The Book Drop

Book Bag Confessions: Lots of Chick Lit in 2012

2012-03-01T06:00:00.000-08:00

In 2011, I challenged myself to read 50 books in the calendar year. I failed. While I started out with some pretty decent momentum, my reading tapered off in the middle of my Spring semester. Summer helped me add a few titles to my list, but once the Fall semester began, it was beyond obvious that I was not going to accomplish my goal.

And so I set out to try again in 2012. It's the first day of March in a leap year, which means that exactly 60 of 2012's 366 days have passed... and I've already finished 22 novels.

Now, it's not like the books I've been ready are particularly dense. Most (if not all) of these books have the words "beach read" inked onto their dust jackets. It's also worth noting that I wouldn't be nearly this far along if I hadn't been completely engrossed in the Stephanie Plum books-- which resulted in me reading a book and a half a day.

But, still! 22 books in 60 days. Here's my list:

Regular Chick Lit (2)

True Love (and Other Lies)
Love Story

Mystery Chick Lit (18)

These are all from the Stephanie Plum series. Read my review here. (Go ahead, read it. It has a pie chart).

One for the Money
Two for the Dough
Three to Get Deadly
Four to Score
High Five
Hot Six
Seven Up
Hard Eight
To the Nines
Ten Big Ones
Eleven on Top
Twelve Sharp
Lean Mean Thirteen
Fearless Fourteen
Finger Lickin’ Fifteen
Sizzling Sixteen
Smokin’ Seventeen
Explosive Eighteen

Young Adult Novels (1)

Two Truths and a Lie

Non Fiction (1)

Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs

I am, as always, looking for recommendations. Let me know if there are any books you feel in love with that I need to read over. It wouldn't hurt to expand this genre list a bit, either.

Review: True Love (and Other Lies)

2012-02-14T06:00:00.000-08:00

True Love (and Other Lies) by Whitney Gaskell

Claire Spencer is the kind of heroine you would expect to find staring in an ABC Family movie: She is unhappy in her job, she has given up on love, and she is a little too self conscious.

Claire is a travel writer for an unfortunate magazine called Sassy Seniors. The book opens with Claire on her way to London to visit her friend Maddy and try to breathe some life into her next piece for the magazine. She ends up sitting next Jack, a disheveled but handsome American lawyer who lives in London.

In true ABC family fashion, the two have an instant connection, and she makes plans to see him during her three day stay. Drama ensues when Claire discovers that Jack is on the tail end of a six month relationship, and his ex-girlfriend is not quite ready to let go.

Despite my rule to make no guesses as to the twits a novel might take (I liked to be as 'in-the-moment' as the characters,) I never found myself surprised in this novel. Every "plot twist" was easy to spot a chapter or two before it was supposed to be unveiled.

That, by the way, includes the way too perfect ending... which I won't spoil for you. It's nothing short of your typical star-crossed loves romantic comedy.

I came into possession of this book in an attempt to quickly find something to bring to a babysitting gig. I was about 180 pages into this books before the kid's bedtime (which says a lot about the breezy nature of the book, and maybe a little bit about my shortcomings as a babysitter.)

Overall, this books served the purpose I needed: It was easy to fall into, and quick to finish.
Pick it up if you're looking for something quick, but don't expect to find your new favorite author.

A couple of quotes:

Falling in love is an insanity unto itself, and therefore colors all perceptions and reactions. One should never make major decisions while either in the initial or final phases of it, such as moving out of the country or cutting all of one's hair off.

It was a lot like the sensation you must feel thwn you open your door and find Ed McMahon and the Publisher's Clearing House Prize Patrol on the other side, holding a bunch of balloons and an enormous cardboard check made out in your name for ten million dollars...only the exact opposite, more like a reverse lottery, where winning means that you've lost and your tribe is about to stone you to death.

Review: One for the Money (and other Plum novels)

2012-02-01T06:00:00.000-08:00

Stephanie Plum has been laid off from her job as a lingerie buyer for a department store, and she needs money to support her doughnut habit. She applies for a filling position at her cousin's bonding agency, and walks out of the interview with a job... as a bounty hunter.

Her first case is to track down local cop and former flame, Joe Morelli, who skipped out on bail.

Author Janet Evanovich knows how to keep her readers coming back. There are 18 to date, and each of them sporting their place in the series in their title. I'm 15 books in, and the story still doesn't seem worn out.

Upon my first glance at the series, it didn't seem like anything special. Once I got into it, I couldn't stop. I read a book and a half a day until the semester started, and fell asleep (lights on, fully clothed) every night after that trying to read just a little bit more.

You might recognize the plot from the new movie starting Katherine Heigl. The movie has gotten less than excellent reviews, currently ranking with a 3 percent on rotten tomatoes. However, one review does say they he/she enjoyed it in "a guilty pleasure sort of way." And aren't guilty pleasures the purest of pleasures? (But if you do decide to see the movie, I must insist that you ReadIt1st.)

My bitchin' pie chart should be enough to have you heading for the bookstore (who wouldn't want to read a series that encourages a doughnut based diet?), but just incase it isn't, I'll leave you with these excerpts from various novels in the series:

“My grandmother is a little Cuban woman who cooks all day and speaks Spanish. Your grandmother watches pay-per-view porn."
"She used to watch the Weather Channel, but she said there wasn't enough action."

--

"The hobbits looked up at Mooner and cheered. 'Hobbit Ho! they yelled and went into the house like Hobbit SWAT."
--

“I wasn't dating anyone. I was fornicating with Batman.”
--

"I don't know much about cars, but I think someone stole my engine."

"I almost never kill people."

"What's down there?"

"Furnace, heater, and a dead guy."

"Bad juju."

"Does he know he's engaged?"

"Of course he knows. It was real romantic, too. He came over, and we always get right to it, if you know what I mean. So, anyway, we got that out of the way, and then Tank fell asleep and I put the ring on. And then when Tank woke up I told him how happy I was and how he was such a sweetie. And then I celebrated by making him feel real good, and after that he fell asleep again."

--

“Last time you called me late at night you were naked and chained to your shower curtain rod. I hope this isn't going to be disappointing.”
--

“I hate mornings. They start so early.”
--

“I attributed the incidence to temporary insanity, and in my own defense, I'd like to say I haven't run over anyone since.”
--

ReadIt1st: Proven to make me like you more

2012-01-30T09:10:00.000-08:00

Hank Green of the Vlogbrothers started ReadIt1st a few months ago in an attempt to encourage more people to read the books movies are based on, before seeing the movie.

I mean, how can you argue with those points?

I love this idea, and I have tried to keep up this this on my own. But, as I have previously mentioned, I have a monthly movie date with a few friends from high school. One of us picks a movie, keeps it a secret, and tells the others when to show up. It's a fun system, but sometimes those book-based movie sneak up on ya.

Every so often (so far there have only been two) Readit1st will send you an email listing the up coming movies that are based on books. If nothing else, it will point the way to a good read-- No one is going to make a movie out of a boring book.

And, don't worry. If that first pledge was too intense for you, there is a toned down option.

Six newsroom lessons for novelists

2012-01-27T12:23:00.000-08:00

Aztec Press' first issue of the semester came out yesterday-- That's the first issue with me as a Co-Editor of a college paper. Considering how few experienced reporters and how many newbies we have, I think our production went exceptionally smooth. That had me thinking. I have spent so much time over the last five years functioning under newspaper deadlines, and I've learned to do it well. Noveling remains a challenge. So, what newsroom rules apply to the novel writing word?

1. Swear by to-do lists

There's always going to be something to look up, confirm, or reword. Always. But doing that as the issue arises slows momentum and interrupts trains of thought. So, make a list and check the tasks off when writing comes to a standstill. Having a list will also serve as a reminder of why you opened your internet browser in the first place, after a 20 minute detour down Facebook Lane.

2. Make your point, then make it sound nice

Just write the boring basics when you're forming a new thought. If you're not pleased with it, but are having a hard time thinking of an improvement, add it to your to-do list, and move on. You might even like your original wording once you've gotten some space from it.

3. Know your lunch plan

How easy is it to get absorbed in writing and not think about nourishment until you feel like you're about to pass out? Make a food plan at the beginning of the work day. That way you don't have to waste time figuring out what to do... just execute your plan.

