Kalli's Story - Week 3

Welcome to the first Blog Story Hop! We have 4 weeks lined up with 4 different authors ready to spin you a tale. Ready?



              Part Three is here. :)

Catch what happens to Kalli next when Bliss Morgan has her say.

CallMeBliss

Missed the first two installments?

Part One by Carrie Sorensen

Part Two by Nicole Pyles

And remember to comment here at Chasing Revery for a chance to win an Amazon or B&N gift card.

Kalli's Story - Week 2

Welcome to the first Blog Story Hop! We have 4 weeks lined up with 4 different authors ready to spin you a tale. Ready?


              Part Two is here. :)

Catch what happens to Kalli next when Nicole Pyles takes over the story.

The World of My Imagination

Missed the first installment?

Kalli's Story - Part One

And remember to comment here at Chasing Revery for a chance to win an Amazon or B&N gift card.

Sebastian Is Here. :)

My husband suggested I delay the post until I'm not on as many medications since I already accidentally posted it to 42WD Publishing instead of here
(which would have made 2 postings there) ... But I'm pretty sure I have it this time. ;)

Sebastian Rasmus Sorensen was born yesterday. He came within 6 hours of getting to the hospital, so he was ready to get here. At 7 lbs, 14 oz and 21 healthy inches long, he's a pretty big boy. He's been absolutely amazing so far. His big brother loves him and they couldn't be cuter together. You can circle me on Google + to see photos posted by my husband or myself along with other updates.

The blogging plan is to take some time off this month, maybe posting from time to time if I get the urge. In the mean time, follow and comment about the blog story hop that we have going on. Remember, comments enter you into the contest to win a $10 gift card, so let me know what you think about the story hop or just say hi.

I'm going to go off and get some rest now. I will see you on the story hop, since I will definitely be following. I can't wait to see where the other authors take Kalli over the next few weeks.

Kalli's Story - Week 1

Welcome to the first Blog Story Hop! We have 4 weeks lined up with 4 different authors ready to spin you a tale. Ready?


             Part One, here we go.


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She was back.

Such a strange feeling it was, to be back.

Kalli walked down the familiar, house lined streets. Old Victorians sat nestled against craftsman and 50's ranch-style homes. In this part of town, yards were manicured, bikes tucked into garages and swings or bistro sets set out on the porches. In this small town, it was the norm to look put together, inside and out.

Scabbed hands were shoved into the pockets of her low-rise jeans, tensing her arms to hug the scarred leather jacket closer to her body. Her left knee stretched a hole in the denim while the fingers of her right hand had to curl to keep from slipping through the torn seam of her pocket. Her shoes were amazing, though, double laced, steel toed and flat black, gripping the concrete sidewalk powerfully.

Each step she took came down hard and purposeful, echoing the beat of the music in her ears. The bass pounded through her head, drowning out the music of the track. Eyes half closed, she let the weight of her boots and the boom of the music carry her through the manicured street.

"Kalliope Elizabeth Johnson." Her earbuds were ripped from her ears, hitting her shoulders. Kalli spun on her standing leg, catching the escaping wires that slipped from the other's hand as the last syllable of her name was spoken.

Kalli's dark eyes stopped in surprise at the girl behind her. The girls were similar in size, both petite, both with brown hair, though Kalli's was darker, shorter and the other girl's was as manicured as the lawns on this street, as put together as her pristine, fashion-inspired outfit.

"Jenae," she recognized, a relieved and welcome smile blossoming on her lips. Jenae's make-up smoothed face was warm and familiar. Seeing her reminded Kalli of late night camp fires and smores, giggling together in the back of the movie theater, moaning about riding the bus to school, crying when they lost State volleyball finals. It reminded her of normal.

"What the heck are you wearing? Who butchered your hair? Are those combat boots?" Jenae demanded, eyes flashing against Kalli's changed appearance. Blinking away from memories, Kalli finally managed to see her old friend, hearing her heated words echoing through her mind. Why is she angry? "You know what? Never mind all that. What I really want to know is why the heck didn't you call?"

Ah, Kalli thought, her narrow shoulders rolling back with eased tension. "I'm sorry," she answered. "I couldn't call. I didn't know we were coming back until ..." Until last night. "There wasn't much time to do anything once I found out."

“So what? Did your dad have another crazy get-rich inspiration? Or did your mom finally put her foot down and demand to come home? Why did you even leave in the first place?”

