Archive for November, 2011

November 29th, 2011

Here’s the deal…

by Holly Dodson

As much as I love blogging, and I adore each of you…I’m in need of a little bit of a change.

Blogging every day has been a lot of fun, and a challenge at the same time. It’s especially challenging as my schedule, both at work and home pick up around the holidays. So, I think I’m going to give blogging three days a week a shot.

 

 

I need to do more of this.

 

Instead of trying to throw together posts that may (or may not) make sense, I’m going to step back and focus on giving you three really good posts a week.

Does that sound okay? I hope so, because I’m struggling to keep up over here. :)

For now, I’ll say this is going to be the case through the rest of 2011. Who knows what 2012 will bring?

(I do…and it’ll be awesome! Not only will we be venturing into Disney World again, but when I return I’ll have a SUPER EPIC surprise for you!)

Keep warm, friends.

CategoryUncategorized | Comment16 Comments »

November 28th, 2011

Holiday Crazies

by Holly Dodson

So, you know how I took last week off to “work on revisions” and “relax”?

BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Ehm. I mean…that didn’t exactly happen. At all. Not even a little.

In fact, Super Spawn wound up sick, poor guy. Work was crazy, blah, blah, excuses, excuses. lol

Needless to say, this week I’ve got to get back on the wagon. I feel like I’ve missed so much by not blogging or reading blogs for a week. It’s more than a little weird.

But, onward we shall go! Tell me, how were your holidays?

My favorite part of my own was booking the resort for mine and Super Spawn’s return to Disney World after Christmas. (EEE!)

Categorydistractions, holiday, life, Super Spawn, Uncategorized | Comment6 Comments »

November 18th, 2011

Friday Fives — What I Need

by Holly Dodson

1.  An outline — I have learned (the hard way, I might add) that writing to an outline makes my life So. Much. Easier.  Not only for banging out a first draft, but for revisions!

2.  Coffee — My favorite is a nice dark roast put through my french press with a sprinkle of sugar and a dollop of cream.  I also *adore* a good Chai Latte.  It’s like Christmas in a cup.  But nearly any kind of coffee will do when we get down to it.

3.  Noise — I’m weird, I know, but I write better when there are people around me.  Not talking to me — that would be annoying.  But I love to write in restaurants or coffee houses where there is always a low hum of chatter.

4.  A sounding board — Whether that means calling my sister to run a plot point by her, or chatting with my writer buddies about POV and tense, sometimes I just need someone to brainstorm with.

5.  A character — This may be a DUH, but I need to have a really strong character voice in my head when I sit down to write.  My MC has to have a strong voice for the words to come.

What about you guys?  What are the five things you need to write?

CategoryUncategorized | Comment10 Comments »

November 17th, 2011

On Being Sick and Planning Things

by Holly Dodson

So, I’ve had the zombie plague all week.  It kinda sucks, but I figure at least I’ll be among the first to turn un-dead so I  won’t have to live in fear.  Right?  lol

 

 

 

Anyway, I’m planning Big Things this week that are going to come about on the blog after the turn of the new year.  Keep your eyes peeled.

That’s kind-of a gross saying — peeling one’s eyes would be quite horrendous.

Ick.

Next week I’m going to be working on Major Revisions on TATE’S HELL, plus it’s Thanksgiving, so I’m going to take the week off from the blog!  Yay!

I do plan on posting tomorrow, and I will have a post on Tuesday over at Paper Hangover.

I’m looking forward to Thanksgiving this year — we’re doing away with “traditional” fare and starting some traditions of our own.  Which includes steak — yummy.

Do you guys have any grand plans for the holiday?

CategoryUncategorized | Comment7 Comments »

November 15th, 2011

Super Spawn and the Tiny Violin

by Holly Dodson

So, Super Spawn had his very first violin recital last Friday night.
Cutest. Thing. EVER.

 

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0bc84703e5&view=att&th=13395c9ad013492c&attid=0.8&disp=inline&zw

 

He stood up there on that stage like he owned the world.  He also kinda stole the show — his violin teacher told me at our lesson last night that all anyone could talk about afterward was how cute Super Spawn had been.  :)   He was a ham.

I had kinda the biggest Mom Fail of my life — I made it to the event with kid, cookies, violin, camera — and NO MEMORY CARD for the camera!  AUGH!

So, while I was hoping to get some video to share with you guys, the only video I have is on my mom’s camcorder and I have NO idea how to get it onto the computer.

But the recital was so much fun.  Alec oohed and aahed over the bigger kids when they played (they were phenomenal!), and decided he wants to be able to play violin like them.

It is kind-of amazing to watch someone become inspired that way — I suppose I must have that same look of joyful determination when I read a great book or finish a new project.

Anyway, this is kinda pointless, I just wanted to share.  :)   Hope you’re all having a good week.

Categorylife, Super Spawn | Comment4 Comments »

November 14th, 2011

Book Recommendation — The Penderwicks

by Holly Dodson

The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy

The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy

Blurb from Goodreads: This summer the Penderwick sisters have a wonderful surprise: a holiday on the grounds of a beautiful estate called Arundel. Soon they are busy discovering the summertime magic of Arundel’s sprawling gardens, treasure-filled attic, tame rabbits, and the cook who makes the best gingerbread in Massachusetts. But the best discovery of all is Jeffrey Tifton, son of Arundel’s owner, who quickly proves to be the perfect companion for their adventures.