4. Lounge

Deadlines are daunting, induce panic attacks, and they make people feel like they cannot stop working. But an overworked, completely stressed, dying for a cake break writer is not a good writer. Take half an hour to curl up on the couch, and return to work sans the overbearing back pain... and maybe with a milkshake.

5. Moderate collaboration

When working on a project, other people can either be a big help of a tremendous time suck. Work with others until their antics make you want to stomp like a 4 year old. Then they leave. Or you leave. Make sure someone leaves.

6. Don't freak out about mistakes

There are going to be typos. You might uncover a plot hole. Something might be factually ambiguous. It is definitely not a good feeling to find errors in something that has taken so much time to come to fruition. But you have to look at the project as a whole, with production in context, and focus on the positives.

Back to school shopping, newspaper edition

2012-01-19T00:08:00.000-08:00

It is newspaper time again. Or, as everyone one else probably thinks of it, school time.

I'm a newly appointed Co Editor.

I have a new fancy camera that I should learn how to use.

I've got a stack of brand new steno pads.

All of this is yay. But it's been a while since I did the whole "reporter" thing. Which means I'm a little bit rusty with my moves (yes, reporters have moves). This has driven me to my default emotion: anxiety.

And how do I cure anxiety? Shopping spree.

My 'These things will make me the best reporter ever' wish list:

1. A voice recorder

Right now I use my iPad, which has pros and cons.

Pros:

-Excellent Battery Life

- Provides a hard surface for me to put under my steno pad

-I already own it

Cons:

-The iPad is big, and gives me more to carry

-Sometimes the recording app is moody

-It's not what journalists are expected to record with)

2. This lens

So, I got a fancy camera for Christmas. So I could do fancy photojournalism things.

I'm very excited about this, and I'm loving my new camera which came with a 18-55 mm lens.

But this lens is a 55-300 mm (translation: It has the power to zoom like wow), and it's on sale for like $150 off.

But I'm not super photo girl yet, so it seems a little silly to spend lots of money on a new lens. But it's on sale. And it's a really good lens. And I'm going to need a lens like that anyway if I pursue photojournalism to any degree-- which I'll have to in order to be, you know, employable.

3. These shoes

Now that I have to take my own photos, I'll be doing a lot more running around, and I need a professional looking shoe that won't fall off. Or maybe I just want to go shoe shopping.

4. This bag

I absolutely love the idea of having a cross body bag to keep all of my gadgets in while I move around an event. This one is roomy enough that I'd be able to fit my camera, a video camera, a steno pad, and the iPad in it.

Now, I know what you're thinking. "But, Chelo, don't you already have this bag?"

Well... no. I have a bag this looks pretty much exactly like this, but it's a mossy green.

It's like the shoes. I need to look professional, and this hue does the job a lot better. Right now, I use the green bag in stead of a backpack, and it would be nice to have two so I wouldn't have to dump out my school books when ever I have to run to a Board meeting.

5. A new camera strap

The strap that came with my camera is really, really difficult to work with. It isn't long enough to be used as a cross body strap. Besides, there are always a lot of cameras floating around the newsroom. This would give mine an element of immediate recognition.

Review: The Fault in Our Stars

2012-01-10T06:35:00.000-08:00

Hazel Grace Lancaster is the well read, beautifully spoken, cancer-ridden narrator of John Green's newest book, The Fault in Our Stars.

Hazel is 16, and terminally ill. Since cancer pulled her out of school, Hazel's life has been a bland string of rereading a single novel, attending a depressing cancer support group, and watching seemingly endless reruns of America's Next Top Model.

That is, until Augustus Waters sits in on one of the support group meetings. Augustus is tall, charming, and attractive. He only has about 1.4 legs but, hey, lets call that a footnote.

Augustus and Hazel share the unusual experience of being very young, while dealing with life threatening illness.

As always, Green's novel is insightful, gracefully scripted, and very amusing.
I received a copy of TFiOS about three weeks before the book was scheduled to be released. Despite my best intentions to wait until the publication date to read the book, I finished it the night it arrived. In one sitting.
I encourage you to listen to the author read chapters one and two of the novel. Every book in the first printing was signed by Green, and some of the books have other annotations by his wife and brother.

I absolutely loved this novel. Really, listen to the first two chapters. It gets better with every page.

And, nerdfighters, I want to know what you think. Best Green book yet, yes?

Book Bag Confessions: Young Adult Edition

2012-01-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

The Confession

This is a quote from John Green's first novel, Looking for Alaska.
This book won the Printz award in 2006.

About 40 percent of the novels I read in 2011 were of theYoung Adult Fiction genre.

The Origin

About a year and a half ago, I stumbled upon a video by theVlogbrothers. Brothers John and Hank Green, maintain the Vlogbrothers YouTube channel. Hank is a musician, which is nice. John, however, is anovelist.

I didn’t pick up his books right away. After I had beensubscribed for a while, I noticed how great John was atcomposing sentences. A lot of his thoughts were beautifully worded, and I lovedthe wonderfully nerdy things he talked about. So I read one of his books. ThenI read all of his books. And then all of the books he had recommended in hisvideos.

The Books

So, just to clear it up: I read (and enjoy!) a lot of other types of books, and I’m rather picky about the YA books I do read. I’m not exactly going through the teen section at Barnes and Noble book by book. (I mean, really. There are five bookshelves in my local Barnes and Noble dedicated to 'paranormal love.' Boundaries must be set.)

But I have come to enjoy a lot of these books. I mean, a lot of them are poorly written, gimmicky, and really cheesy—this I remember from reading in middle school. This time around, I’m going things differently.

I pretty much only read books that John Green recommends, but I’ve also picked up some novels by authors I used to love, or that have been recommended on NPR.

So far, this more selective process has worked out pretty well for me. I haven’t run into anything too cheesy.

The Career Angle

But it’s not all about easy reading. I’m an aspiringnovelist, but I’m only 19. I’ve lived in one town all of my life, I’m not anexpert in any field, and I can really only speculate about life in the 20+area.

So I thought, hey, why not start out writing YA books. I’vebeen a “young adult.” I like books that are happy, lighthearted, and climaxwith kisses. I want to write books that make people happy.

Also, books for teens can have… simpler plots. There are, ofcourse, exceptions, but a lot of YA books are just about young people figuringout who they want to be, and how they want to fit into the world. Which is great and all, but I think italso provides an opportunity for me to work on being able to pull together a well written novel, while leaving thechallenge of writing a surprising and informative novel for a later date.

And Bonus: There are less YA fiction novels than adult fiction novels on the market AND they have a longer shelf life.

Think of it like aromantic comedy

It’s a total guilty pleasure. The books are light and happy.It’s nice to be able to pick up a love story without it being a full on romancenovel. These books are appropriate for young adult readers, but that does not hinder them from being quality stories.

I was really struck by how thoughtful and sweet books filed in the YA section were. They were quick and fun to read. After a long day, its nice to have a breezy but quality book to curl up with.

Book Reviews

2012-01-01T17:17:00.000-08:00

Columbine

The Fault in Our Stars

Review: Love Story

2011-12-30T06:00:00.000-08:00

Love Story begins with what has to be the least smile-inducing line ever: What can you say about a twenty-five-year-old girl who died?

I know. But, despite this most depressing of introductions, the novel seems worth a read.

I mean, not to judge a book by a cover, but lets do exactly that:

The title promises at least a serving of smiles
Under the (cliched and ridiculous) tag line ("love means never having to say you're sorry") I am promised that it has "more than 21 million copies sold."
Everything is bright and neon-y.

This must mean good things. We shall carry on.

The story is told by Oliver Barrett, starting in his senior year at Harvard.

Oliver is cocky and athletic. He studies at the Radcliffe library, where he meets the sassy Jennifer Cavilleri.

These moments from Jennifer and Oliver's first interaction sold me on the book in its entirety:

I normally cut these types to ribbons, but just then I badly needed that goddamn book. "Listen, I need that goddamn book."

-----

"What the hell makes you so smart?" I asked.

"I wouldn't go for coffee with you," she answered.

"Listen-- I wouldn't ask you."

"That," she replied, "is what makes you stupid."

Jennifer and Oliver have an unconventional relationship. Oliver's narration is to the point and witty. They are sweet, but understated. They don't fall into the tired rom-com pattern, and their adorableness will have you giggling like 12 year old. And, well, you know how it ends.