Kalli looked down at her hand, slightly surprised to see the little stings she felt came from having started spinning her buds around. She curled the wires up and shoved them in her back pocket next to her phone. The bass could still be heard as a soft, far-away heartbeat.



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Stay tuned for part two, coming next Thursday. I'll post the link to the next author's blog here and you can begin the journey.

Remember to comment here at Chasing Revery for a chance to win an Amazon or B&N gift card.

February Babies and Contest Announcement

We are going to be having a baby boy sometime in the next week!

I can say that with confidence because if he doesn't come by himself by Friday, my doctor will be scheduling an induction. With that being said, I have no idea how the next month is going to go and how much I'll actually be able to post. No worries, though. I have a few other new babies to introduce, and these don't require hospital help.

First, I've set up an interesting blog story hop for this month to allow me a bit of baby time. I have an amazing group of writers willing to participate in putting together a story - each taking on a different leg of it, and sharing it all with you via each of their blogs with very little time to write and edit. Installment will be posted on Thursdays. Bring on the challenge.

I am also going to host my very first contest! Entering will be incredibly easy - just comment on any of the February posts. Any and all February comments on this blog (as in, comments on the blog story hop won't count unless they're posted here on Chasing Revery) will be entered into a random drawing for the grand prize of ...

$10 Gift Card to Amazon or B&N

(Winner's Choice)

Those are my February babies. I'm sure we'll all agree my baby boy will be the cutest, but the others will be their share of fun.

What are you waiting for? Get commenting. Come back to check out the blog story hop and find out when Baby Boy #2 finally gets here.

I Almost Lost Thursday

I'm lazy, I know, I'm sorry.

Actually, I just plain forgot it was Thursday until this moment.

That's not entirely true, either. I haven't been on board with this week since before it began. It all started last week when I messed up putting events into my calendar. I have my calendar set up to run Monday through Sunday rather than Sunday to Saturday. This isn't new - it's been like this for a very long time. However, last week my brain switched it even though I didn't, so all my appointments and activities were put in a day behind. I didn't realize this until I was confirming my week with my husband on Sunday and I worked quickly to move all my new additions to the right day.

My alarms were correct at that point, but again, my brain has been slow to catch up. Thanks to my error, I have been a day ahead all week. I realize this means I should have accidentally posted yesterday, but it's much more fun to have almost forgotten to post today, don't you think?

This isn't the first time something like this has happened - well, it is the first time I've messed up a whole week so grandly, but it isn't the first time I've felt like it wasn't the right day. This is a common feeling I hear many people talk about, particularly as it gets closer to Friday (or so I've noticed).

Story idea! :) I haven't read one book where this type of mistake enters into a character's life. It could prove massively annoying, which would theoretically make for great conflict, don't you think? I do. Into my notes you go, little gem ...

I have a few more announcements coming up sometime next week. I'm hoping to implement a lot of changes to the blog in the coming month and I'm very excited about them. One of the changes may include a contest full and complete with a prize. We'll have to see. ;)

Before I go, though, my request this week will be for anecdotes pertaining to those days you lost track of where you were in the week. What happened and how did you manage to knock yourself out of it?

Using Arguments for Good

I found myself involved in a few arguments this week. That is not the norm for me - I hate conflict and try to do what I can to avoid it. I am pretty good about seeing things from someone else's point of view. Unfortunately, that's not always enough to head off an argument. Once you're in the argument, it's like there's no going back. The frustration grows as you try to explain your point of view to someone unable or unwilling to listen, and you become unable or unwilling to listen to their end because you're so upset.

Of my two arguments, one was resolved quickly and the other was not. This is in part because they were with two different people, but also because they were two different kinds of arguments. When I was able to step back from them and look, it was easy to see how each side believed they were 100% correct. I was able to understand why one was resolved and the other still kind of hangs out there even though the talking part is over. And, unable to help it, I started analyzing how these experiences could be used to enliven my writing.

The funny thing is, even though I hate real life conflict, I love writing arguments. I love the dialogue and the emotion involved in the script. I may flush my way through it as I feel what's going on with my characters but I cannot deny my love for these scenes. In fact, many of my stories start with the idea of an argument midway through the book. It may not even be part of the main conflict, yet it is enough for me to get a gauge on my characters to understand what they're going through and what might have led to the argument. And the story starts.