The icy-hearted Mrs. Tifton is not as pleased with the Penderwicks as Jeffrey is, though, and warns the new friends to stay out of trouble. Which, of course, they will—won’t they? One thing’s for sure: it will be a summer the Penderwicks will never forget.

I think the charm of the narrator’s voice is what captivated me right off the bat with this book.  As I was reading it I couldn’t help but remember those days long past where I used to climb up in my grandfather’s lap for story time.  He’d weave stories with charm and humor about children who were only trying to make the world a bright and beautiful place.  Reading this book was almost like slipping back in time to those precious moments.

The four sisters are determined to have the best summer ever with their plant-obsessed father when they arrive at Arundel.  And what they get is most certainly adventure.  There is a narrow escape from a second floor window, a rescue from an angry bull, and so much more.

This is one of those books that makes your heart swell up with love for the characters, and tears stick in your throat.  I can’t wait to share this story with Super Spawn (it will be our next bedtime book), and I’m positive it’s one I’ll come back to again and again.

Tell me, have you read THE PENDERWICKS?  Did you enjoy it as much as I did?

Categorybooks, READ IT NOW, reading | Comment3 Comments »

November 11th, 2011

Friday Fives — Make it Happen

by Holly Dodson

1.  Set a firm date as your goal to have the project complete.  I always work better under pressure.

2.  If this is a first draft, turn that internal editor off.  If you’re revising — get organized.  Post-It flags and color-coded pens are you friend (as are notebooks and index cards).

3.  Outline.  I have come to embrace the outline in my last couple of projects, and man.  So many less plot holes to fix!

4.  Know your characters.  Each character having their own goal, motivation, and conflict will add depth and make the plot flow more organically.

5.  Have fun!  If you aren’t enjoying the story, something is wrong.  ;)

Do you guys have any other tricks you’d like to share?  Join in over at Paper Hangover.

CategoryUncategorized | Comment12 Comments »

November 10th, 2011

Wasted

by Holly Dodson
“Thank goodness someone thinks I’m not wasting my time.”

I saw a comment much like the one above on Query Tracker a while back that struck home.  It was something I was struggling with at the time (it wasn’t very long ago in honesty), and I had even gone so far as to email a few of my writer friends in a low moment, “Please tell me I’m not wasting my time.”

 

Of course, being the great friends they are, I got rapid-fire emails saying exactly that, “You’re not wasting your time.”

And they’re right, I’m not.

If I were wasting my time, I wouldn’t be writing.  I’d be hiding from my dreams of being published, too scared to try.

Wasting my time would be doing something that doesn’t hold any intrinsic value to me.

To be wasted, my time would have to be spent doing something that at the end, I have nothing to show for.

If my time were wasted, I wouldn’t be making some of the best and most supportive friends I’ve ever had.

If I were wasting my time, I wouldn’t love it so much.

We all have those moments of doubt, I know.  I have them more often than I care to admit.  But, in reality, no matter how insecure you are about your writing or how far you go with it, doing something you love will never be a waste of time.

I have written three books and started on the fourth, and I’m more proud of those than anything in this world (except Super Spawn of course).  Even if they never see the light of day, I am still incredibly proud of them!  Writing makes me happy, and it’s something I will never stop doing no matter what.

This is not a waste of time.

Categoryinspiration, motivation, why I write, Writing | Comment9 Comments »

November 9th, 2011

Road Trip Wednesday – Super Mom Style

by Holly Dodson

This week’s topic over on YAHighway is:  What are your writing and publishing superpowers (drafting? beta-reading? writing queries? plotting? character creation? etc.) — and what’s your kryptonite?

http://blueeyedbride.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/supermom.gif

Dude, this is such an awesome question!

I’d probably say my super power is beta-reading.  I love, LOVE reading other writer’s work and helping them find places that can be strengthened.  I think my notes are in-depth and helpful.  (I hope they are anyway!)  Beta-reading is such a fun part of writing, and I learn so much from my oh-so-talented friends.

As for my kryptonite — right now I’m tempted to say characters because I’m ready to bash my head into a wall over Tate’s Hell, but I don’t actually think that’s my kryptonite.  I’d have to say setting detail is.  It’s the one thing that is *always* lacking in my early drafts and I *always* struggle to get just right.
What about you guys?  What are your writing superpowers?

CategoryRTW, Writing, writing style, YAHighway | Comment2 Comments »

November 8th, 2011

Did you see?!

by Holly Dodson

Susan revealed the cover for SOMETHING STRANGE & DEADLY yesterday!  GO!  Look!  Bask in the beautiful-ness that is her cover!

I’ll wait…

 

Gorgeous, isn’t it?  I personally adore the clockwork background and the lettering.  SO PRETTY!

 

Just to let you know, I’m getting a lot of spam comments on the blog, so I’m going to turn comment moderation on until it calms down.

Also, I also posted over at Paper Hangover today on Football and Friendship.

 

CategoryUncategorized | Comment4 Comments »

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