Upon minimal investigation, I found that Love Story was made into a movie in 1970. (My mother raved about it for a full 10 minutes. I'm not saying her recommendation is a sure sign of quality-- perhaps just the opposite-- but mediocre films are always born from superb books, am I right?) I don't see how the Oliver-ness of this book could be translated into film, but hey, it was the 70s. I'm willing to see what they had to offer.

There is a sequel called Oliver's Story (which was made into a film in 1978). I am already compelled to hate this book because the movie's tag line is "It takes someone very special to help you forget someone very special," and I'm rather attached to the whole Oliver/Jenny relationship thing. I'll read it, I'm sure it's just as compelling as the first book. And you should read Love Story so that you can be preemptively distrustful of whatever lady comes along after Jenny-- right along with me.

Books. I love them.

2011-12-12T09:09:00.000-08:00

Book time at the College library.

It's pretty obvious that my favorite means of entertainment is to read books.

There are five dedicated bookshelves in my home. These bookshelves cannot hold all of my books.

The overflow live happily stacked up on counters, in the trunk of my car, and at other people's houses.

Books, books, books, books, books. It's a book-a-palooza in here.

But my friends love movies.

Every month I go to a movie with three girls that I befriended in high school.

And every month, I make disbelieving faces as my friends squeal and gasp.

And are occasionally moved to tears.

And, okay, I get it. Movies are effortless little breaks from the real world.

But, given only 120 minutes, big screen characters are always going to be too 2 dimensional, and their reasoning will be shallow and rushed.

That simply doesn't have my pounding a fist on my arm rest and yelling

"OH MY GOD, HOW COULD SHE DO THAT?!"

But novels are different. The people in the books come off less like "characters" because we're allowed the opportunity to see them through the narrator's eyes.

We can learn of the backstory, without contrived dialogue.

Novels really allows a reader to know the characters, and understand motives and thoughts as the plot moves forward. There is a lot more investment from the reader, which leads to an "Oh, sad, I don't get to hear any more about Kate's adventures" feeling when the book is finished.

Did you feel that way leaving New Year's Eve? I didn't think so.

And, yes, I am one of those people who will walk out of a theater and say

"Eh. Wasn't as good as the book."

People hate that about me. But thats okay. They're allowed to be wrong.

First steps to fixing up that NaNo novel

2011-12-11T16:41:00.001-08:00

After spending the last 10 days cuddled up in my bed, doing pretty much everything but looking at my novel, it is time to get back on the literary horse.

November left me with 51,000 words, all of which showed obvious signs of being born during caffeine-driven midnight sprints. Now, onto making something out of all that mush.

Find a tone
One of the first things to go during my deadline powered writing rush was the intended tone. I wanted my characters to come off as lighthearted, optimistic, and engaging. Right now, they're a little too static.

However, it's not the time to dive into editing mode. Reading over the dull, word count driven pages without any source of inspiration is just going to be depressing.

Instead, grab a book or two that reads how you want your novel to read. As you go through, make notes addressing what gives the book the quality you're looking for.

With the first draft done, it's a great time to make the shift from writing/focus music, to music that captures the intended tone and emotion of the book.

Read through your novel
Make a note at the beginning of each scene, listing:

What the scene is supposed to accomplish (Something other than a word count boost, please)
What it is currently missing
Unwritten scenes that are needed for setup/development

Write a new summary of the novel

Now that you've spent a month getting to know your characters and plot, write out a page on what your vision of the finished project is. Include an ideal tone, intended thesis statement, and which parts need a little more spice.

Keep up with setting deadlines

November is over, and that means less dedicated noveling time. But NaNoWriMo works because, it forces writers to power through laziness, hectic schedules, and other responsibilities. Continue to make yourself meet deadlines. I'm giving myself a week to work through everything listed here.

What other ways are there to kick off novel editing?

My world is filled with writing/geek happies

2011-12-08T17:39:00.001-08:00

Co Editor in Chief-ing

David and I high five a lot. Really, a lot. Celebration is important in the newsroom! Also, that lovely lady pictured with the glare on her glasses is Miki, David's girlfriend. She is also frequently my date to parties. Lots of pull with the AzP editors, that one.

You may now call me "Chelo-in-Chief." For the upcoming spring semester, my friend David and I are splitting the EIC position at the college paper. He is silly and nice, and we work well together. I'm excited about it. Also, Miki (see photo at the bottom right) pointed out today that we look a bit like siblings. I find this equally strange and intriguing. I need a second opinion. Thoughts?

Best blog comment ever

On Tuesday, I blogged a review of my favorite book series. And then Julie Kenner, the author, saw it in her Google Alters, and left a comment on my blog with a little inside info about her upcoming addition to the series. The first thing I saw when I woke up this morning was a tweet from her saying she had read my blog. I completely geeked out. Best way to start the day, ever ever.

Now, go read her books. GO GO GO GO.

Winning NaNoWriMo

Also, I won NaNoWriMo in the early afternoon of November 30th. I haven't looked at the book at all since, but I am planning my method of attack. Expect an update this weekend!

Anniversary time, yay

This photo was taken about four months into our
relationship. We should wear 3D glasses all the time, no?

Duncan and I are celebrating our five year anniversary tomorrow! There's no real "news" on this front, but, you know, it's exciting and noteworthy. So, anniversarydayyay!

Signed,

The Chelo-in-Chief

"November" Book Club: Carpe Demon

2011-12-06T09:39:00.001-08:00

This is the world's greatest book series.

Carpe Demon tells the story of Kate Connor, wife, widow, stay at home mom, and former demon hunter.

Kate gave up demon hunting when she and her first husband settled down, and ever since she has been enjoying the bliss of suburban life-- throwing dinner parties and participating in carpools, all without having to stab any demons in the eye. What a lucky lady.

That is, until the demons inexplicably start showing up again. Now Kate has to brush up on her fighting skills, kill and discard the numerous demons, and keep it all hidden from her husband and two children.

This is the single most hilarious series ever. The quote on the cover says it all, "Shows you what would happen if Buffy got married and kept her past a secret."

My only complaint with the series is also located in the cover. You see those red letters over there that proclaim her a "soccer mom?" Neither of her children play soccer. So false.

I finished the first book in the series around 11 p.m., and was the first person inside Barnes and Nobel the next morning. I read every one of those books within the week. It's witty, it's a quick, and it's addicting.

Buy this book. In fact, buy all of these books upfront. You're not going to want to stop between them.

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Also, BREAKING NEWS:

I was just checking juliekenner.com in hopes of seeing an announcement for another installment in my favorite series when I saw this bullet on a blog from July:

* News coming from Julie Kenner soon (hint: think Kate and demon hunting soccer moms, and Beth and vampires!)

!!!!!!!
I am completely dying of excitement (hyperbole completely necessary. I'm so excited.)
Go read this book. Read it now. We need to discuss the future of this series.
GO GO GO.

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November Deadlines.

2011-11-29T11:24:00.001-08:00

A computer, paper, and some
books. This postage stamp
just captured the next
35 hours of my life.

What if this year we had a leap year in November?

Tomorrow marks the last day of November. Tomorrow also seems to be the day that I am supposed to be done with about a trillion projects. Okay, well, maybe just three.

Project 1: Finish NaNoWriMo
I am extremely competitive. Really, I am. I have a hard time signing up for classes I don't already know a lot about. I put in extra hours to be one of the better volunteers for the Cancer Society.
And I never take on projects I won't do well with. Or finish. Finishing seems to be the main goal right now.
I know that having written 37,000 words in four weeks is something to be proud of, but the bar has been set at 50,000 words, and thats where I intend to land. Which is why as soon as I leave campus today I will be locking myself in NaNoLand. Oh wait. No I won't because I also have...

Project 2: Revision deadline for the last issue of the paper
Tomorrow at 9 a.m. my article revisions are due for the last issue of the school paper. You know what the funny thing about the word "revision" is? It implies that there is an original to revise. I don't have an original. But I do have 20 hours to come up with something. So. I'm sure I'll get that phone interview pretty soon.

Project 3: Book club
So, tomorrow I'm supposed to post a book review for Debbie's November book club. I haven't read any books this month. But, um, I read a lot of books this summer. And I'm sure one of them took place at least partially in November. So, maybe I'll look into that as a option.

