of books that approach nonfiction in nontraditional ways, such as Verla Kay's COVERED WAGONS, BUMPY TRAILS which is written in rhyme and Candace Fleming's nonfiction scrapbook called THE LINCOLNS: A SCRAPBOOK LOOK AT ABRAHAM AND MARY.

Liz Waniewski: How to Wow an Editor (with your writing). She said to think about what really worries kids, such as being small. If three books are currently out on a topic, it's harder to have a new manuscript accepted on the same topic. She gave a handout of the top ten things Dial editors look for in both picture books and novels. I won't give all of them away, but a few that stand out are:
* Does this story surprise me and take me to places I didn't expect?
* Will I want to read this manuscript ten (or more) times?
* And the one she said is the most important...and the most difficult--is the voice authentic and real? Does it sound like a real kid and not an adult?
She gave us a list of the top ten picture book submission topics she received in the last three months. Bedtime, monsters acting un-monster-like, cats and kittens, going green, "I love you" stories, boredom, dealing with disabilities, baby bird learning to fly, and two that always seem to make this list--visiting grandparents and first day of school.
When asked what topics she often sees in novels, she mentioned new kid at school, high fantasy/quest, parents getting a divorce, and an ordinary kid who suddenly has super powers.

Linda Sue Park: Try it, You'll Like it! She said there is a secret formula to writing! But it's different for each person and each book. There are three common factors in this formula--read a lot (it's training for writers), have discipline, and the ability to revise. She gave a brilliant solution for people who believe they don't have time to read. Count up the number of hours you spend on the computer or watching TV for a week. Take half of those hours and use them to read the next week and every week for the rest of your life.

I've been a conference addict since I attended my first one in early 2005. I always come back with so much information and inspiration--and I can't wait to have my middle grade novels critiqued by Arthur Levine and Linda Sue Park!

I'm looking forward to seeing many of my writing friends this weekend!

When you get a chance, please drop by and welcome my friend amydawndeluna to LJ! She's on Facebook and the Blueboards, and would love to keep in touch with other writers on LJ, too.

Last week, my 13 1/2 year old Siberian Husky died. We knew she was getting old for a husky, but thought we still had more time left with her. At least she didn't suffer. As soon as we saw her have a seizure, we brought her to the vet, but there was nothing they could do for her. It's been way too quiet in the house without Bandit--sometimes I still expect her to greet me at the door, hang out in my office while I write, and beg for snacks, walks, or a ride in the car.

Here are some random thoughts about my sweet husky, who I still called a puppy until the day she died, because she had so much spunk.

About fourteen years ago, my brother died and four months later, my dad passed away. I felt such a huge hole in my life. Hubby and I didn't plan to buy a dog, but we saw those beautiful blue eyes, and just had to play with her. She showed her spunk right away, but I also wanted a cuddler, so I was told to pick her up. She was twelve pounds at the time, and she licked my face,lay her head on my shoulder, sighed, and fell asleep. At that moment, we knew she had to be part of our family.

My girls grew up with Bandit. I used to put her in a down/stay command when they were babies, and she'd crawl until she reached them. We watched a lot of baby videos this week, and most of them had at least a paw or snout. Bandit followed my girls everywhere--always full of kisses and cuddles. Bandit curled around Becca when she first learned to sit by herself, and my dog would press her nose into Becca's back to help steady her. I'll never forget the time she licked Becca's foot, then sneezed--it was the first time my daughter laughed!

When my grandma was sick, couldn't remember the names of relatives, and wouldn't get out of bed, I hopped in the car with Bandit and Gram seemed to be back to her usual self the second Bandit ran over to lick her.

I loved listening to Bandit talk. She'd do it throughout the day, but especially in the morning. I wish I knew what she was saying--I could usually tell the difference from her let me out, play with me because I'm bored, and feed me barks. She also learned to say I love you. Well, it was more like Ri ruv rooo! I'm glad she said it to me the day before she died.

Bandit brought so much love into our family. The house feels so empty without her. I don't think I'll ever be able to walk by one of her favorite spots without thinking about my sweet husky. She helped inspire so many of my book ideas. One of the earlier ones is a picture book called PLEASE DON'T EAT MY GUINEA PIG. She never did more than sniff and lick my daughter's pet though! The manuscript she helped inspire the most is a middle grade novel called ADVENTURES OF BRA GIRL. Bandit was terrified of storms, and used to try to hide under my desk or bury her head in my lap at the first crack of thunder. She helped me come up with the idea of my main character drawing a comic about Scaredy Dog, who is always attacked by giant dog-eating obstacles. She based it on her own pup--who ra roo's and plays bone hockey like Bandit did. I already loved that manuscript--but now it will mean even more when it is published!

I'm happy dancing because the first draft of my NaNoWriMo novel is officially done! On Friday, I hit the 50,000 word mark, and yesterday I reached the end and flushed out two scenes. The final stats are 54,202 words, and a total of 202 pages. I'm still amazed that I hit the NaNo goal in 14 days, and completed the entire manuscript in 16 days!

I took many notes as I wrote my novel, since I made many discoveries along the way that will alter or add to earlier scenes. Now, I'm typing my notes into several categories, so I don't miss anything on my first round of revisions. Here's what I have so far:
Things to know.
Things to change.
Definitely work in.
Possibly work in.

In the things to know, I have notes about changing the floor from tile to wood, and names of people who only pop up once or twice in the book and aren't on my character sketch file. And in things to change, I noted when characters seem to disappear during a scene, so I can decide if I should involve them more, or eliminate them. I also have to change the name of a minor character, because it's too close to another name and might confuse readers.

How do you get ready to attack your first round of revisions?

I'm sending good writing vibes to all my NaNoWriMo friends. Go, go, go...you can do it!

I can't believe that I have 2,000 words to go before making my NaNoWriMo goal! I have a feeling that the story will continue on for another thousand or so, but...wow! It feels amazing to almost have the rough draft of my MG, THE WALL, finished.

I'm sending tons of good writing vibes to all my friends. You can do it! My first year, I didn't start until November 7 (I didn't even have the idea until that morning), and then I wrote 60,000 words by November 30.

So go, go, go--most of you are past the 20,000 mark now, and going strong. With 18 days left, I know you can do it! I can't wait to cheer for all your milestones this month--and to hear more about your new novels.

I know I've said it a million times, but I love NaNoWriMo! It feels amazing to have an excuse to set aside even more writing time than usual (and I already spend the time my girls are in school and after they go to bed writing).

I love this novel! I wasn't sure about the title at first, but it's really growing on me, so my new MG just might remain...The Wall. It's so incredible to watch the characters and story come alive like this. I've had so many wonderful surprises, and can't wait to get back to my WIP (maybe after my girls go to bed...I definitely owe them some quality Mommy time).

Congrats to everyone who took the NaNoWriMo plunge. Go, go, go! I know we can all make our goal this month.

I love my new novel! I've had so many amazing surprises already, like a fun character who popped up a few times, then insisted she become an important part of the story. That happened last year, too. I had an annoying boy named Stinky in a couple early scenes. He refused to stay in the background, and turned into one of my favorite characters. Just yesterday, I received an e-mail from someone saying she loved Stinky's transformation into someone desirable and likeable.

I hit 14,330 words before going to bed last night, and hope I'll be able to keep up this pace. This story has been haunting me for years, and it feels amazing to see it come alive so quickly.

I hope everyone else is having an amazing NaNo, too! And I can't wait to hear about all of your stories.