In all truth, arguments are not bad, and this should be kept in mind while you're writing that big blow up scene. Arguments may not be pleasant, but they are not inherently wrong, either. In fact, they can be very helpful if the people involved can break through that moment of emotional stonewalling to get to the issues underneath. The misunderstandings are the easiest. Redefining what you meant initially can click with the other person, showing how silly the argument was. Or, that click may never come and it can be a source of ongoing stress between the two characters, creating a distance that has a direct or indirect effect on the story line.

The more difficult arguments are those based on differences of opinion, or worse, moral beliefs. They can also be the most emotionally wrenching to have, particularly if you care about the person you're arguing with - or if you care what they do. These are great in stories for conflict and for reader engagement if they're written correctly. This kind of argument cannot be written in the same way a misunderstanding is written. These feelings go deeper, need to cut more, even if the argument itself is quieter than a noisy 'you're not listening to me' shouting match. These kinds of arguments can be the catalyst of your story, giving your characters that unexpected change of direction that make something difficult look down right impossible.

Arguments can be silly, or they can be powerful, quiet and understated or loud and obnoxious. No matter what type is written, they are wonderful literary tools for conflict. They can show a character's flaws beautifully, while outlining strengths at the same time. For this reason, I love writing arguments into my stories. For this reason, I hate having them in real life.

Writer's Block As It Is

When I don't have a clue of what to write for the week (like today, for example) I always start reading through the blogs I'm following. I can usually find my inspiration there, or by browsing through the posts on Google+. Today, everyone seems to be talking about writer's block and since I know of a really cool quote, I thought it would be the perfect post for me, as well.

Everyone has their own ideas about writers block, whether they write or not. Oh, of course it's real. Oh, of course it isn't. If you want to write, just do it. If you're blocked, take some time away to recenter yourself. I agree with each and everyone of these statements, plus most of the other's I've read about writer's block. What does that say about me? Just that I understand a bit about human psyche.

In my view, writer's block is real because we make it real - or not, as the case may be. Our own minds are extremely powerful, particularly when it comes to what we can and cannot do (or what we tell ourselves). Ever since I learned about cognitive psychology, I've been intrigued by the power of the mind, and have managed to use it to break a few habits, to restructure some of my more destructive thoughts, and to convince myself something could be done even if I had originally thought it impossible. Our minds are incredibly powerful - how else could we come up with all these stories?

The trouble is when we can't come up with those stories. We call it writer's block because we feel like our natural creativity is somehow blocked. This doesn't mean we can't write, though many authors do describe feelings of intense anxiety when they sit down to write during a bout of writer's block. But that isn't about writing, I don't think. I think it's more about the fear of the content we're trying to create. Which brings me to my quote.

"The ironic thing about writer's block is that you're writing all the time, it's just that you think everything sucks." John Rzeznik, vocalist and guitarist, Goo Goo Dolls.

Rzeznik said this after the huge success the band received after producing 'Iris.' He had apparently been going through years of writer's block before this song finally came to him, breaking his cycle and giving him the confidence to get back into, what he considered, good writing.

I love this quote. This quote to me is what writer's block is. It's not a lack of content, but a lack of what we consider 'good' content. We know we're capable of it, so where is it?

Most of us will not be able to get the kind of mass recognition Goo Goo Dolls did with their song. Something like that is powerful enough to knock you out of your mental rut and feel value in your skills again. Most of us will have to discover that value ourselves, either by taking that break or pushing through the hard times to get to something we consider worth while.

I run with the crap. I write until I've written it all out, then go through and pick it apart, keeping whatever gems I might find and tossing the rest. I know, I know. Never throw out your work. But then again, think of how therapeutic that is. Writing all the crap out, then just deleting it away.

Ahhh. Zen.

Well, maybe not Zen, but hopefully a few more hundred words of the actual piece we're working on. Words that can stay.

Your thoughts on writers block? Any other cool quotes you've come across? Please, share. I love quotes. :)

Who Needs a Deadline?

*If you enjoyed my whip/WIP post from last week, check out my Candy Cane analogy on 42WD Publishing's blog.

Now on to this week.

I'm beginning to worry about the pace of this re-write. I spent most of last week working on chapter one, getting it to the point I felt comfortable enough to move on. Power writing seems to be out of reach for this round of drafting. I'm not thinking that's a good thing.