The Miracle of To-do Lists

2011-11-21T11:30:00.000-08:00

I'm a busy gal, as we all are in November, and it can be pretty easy to lose track of what I need to get done each day. As a result, I have decided to take a leaf out of high school Chelo's book, and invoke the use of daily to-do lists. In addition to my basic daily lists (math homework, 3,000 word days, newspaper deadlines, buy a turkey) I've got some major deadlines coming with the end of the month:

Poor Bertha. :(

5. Avoid Drunk Driving.

Yesterday, a friend of mine gave my car, Bertha, this lovely tattoo. I won't get pulled over for a busted taillight, but I would get a citation or something if I get pulled over for something else while I have a busted taillight. My friend's husband pointed out that I should probably not be drinking and driving until they get it fixed. I will try, my friend. I will try.

4. Finish my Book Club book.

I mean start. Well, I kind of mean "finish." Because I read, like, half of the first chapter in September. But I'm going to have to reread those 10 pages anyways, because I have absolutely no recollection about what happened in them.

3. Expose Myself to Pop Culture.

My newsroom friends are all about 5 years older than I am, and they recently discovered how many pop culture-y things I know absolutely nothing about. So they made me quite the list of shows and moves to watch. If I don't get started soon, I'll probably never finish.

2. Watch the Simpsons.

Yesterday, Neil Gaimen blew up my Twitter feed talking about last night's episode of the Simpsons. That, on top of a "You must watch" text from a trusted family member means I'm definitely going to have to make time for it. Apparently, it's all about noveling wonderfulness. But finding the time, goodness...

1. Win NaNoWriMo.

I am so behind on my word count. I've got barely over 20,000 words and a week and a half to come up with the other 30,000. I will do it. I will. Because I'm extreamly competeative. And, damn, have you seen the winner's t-shirt?

A day in the life of a Tucson Wrimo

2011-11-16T18:23:00.001-08:00

Gunpowder green tea is an excellent breakfast beverage.

Sparkroot
Time: 10:20 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Words: 649
Process: Determined to catch up on our noveling, fellow AzP editor Kyle and I agreed to meet at a coffee shop at 10 a.m. for three solid hours of writing. We were both about half an hour late. I only wrote about 600 words, and he worked on articles for the paper. Why didn't we get more done? Because we gossip like old women, thats why. Also, AzP E.I.C., Debbie, and I were facebooking about Pennsylvania. Man, do I miss Philly. What's that? Facebook is not conducive to successful writing? Oh. Oops.

Mmmm, gyro.

Fronimos

Time: 2:50 p.m. to 3:33 p.m.

Words: 514

Process: I got today's most rapid noveling done during my lunch hour. Why? Because I couldn't get the wifi to work, Debbie had stopped talking to me about Philly, and I was eating without my lovely gossip noveling buddies. No fun. But I didn't leave so quickly because of the lack of distractions, I promise! I left because the guy behind me was chewing too loudly, the business men across the way wouldn't stop giggling, and the preteen a few booths back wouldn't stop shouting/complaining about every. damn. thing. her mother mentioned. Migraines do not make for happy noveling. I moved on.

Mmm, mocha :) Hmmm, my writing seems very much tied
to food, doesn't it?

Crave

Time: 3:50 p.m. to 4:55 p.m.
Words: 633
Process: By the time I got to my second coffee shop of the day, I was sooo ready to bust out a couple thousand words. This did not happen. The migraine that the afore mentioned preteen had been beckoning earlier was brought to the surface by a screaming toddler. By the time the child was ushered outside, I was not in my the mood for noveling. But, I put in a good effort. I did! Then Duncan called. He had gotten out of class early. Resigned, I plugged away for another 20 minutes (about 200 words) before heading to his house.

Awe. He's cute, isn't he?
Duncan’s House

Time: 5:05 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Words: 344
Process: Noveling parties at Duncan's house seemed doomed to fail. However, this time I let him know outright that he had to leave me to writing, or I would say mean things about him on the blog (Fightin' words, I tell ya). And then I discovered that my cellphone was having a diva moment and didn't want to work anymore. So what did I do? Throw my own diva fit, stop writing, and speed down to the Apple store all in the name of text messaging? Yes, actually, thats exactly what I did. 344 words will have to suffice for today.

My Bed

4/5 pictures showing food. What is my life?

Time: 7 p.m.

Words: 0
Process: I'm not sure it's well deserved, but I'm taking a break for the day, and treating myself to some cheesy, light hearted television and apple slices dipped in caramel. Maybe I'll produce anther few hundred words, or maybe I'll just pass out and show up for school fully rested and on time for the first time of the semester. Realistically, I'm probably just going to catch up on all of the television I've been missing. Hulu, I've missed you.

The Ides of November

2011-11-15T19:17:00.001-08:00

November is halfway over, and it's time for me to get my NaNoWriMo ducks in a row.

During the first week of November, this is where I though I would find myself mid month:

Really stressed
On track with my novel
Lots of writing parties under my belt
Dying for some time with my friends

This is where I am:

Pretty well rested although, admittedly, a little overwhelmed
Thousands of words behind on my novel
With only two writing parties under my belt
Pretty up to date on the social scene

Next week is packed with newspaper deadline, Thanksgiving, housesitting, finishing starting my book club book... which pretty much leave me the next 5 days to get everything together, so I don't implode next week.

I need to figure out what is working for me (and what isn't).

DO:

Allow myself to do other things. A locked up writer is not a happy writer.
Set ambitious daily goals
Make to do lists
Schedule write-ins with friends

DO NOT:

Stay in the newsroom late every night
Spend writing time with Duncan. This is never successful.
Edit. Save the editing/renaming of characters/worrying about logistics for December

Does anyone else have tips? 15 days left, fellow Wrimos. Lets get writing.

Keys to a successful writing party: Part 2, what to avoid

2011-11-13T18:21:00.001-08:00

This is not what success looks like.

(Click here for Part 1, Keys to a successful writing party)

1. Do not invite the usual crowd to your usual place

... unless that setting is productive for you. By all means, tell your chemistry study group to meet in you in the usual corner of the library. However, attempting to stage a write-in at your boyfriends house without any other writing buddies will merely result in a poorly lit photo montage, and a jumping-on-the-bed type dance party.

2. Don't invite someone you haven't seen in months

Since the last time you've seen them, they've gotten a series of promotions, hitchhiked through Europe, and adopted three children from Africa. Or maybe they just got a new boyfriend and discovered a tasty pizza joint. Whatever the news is, it's likely to take over your session, leading to depressing word counts for the day.

3. Don't wear something uncomfortable

You're going to be sitting down, typing for a few hours. Don't worry about wearing your best outfit so you look nice for the friend we talked about in tip #2. Jeans and a t-shirt, with a sweater. Or sweat pants, although some of my peers seem to think sweat pants are a sin punishable by death.

4. Don't go in without goals

Give yourself something to shoot for. If you say you won't leave your spot at the table until you've hit 2,000 words for the day, you're going to have a more successful event. That way, when you've only got a thousand words and 20 minutes until you're supposed to pick up the kids from soccer practice, you'll end the session with a bang, instead of socializing with your laptop already stored in your bag.

My NaNoWriMo-- Day 13

Writing? For... my novel? Um, maybe later in the week.

Keys to a successful writing party: Part 1, what to look for

2011-11-13T18:09:00.001-08:00

Very successful writing party today, fellas. I'm excited for this to be a reoccurring deadline event. :)

(Check out Part 2, what to avoid, here)

1. Do the Location Checklist

Look for a place that has everything you're going to need:

Cozy seats (you're going to be there a while)
Something tasty
Peaceful ambiance
Enough space for you and your writing pals

2. Invite the right people

Make sure to bring the people who really want to boost their word count. Leave the guy who is more invested in the scheduled Cardinal's game at home to sit by the TV. A fist bump for every point is just going to slow you down. (Just needed an example, David. Feel free to continue celebrating your sports-related victories during our deadline parties as you see fit).

3. Figure in time to socialize

Just go in knowing that you're not going to be writing the whole time. You're going to have to spend a little time catching up on each other's lives before you can settle into your novel's plot. Get there early enough to have a nice chat, and bust out a couple thousand words before heading back into the real world.

4. Bring your headphones

Even if you work in time to chat before you begin writing, your friends are going to want to talk to you mid-writing session. If you are wearing headphones, it'll take more effort on their part. That'll make them less likely to bug you for the little stuff.

5. Order something to savor

In Tucson, November days range from 50 degrees to 80 degrees. On the hotter days, it's easy to get settled into a writing session wearing a tank top and shorts, with an iced tea in hand. I have news for your: iced tea is not an inspring beverage. You'll drink it quickly, and then you'll get more, and then you'll have to go to the bathroom a lot... Basically, iced tea = writing party catastrophe. Do yourself a favor and get something hot. You'll enjoy it over a longer period of time, saving you money (from the lack of refills) and giving you more time at your computer (from less time in the restroom).

But those are just the tricks I've found. What makes your writing parties successful?

My NaNoWriMo-- Day 13

Time: 10 p.m.

Total Words: A little over 18,000

Today I'd like to hit: Yeah... I'm probably not going to gain any words today.

Thoughts: This November has been extremely busy for me. Between newspaper deadlines, college classes, and shopping... Well, I suppose it's fair to say I haven't exactly been locking myself in my room, working on the novel. While I am currently a few thousand words behind, I'm not worried. I wrote nearly 6,000 words on Friday, and I didn't even have to lock myself away. A few more hours of dedication, and I should be back on track. Kyle, lets hit Sparkroot's study buddy event-thing on Wednesday. Yeah?

The NaNoWriMo Blues: 3 ways to get back in the noveling zone

2011-11-09T18:33:00.000-08:00

Sittin' at a local coffee shop, waiting
on the "writer vibe" to kick in.

1. Go to a coffee shop
Really. Just getting yourself out of your home or office will help you focus. At home, you're always going to have dinner to make, homework to do, or Facebook to check. Taking yourself out of that environment will allow you to say, "I am here to write, and I'm not leaving until I reach my word count goal."
Also, something about pulling out your laptop at a coffee shop gives you that writer vibe. What could inspire you more to get your words out than earning that "coffee shop writer" title?

2. Have your character deal with an emergency
In real life, you don't plan having a gas leak, or getting in a car accident, so you neither would your character. Give your word count a bump (and yourself a break from your central plot). Maybe this will give you new insight into your character, or help your bridge a gap in your plot.

3. Give yourself permission to write important stuff later
So you know where you want to go with your novel, but you're not quite sure how to get there. Take a leaf out of Stephanie Perkins' (published NaNo Novelist) book, and whip out a "[SOMETHING IMPORTANT HAPPENS HERE]" and move on to what you know will follow. If you've got a slightly better idea of what needs to happen, but you're not quite sure about the logistics, slap that down instead, and write what you can about the aftermath and other scenes to follow (ie. [KITTENS ESCAPE FROM KITTEN JAIL, WREAK HAVOC IN GROCERY STORE*-- Details TBD] and then write about getting the kittens back, or the people who found them, or the repercussions for the store manager.)

*Yeah, that was written like a headline, wasn't it? What? I spent the entire morning copy editing. Also, this would make for a very interesting news article. Debbie, I'm calling dibbs now: If the opportunity comes up, I get to write the kitten escape article for the Press, 'kay?

Write a NaNo that can become a Novel

2011-11-08T21:19:00.000-08:00

2010 NaNoToons are a fun way to
ignore your novel.

Silence your inner editor. Quantity over quality. Just get the ideas written out and sort through them later.

Thats the common advice for NaNoWriMo.

I understand the perspective. I love the idea of writing everything down and having a lot of options once editing season rolls around.

But, really, does it do any good to write a throwaway scene just to bump up your word count? Of course not. Thats just wasting time.

The Script Lab offers a solution for this.

Their website is dedicated towards writing screenplays but, really, good writing is universal. Check out what they have to say about writing a quality scene:

1. What is the purpose of each scene? How does it advance the story? Does it reveal something important about the character?

2. Whose scene is it? What does he/she want? What is his/her obstacles to getting it? What is the conflict in the scene?

3. Is the scene static? Give your characters something to do in the scene! Introduce your characters in motion. Use the location. Give them an activity or ‘business’; otherwise, they just stand around and talk, talk, talk.

4. Do all your characters sound the same? Think the story through in each of your character’s minds. Do they have an accent? Do they smoke or make the same grammatical mistake? Does their profession color their speech?

5. Are you using mood and sound to create a feeling for the scene.

6. Are you starting the scene as late as possible and getting out early?

7. Do your scenes contrast? Night/Day, Int./Ext., Action/Peaceful? For example, a claustrophobic scene in a jail cell cut to a scene in a row boat in the middle of a mountain lake. Read your script scene after scene - is a scene too much like the one just before it? Is it another four page dialogue scene? Does it take place in another smoke filled room? Think of ways to use contrast: other possibilities, places, and scenarios.

8. Do you have scenes of preparation and aftermath? We need moments when we are alone with the character - where we really get to know him/her. These are the moments, usually before or after important scenes of conflict in a script when we really are in the shoes of the main character. We are drawn into his/her mind set. We know what he/she is facing or has just faced, and we understand what he/she is thinking. Mood, music, and props are often very important to these scenes.

Tuning out the world

2011-11-07T17:42:00.000-08:00

When people are being too loud when I'm working, the
entire world goes thermal. It's a rare condition.

Noises make me angry. Especially when I'm trying to get work done.

Other people talking, watching TV, or tapping their pencils when I'm trying to write all drive me crazy.

Or if someone is chewing. God help the next person who opens a bag of chips while I'm working on my novel.

Anyways, it can be difficult to tune some things out. Including the beeping currently coming from the production area in the newsroom. I CAN HEAR YOU IN THERE.

Moving on.

If music just isn't doing the trick, I like to turn to Simply Noise. It's a white noise generator, which helps tune out the rest of the world.

They offer three "colors" of noise (white, pink, and brown) as well as sleep timer and an option to start oscillation.

If your environment is stressing you out, I suggest you go straight for oscillating brown noise. I frequently do.

Especially because, really, I have no idea how the hell to stop that beeping.

My NaNoWriMo-- Day 7

Time: 7 p.m.

Total Words: Somewhere near 11,000

Today I'd like to hit: 12,000

Thoughts: While I had planned to stay ahead for the first week of NaNoWriMo, my "Ooh, hey, look at all of the wonderful things the Internet has to offer" tendencies got in the way, and I find myself in desperate need of a write in. I think I've got one planned for Wednesday, so here's hoping I don't fall behind before then.

Bustin' through writer's block: List edition

2011-11-05T22:05:00.000-07:00

He gets so mad about writer's block!

Rapid noveling can be a bit overwhelming.

NaNoWriMo is great, in that it gives writers a specific goals and deadlines to help drive them towards success.

But, perhaps inevitably, writers are going to reach a stopping point in their book. Either they won't know what needs to happen next, or they won't know how to transition from Point A to Point B.

Or, perhaps all they know is the essential plot line, and they struggle with the more personal details and experiences that need to come along the way.

Either way, it's not exactly something you can wait out when you're shooting for 50k in 30 days.

The last two days, I've been blogging about NaNoWordSprints, which are, essentially, short bursts of writing, lead by the OLL crew and their unexpected writing prompts. They're great. You should really try it out.

However, their prompts tend to be a bit, well, silly. Quacking cell phones and astronaut ice cream don't exactly fit flawlessly into everyone's novel.

So, make your own.

Pick a letter, any letter, and list every noun you can think of starting with that letter. Aim for at least 30 nouns

Then pick one, and write a scene including that word. Maybe it will work into your novel, and maybe it won't, but extra time with your characters is never a bad thing.

Remember: You don't have to write your novel in order. Skip around a bit and get your scenes on paper. Work the transitions in later.

My NaNoWriMo-- Day 5

Time: 10 p.m.

Total Words: 8,634

Today I'd like to hit: 10,000

Thoughts: I'm such a slacker. While I realize I'm not behind on my word count,I'm not as far ahead as I would like to be. Zero words today. Two hours left in the day. I know the drill...

Catching up on NaNo

2011-11-04T22:14:00.000-07:00

At least I got a really cute bag, right? Thank you, Target.