Once I was content with chapter one (took about another 5 days), I tried to move on to chapter two, but it kept eluding me. In this re-write, I have to figure out how the drastic changes to chapter one effect the interactions that follow. Also, I'm making the chapters content based rather than word-count based, so it changes the overall feel and flow as well. Breaking from one pattern to fall into another is proving trickier than I thought.

Yesterday I was able sit down and write for a solid block of time. This is not always possible with my 2-year-old son and 4-year-old nephew running around. Yesterday, however, they were quite content playing without fighting so all I had to do was keep an ear out, refill juice cups and kiss the random owie.

So I was able to write until it was time to make dinner when I put everything aside. I came back to writing after about 2 hours. I worked a little longer, but I kept feeling more and more discontent with what was going on. This was not what I wanted. It was too ... silent. Despite the information I was presenting, there was no forward movement in the story, and that just had to change.

So I re-read, cut, dissected and moved some words around before labeling it Chapter Three. A quick line explaining what I wanted to happen in chapter two, and off went my computer. I was too tired to focus on it anymore even though nothing had really been produced in all the hours I put into it.

This morning, not-quite-fresh, but ready to start again, I knew what I needed to do. I needed to brainstorm exactly what movement I want to happen, what forward movement do I want to see in this story. My brainstorms actually look like a bullet list littered with lines, arrows, curvy brackets, question marks, exclamation points, clouds and boxes circling words or terms, etc.

I'm almost ready to restart chapter two. It's been almost two weeks since I started this re-write. Are we seeing the problem with pacing? At this rate, it will take me two years to finish this second draft. This may drive me crazy. All I can do is hope something gives and I can get cracking that WIP instead of being stuck untangling the mess it's become.

WIP It - Excerpt Enclosed

I'm sure I'm not the first one who has figured this out, but the acronym WIP (Work In Progress) makes me laugh sometimes. Because, really, how much does your WIP actually relate to it's homophone, whip? (Okay, not an actual homophone since WIP isn't an actual word, but go with me. And, of course, we can't talk about whips without a picture of Indiana.)


Whips/WIPS can be really cool. You can do cool tricks, make people feel excited, fearful, etc. But, if you're not careful, your whip/WIP can bite you, draw blood, even leave scars. It can be something that excites you one moment, disgusts you the next, then cause you to fear even picking it up. Let's not forget how tangled we can become in our whips/WIPS.Sometimes, even though you think you know how to use your whip/WIP, it doesn't do what you ask and you suddenly doubt you ever knew how to work it in the first place.

My current WIP hasn't bit me too hard - yet. It has been through a long process. It started out in a different genre before settling into YA, then it was a matter of pinning down exactly what it was. It took me almost a year to get from idea to something to work with, then another long stretch to write it. And now it's time to re-write.

I haven't touched the thing (much) since last October. I thought I had the right direction in mind, then a couple really good critiques had my head spinning. Never doubt the power of a good critique. I have beta readers, but never before this did I have anyone who knew writing the way I needed them to. I was thrown for a loop and I just kept spinning, trying to pin down exactly where to start again.

This past week, I did just that. Pen and paper style, I scratched out as many words as I kept while rewriting my first chapter. And, not surprisingly, the changes made create entirely new facets in my characters. This translates in to a lot of other changes ahead, but the guts of the piece will pretty much stay the same.

Last time I wrote this book I had a word-count goal along with everything else. This time, I'm going to use that material to add some more depth without worrying about filling in the extra 300 words that didn't make it into this chapter, hoping that the combination of techniques gets me to where I want to be. I am counting the words I write, though, as a way to mark my progress. For example, in the last 3 days, I wrote a whopping 1500+ words.

But, oh, the words I wrote! They aren't magically amazing, or finished yet, or polished. They are words I have been looking nearly 3 months for. That in itself is fantastic. Writing in sequence as I do, it feels great to have finally broken the ice and be back swinging the ol' WIP. (See what I did there? Swinging the WIP/whip ...? Oh, fine.)

In celebration, I have decided to share my words, this new beginning of a story done, but not. Please follow the link. It's read-only so you are welcome to leave any comments / questions here. If you can be kindly in your criticism, I can be kindly in my denial of it. (Joking! Note above where I mention I loved the critiques.)

So, here it is, the link to Beautiful Lies, WIP.