You know that point in November where you just need some time off from your novel? And you accept a few invitations and take on a few extra responsibilities that you really don't have time for? And you completely neglect your novel, hoping the NaNo Fairies are going to sprinkle an extra thousand words into your laptop?

Yeah, I hit that point a little early this year.

Yesterday, I did not write a single world for my novel. Not one. I did, however:

rewrite an article for my college newspaper
blog
work with another editor in the newsroom until 9 p.m.
spend two and a half hours with said editor chatting and eating pizza, after leaving the newsroom

Today, I've been a little better. I wrote 1,160 words this morning. And then I spent the entire afternoon shopping, and not solidifying plans for a writing party with either of the two people who wanted to write with me today. I'm such a NaNo loser.

But, with two hours left in Day 4, I present you with yesterday's NaNoWordSprints. (If you're confused, see yesterday's post).

Your challenges, should you choose to accept them, are to include:

Getting in trouble with their boss-- 10 minutes
Isolate your main character from the rest-- 15 minutes
Discuss a character's unusual phobia-- 15 minutes
Something "unbelievable" that actually happens (ie. cars being driven into houses)-- 15 minutes
All dialogue-- 15 minutes
No conversation- 15 minutes
Silver (the color or the metal)-- 30 minutes
Make as many things as possible explode-- 10 minutes
An unfortunate typo-- 10 minutes
Include a character from a fellow Wrimo's story-- 15 minutes
Have a character refuse to eat something
Rocks or rubies-- 15 minutes
Astronaut ice cream or another dried food-- 10 minutes

My NaNoWriMo-- Day 4

Time: 10 p.m.

Total Words: 7,324

Today I'd like to hit: 9,000

Thoughts: No thoughts. Must write. Must reach 9,000...

NaNoWriMo Sprints

2011-11-03T19:15:00.000-07:00

This is my procrastination crown. Which I made today, while I could have been
working on my novel. Just sayin'.

Chelo's noveling process

I open my word processor.
I read the last sentence I wrote.
I add another sentence or two to give the last thought context.
I go to turn on my YouTube playlist.
I watch an hour of YouTube videos.
I return, finally, to my word processor.
I decide to take a nap instead.

Procrastination is sort of my thing. Thats why I am loving NaNoWordSprints.

NaNoWordSprints is a twitter account where members of the volunteers guide Wrimos through short writing bursts, and sending word counts soaring.

I love this idea. It's great for powering past writers block. It's working wonders for tons of writers. It's adding all kinds of unexpected plot twists to novels.

It's not for me.

Being the Procrastination Queen (Side note: Don't you love my illustration? I should totally pursue a degree in graphic design, right?) I can't exactly leave my Twitter feed open on my phone waiting for a tweet about a word sprint.

If I leave Twitter open, I'm going to get distracted by the links people send out, and I'll waste an hour or two exploring the internet. No good.

But I do love the idea. So, here is a list of my favorite NaNo Word Sprints. They're going to be vague-- find a way to fit them into your story. The entire scene doesn't have to be about the prompt, just find a way to work it in.

Write them as a way to propel your story forward, or just find out new things about your characters. Remember, not everything has to be planned. Set a timer and write, write, write!

Introduce a new character (possibly a hyper Irish girl named Serena) -- 10 minutes

Send your characters on a mission! Even if that mission is just to shop for cake-- 10 minutes

Have something horrible happen-- 15 minutes

Write a backstory for a minor character-- 20 minutes

Include a characters beloved childhood toy-- 15 minutes

Use a code: ie. "The phone quacks at midnight"-- 15 minutes

Pull in a really boss character who "cracks the whip"-- 15 minutes

Put in an obnoxiously in the way cat-- 20 minutes

*** All of these are from November 2nd. As the month goes on, I'll continue to compile my favorite prompts. There might even be two blogs a day as a result. Fancy that.

My NaNoWriMo-- Day 3

Time: 7 p.m.

Total Words: 6164

Today I'd like to hit: 8,000

Thoughts: I have not written a single word today. Not one. Okay, well, not one for my novel at least. I'm going to go work on that now. Okay, really, I'm probably just help my friend out with his article for another hour. But, 8,000 mark? We'll be meeting soon.

The sound of noveling

2011-11-02T12:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, when 12:01 a.m. rolled around, I found myself effortlessly busting out the beginning of my novel. I wrote for an hour before passing out (look, I had class in the morning-- 1 a.m. was late enough), leaving myself with nearly a thousand words before my day had really started. Huzzah!

Of course, that amazing focus did not last long. When I tried writing again in the morning, I kept getting distracted. I looked through junk emails, celebrity gossip, my twitter feed... my blog... pretty much everything except my novel.

I needed a noveling playlist.

When I write, I like to listen to soft, often acoustic, songs that are easy to tune out.

My playlist (which I had the heart to put on YouTube, just for you!) has a slow peaceful vibe, which can be 1. inspiring (yay!) 2. peaceful (also good!) and 3. helpful for drawing you into the noveling zone (yes. Please, please, yes.)

I would say there's a pretty good range of artists on that playlist. It took all of my effort not to turn it into an I love Iron & Wine lovefest. Note: Iron & Wine lovefests are excellent for writing parties. Go forth and organize one of your own... after you listen to my playlist, of course :)

And, of course, if you're looking for something fun and NaNo related to help you procrastinate, you have to look into the NaNoWriMo song.

My NaNoWriMo-- Day 2
Time: Noon
Total Words: 4,419
Today I'd like to hit: 6,000
Thoughts: I'm not doing nearly as well as yesterday. Today I have only written 320 words, which means I have another 1,680 to meet my goal of 2,000 words today. I'm going to blame it on hunger-- perhaps Halloween candy shouldn't make up the entirety of my November diet. It's off to the grocery store for me...

Getting past the blank page

2011-11-01T22:09:00.000-07:00

Embarking on a new novel with nothing more than a title and a single-sentence plot summary can be daunting.

Here's how to get the ball rolling:

Step 1: Sum up your novel in a single paragraph

Think of it like a thesis statement. You don't have to have your conclusion figured out just yet, just figure out what your focus is-- even if you expect the focus to change as you write. Just give yourself a starting point. Include sentences about events that will propel the story or the characters forward-- no matter how vague.

Step 2: Divide the paragraph by chapters

Break up your paragraph and put everything that will be included in separate chapters, on separate pages. That way, if you get stuck somewhere towards the beginning, you can jump around and write another crucial part of the book.

Step 3: Make a list of extraneous scenes to include

Of course, there are going to be hours or, heaven forbid, days where it's hard to figure out how to move the plot forward. Thats when you need to turn to this list. If you can't figure out what would to happen next, you need to spend more time with your characters. Have you main character go on a hike, or spend a day at the mall with a friend. Writing about what they notice or think about should help you get to know them better, and that should (hopefully!) help you figure out how the story would progress naturally.

Step 4: Go for it

Go back to Step 2 and fill in the details. Add dialogue and environmental details. Give the ideas context, and set the sentences up so the reader doesn't guess what's coming next. It's NaNoWriMo! Just let the words flow freely. We can work the kinks out later.

My NaNoWriMo-- Day 1
Time: Noon
Words: 2,390
Goal for the day: 4,000
Thoughts: I'm feeling pretty confident today! I've got a blog post up, and nearly 3,000 words-- and it's not even time for my afternoon class. It's going to be a good November.

4 steps to picking your NaNo novel quickly

2011-10-31T16:07:00.000-07:00

My friend Kyle took this picture. He also took the other pictures on the page. You should check out his blog. It's nice :)

NaNoWriMo is mere hours away and some of us are still not quite sure what the 2,000 words we'll be writing daily will be about.

And here I thought I was too old to be routinely frightened on Halloween.

But, it's not too late! Day 1 of NaNoWriMo will not go to waste. It's time to settle on your novel idea.

Step 1: Make a list of all ideas you've been flirting with
All of the ideas. Include everything from characters you've considered writing about (even if you have no idea what would happen to them) to general themes, such as "the plague" or "men who love doughnuts way too much." Anything that has occurred to you while driving home from the grocery store or while watching the morning news.

Step 2: Write a paragraph about each idea
Give the themes context. What would the main character need to realize or accomplish? Where would these stories be set? What kind of secondary characters would there be? What general direction would you like to like story to go in? Jot down a couple of adjectives that you think capture the mood you're trying to set.

Step 3: Think about the tone

What voice would each of the stories most benefit from? Is your main character witty? Are you aiming for something a little more thought provoking? Do you want to channel 100+ degree weather and whip out an easy beach-read? Write this down, including any books or authors whose tone you would like the book to mimic.

Step 4: Which book are you in the mood to read?

Pick the book that fits your mood. If November were National Novel Reading Month, would you curl up with The Great Gatsby? Lord of the Rings? Something of the "chick-lit"verity? You'll have an easier time writing a book that reflects where you are at the moment. Note: This does not mean that your character should fall into a temporary state of insanity at the end of the month due to sleep deprivation. That you can keep to yourself.

That should be enough to get you going. If you're really in the writing mood, move forward and try the character survey I blogged about last week. Developing your characters is arguably the most important part. Develop them, and let the plot fall in place.

Book Review Friday: Columbine

2011-10-28T23:55:00.000-07:00

When a tragedy occurs, the people of the world turn to their televisions and laptops and watch the details unravel from afar. Scholarship or Red Cross funds may be started but, for the most part, the world goes on unchanged-- for everyone but the witnesses.

(Note: I'm using the word "witnesses" as a blanket term for both the people directly affected by a tragedy, and those who simply there to watch one unravel.)

It's difficult for anyone on the outside to fully grasp what it is like to be a part of a community in shambles.

Everyone is familiar with the tragedy of the Columbine shooting, but this book is no mere tribute to the lives lost.

Dave Cullen was a local journalist covering the school shooting from the beginning. He continued to do research on the shooters and the victims for nearly decade after the event. His book-- which carries the same name as the school-- offers an extremely in depth view life in Columbine, Colorado.

Essentially, Cullen has written a 417 page news article, detailing the events leading up to, during, and in the wake of the shooting. Nothing is made up, nothing is missing, and it reads like a novel.

The book starts off days before the massacre, with Mr. D (the principal of Columbine) giving an emotional speech to his students about the importance of not drinking and driving on prom night. The tone is set appropriately, with this melancholy note:

All two thousand students would return safely on Monday morning, after the prom. But the following afternoon, Tuesday, April 20, 1999, twenty-four of Mr. D's kids and faculty members would be loaded into ambulances and rushed to hospitals. Thirteen bodies would remain in the building and two more on the grounds. It would be the worst school shooting in American history-- a characterization that would have appalled the boys just then finalizing their plans.

The book is told from a third-person perspective, and reads as cleanly and interestingly as a novel. Cullen has been so thorough in his research and interviewing, that it doesn't feel like anything is missing. None of the details in this book have been made up or fictionalized.

On page 358, the "novel" ends, followed by a two page timeline detailing the shooters' lives leading up to the event. Next, there are two pages of acknowledgements.

And then, the best part.

Cullen remained closely involved in the investigation, from the moment he reached the school. In his "notes," he clarifies source discrepancies, identifies the places within the book where he had taken himself out of the story, and detailed the process he went through to get his information.

There is also a bibliography and an index.

I initially read this book in my high school English class, senior year. I remember being very enthusiastic, and the other members of my reading group simply could not understand why I was so excited.

Yes, this books is sad. It is so, so sad. But it is beautifully written and the reporting is astounding.

And, perhaps most importantly, it captures the moment.

Everyone should read this book. Also be sure to read the essay one of the shooters mothers sent in to Oprah's magazine a decade after the attack. The essay is extremely powerful and very interesting.

I suppose it's time I get back to the drawing board

2011-10-27T23:03:00.000-07:00

I used to volunteer at Saguaro National Park. It is such a
beautiful and thought provoking place. Perhaps a
lovely location for a NaNoWriMo writing party?

National Novel Writing Month is quickly approaching. In four days, I will be forcing a minimum of 1,667 words out of myself daily (really, I'll be shooting for 2 grand a day).

Twenty minutes ago, I decided to drop my original novel idea. No, I don't have a better idea. In fact, I don't have a replacement plot at all.

This marks the third time I've started from scratch with my story boarding.

Round 1, over the summer:
"I think I'll write a happy, girlie, silly-type book."
As I've noted before, writing a novel at age 19 isn't the easiest thing to do. So, I thought, "Hey, I'll focus on developing my writing voice and process, and write a teen fiction kind of thing. You know, the kind of book where kissing like REALLY EXCITING." I still think this would be a good place to start. Teen fiction books can get a way with being a little more... simple plot-wise. As with everything, there are exceptions. But teen life is something that I have experienced and experienced recently (like, uh, you know, something I'll technically* still be experiencing for about another 7 months.)

Round 2, beginning of fall semester:
"I'll write a witty book with a strong female lead that questions social norms."
Basically, I wanted to write Buffy-- but from a super "villain" perspective. I wanted to celebrate moderation and draw attention to misconceptions that derive from lack of attention to the soft-spoken. She'd be something like Poison Ivy's best friend... but you know, toned down. Less Evil. Lipstick that was just for lookin' pretty, and not for putting the men-folk into a coma (Well... most of the lipstick). I love the idea of this book. I want to write this book. I will not, however, be writing this book next week.

Round 3, the drive home from dinner with my friends:
"I want to focus on personal growth and subtle character development."
I've had a big week. Mentally, I was not in a good place on Monday. I was tired of my routine, and stressing myself out. I spewed a jumble of confused thoughts onto my friends. I said everything that was on my mind. And then I stopped. I broke my routines. I developed a few casual relationships into meaningful friendships. I spent more time doing things for myself, by myself. I also dropped by places from my past I hadn't visited in years. It is interesting how being in a place that used to be familiar draws attention to how much has changed. This is all new to me-- I've never been this introspective.

I want this November's novel to reflect where I am right now. I've been a long time admirer of the way F. Scott Fitzgerald can make a novel through subtle character development. I've never been less sure of what specific direction I want to go in (be it with my book, or with my future) but I think I have a pretty good idea of what I need to get there.

* I say "technically" because I tend to spend time with people who are not teenagers, and I really strive to be as productive as I can be. But, you know, my birth year isn't as easy to change as my daily routine and group of friends. Also, I'd really like for my friends to forget about the age gap. Debbie, Kyle: Just ignore Round 1. Kay?

Transform your negatives

2011-10-26T23:02:00.000-07:00

Let me just start by saying that I've had a really lovely day, and this post may read as overly enthusiastic as a reflection of that.

After a truly productive day sending the newspaper to press, I spent a few hours talking with my good friend, Kyle Ryan Wasson.

He was telling me how much better his life has been since he started trying to look at everything from a positive perspective.

While thinking about the various ways I need to apply that method to my life, I had a thought: My writing would benefit greatly if I approached it with a truly open mind.

What if I developed every plot line and character idea I had? If I gave them each the opportunity to grow? If I give a weak story idea enough thought, I might stumble right into an excellent plot element or character trait.

Diving even further into the idea, what if I gave each potential scene or possible ending more than a decent amount of consideration... What if I actually took the time to write it all out?

While this may be a time consuming process, I wouldn't call it a waste of time. It's obvious that not all of the ideas will be winners, but the thoughts that the "deleted scenes" inspire could be revolutionary.

While I do think this is the idea behind NaNoWriMo, this is the first time I've honestly felt like my November really had the potential to produce something worthwhile. Something promising for the editing marathon that is December.

So, in the days leading up to November, let's give our inner editor a break, and get ready to explore-- really explore-- every potential angel of our November novels.

Lastly, thank you to Kyle-- for the great advice and the blog topic it inspired. :)

Read, Remember, Recommend

2011-10-25T23:14:00.000-07:00

Looking at my bookshelf, it occurs to me that I have discovered all of my favorite books and authors through recommendations.

Because I read a lot, friends often ask me for book recommendations. However, because I tend to read a large number of books in a short period of time, it's easy to forget the details of each plotline and which books inspired the "OH MY GOD, DEBBIE HAS TO READ THIS" moments.

That is why I love this book.

Read, Remember, Recommend offers a place for you to keep track of which books you want to read, which books you want to recommend to friends, how you reacted to books when reading them, who has borrowed which books, and places you can check for book recommendations.

Seriously. All of that. It has everything.

And I really think it aids with the conversion to ebooks.

I don't know about you, but my bookshelf's organization system meets somewhere between "these books are about the same thing" and "number of times I reread this books within a week."

Sometimes I even dedicate an entire shelf to books I want to pass on to a specific friend.

My brother used to use me as a way to clear out his bookshelf. (Sidenote-- if your bookshelf is overwhelemed, feel free to use me in a similar manner. No, really. Please?)

Now he has a Nook. These days, when I ask for a book recommendation, he doesn't turn to his bookshelf and provide me with a dozen free books. He sends me a text message, listing books I should purchase for myself. That is so much less fun.

But I've come to terms with it... so long as he las one of these journals, witch a page or two specifically dedicated to "books for Chelo."

Post script the first: It's 15 minutes after 11. I just got home after 13 hours at school. Ten of those hours were spent in the newsroom. (Okay, there may have been a 20 minute break for a photo shoot in the library... maybe.) It's a wonder I find time to direct you all to these wonderful, wonderful geeky gifts.

Post script the second: As of this blog, I have something up under each of my tabs. Celebrate!

How to develop your characters

2011-10-24T22:48:00.000-07:00

When I think about the books I really love, I don't find myself thinking about the calamity of the rising action, or the sigh of relief that comes with the resolution. I think about the characters.

I would argue that going into a novel with a clear idea of who your characters are is exponentially more important than knowing what is going to happen to them.

If the reader isn't invested in the characters, why would they (the reader) care what they (the characters) experience.

Character's flaws, quirks, passions, experiences, habits, and, ahem, evil tendencies give the story direction, and from there allows the novel to earn it's conclusion.

When I start out a with a character, I feel like I have a good sense of who they are. I understand what vibe they'll give off, and I understand what lifestyle goes along with that vibe. But is that background as apparent to the reader?

The best way to ensure full clarity, is to have (for yourself) a full, tangible background for the main character. However, asking yourself the right questions is key.

When I was on Twitter the other day, this little gem showed up on my timeline (via AdviceToWriters, aka the best Twitter account to follow) . It is a character survey, complete with 50 questions to help you have a full understanding of your main character.

The questions range from the expected but important (Who are their friends? Lovers? 'Type' or 'ideal' partner?) to the surprisingly specific (What about voice? Pitch? Strength? Tempo and rhythm of speech? Pronunciation? Accent?)

Fill it out-- I bet you'll find yourself surprised by how much you already knew about your leading lady... or lad.

Writers write. Right?

2011-10-23T23:16:00.000-07:00

When an aspiring writer asks a successful writer for advice (specifically writing advice. I assume that, upon occasion, aspiring writers ask a successful writers about other things, too) they are always told to "write."

Just sit down and write. Because writers write, and if you don't sit down and write, nothing will get written and you won't be a writer. Right?

I think there is a little more to it.

Last November, I made my first serious attempt at writing a novel. I had just finished reading Stieg Larsson's Millennium Series, and I was feeling extremely inspired. I wanted to write a book that would make people want stay up all night reading.

I sat down at my laptop, ready to go, when something struck me. It was the detail in Larsson's novels that made them worth reading. His intricate knowledge of the Swedish journalism community, creepy bible versus, and police jargon.

And then there was me. An 18-year-old college freshman who had lived her entire life in an Arizona suburb. Yawn.

My world knowledge consists of Tucson,

a few trips around the country

My favorite place

and a few trips around the globe.

Salzburg

And, for me at least, that is the biggest challenge when embarking on a new novel. Writing something that feels compelling and honest, yet with believable on a level other than "girl from a small town travels a bit, spends time doing school work."

I suppose thats just something I'll have to work on when I sit down and write. Otherwise, nothing will get written. Right?

We've finally hit the single digits

2011-10-22T21:14:00.000-07:00

November (or, as I like to call it, National Novel Writing Month) is a mere nine days away, and that means two things:

1. It's time to settle on a plotline for my novel of the year

and

2. I need to get as much as possible done in the next week, because all of my other responsibilities are going to take a back seat.

For those who don't know, NaNoWriMo is a writing marathon that people worldwide participate in every November. The goal? To write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days-- that's an average of 1,667 words a day. You "win" by reaching the 50,000 word mark before the clock, er, calender strikes December.

The idea is that books are made in editing. The first draft of the novel just needs to get out, so that the writer and move forward and make the novel great.

I encourage anyone who has ever considered writing a novel to try it out. Forcing yourself to sit down and get the raw ideas on paper (or, more likely, on a .doc) is the most challenging part, and NaNo is the perfect motivator.

This will be my second year participating in NaNoWriMo. Last year, I won with 50,191 words. This year, I'll be tracking my progress on this blog.

Am I the only person in love with this shirt?
Everyone needs this shirt!

Every day through November, I'll post a NaNo related blog (ranging from topics of noveling music, to tricks to hammering through writer's block), as well as a status report on my novel.

I'll serve as a guide through your noveling experience, and as a much needed (yet productive!) distraction on your slowest writing days.

Feel free to add me as a writing buddy! My NaNo name is Cgrubb.

Book Review Friday: Time Cursor

2011-10-21T12:42:00.000-07:00

At the beginning of 2011, I gave myself a goal to read 50 books over the next 12 months. To be 100% honest, unless I count the books I read aloud when tucking kids in at night, I'm not going to make it.

But I started the year out strong with "Time Cursor" by John David Krygelski, a Tucson-based author.

When doing some last minute Christmas shopping at Boarders (Awe... I miss Boarders), Duncan and I met Krygelski, who was signing books by the front door. I bought Time Cursor, and Duncan got Krygelski's first book, the Harvest.

The book follows John Augur in the hours leading up to his wedding. While John steps outside to take a break from his bachelor party, a man calling himself Jack Augur approaches.

Jack Augur-- claiming to be John from 30 years in the future-- warns John that he absolutely must not marry his fiance.

Within minutes, Jack's presence leads to a motorcycle accident, killing the man who was supposed to grow up and invent the time machine.

Madness ensues, while John and Jack rush to undo the damage, while dealing with early-onset catastrophes that Jack had come to prevent.

I read this book on January first. All of it. And I loved it.

I'm not a huge fan of sci-fi books, but something about the way this book was presented intrigued me.

Krygelski offers a fresh take on the time travel dilemma, and delivers an interesting cast of characters.

The book takes place in Tucson, so locals will recognize the path throughout the town.

The writing isn't great: You'll find yourself understanding the problems pages before the characters do, there is a heavy use of distracting exclamation points, and the characters are far too eager to accept the idea of time travel.

However, Krygelski's ideas are thought provoking, and make this easy read worth buying.

Tour of my bookshelf

2011-10-20T22:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I made the ground breaking announcement that I would like to talk to you about "books and such." Well, what better place to start then my own bookshelf? It's time for your tour.

1. The movies This clearly has to be number one on my list, because it is the only stop that has nothing to do with books. Moving along...

2. Lord of the rings That wooden box you're looking at is a collection of LOTR audio books. I probably listened to them once in the sixth grade. But, hey, it's kinda cool lookin', and has therefore earned itself a central place on my bookshelf.

3. Notebooks I love notebooks. Love, love, love, love. But I never write in notebooks, except for when reporting. What a sad life my many notebooks lead.

4. You don't actually get to know about this one just yet. Number four? What's number four? I don't know what you're inquiring about. Just ignore this stop... these aren't the droids you're looking for.

5. Teen Fiction Recently I have rekindled my love of teen fiction. We'll talk about this in more detail at a later date, but essentially this shelf is owned by Sarah Dessen, Stephanie Perkins, and John Green.

6. Religion Most of my books on religion were given to me when I was a part of a church youth group, so they're pretty much all about Catholicism. I do, however, have an ever increasing number of books about Buddhism.

7. Non fiction This section of non fiction is split pretty evenly between books about graphic design and presidential politics. Riveting stuff. It's a wonder I make time to read anything else.

8. Benjamin Franklin non fiction What? Your personal library doesn't have a section dedicated to books by and about Ben Franklin? Complete with a bust of his head, an action figure, a Ben-shaped squished penny, and a hand drawn shrink-a-doodle of his face? Pshhh. Sounds lame.

9. Classic Literature Ehhh, I tend to ignore this shelf. But I'm sure I'll get around to reading Jane Eyre eventually.

10. Julie Kenner I adore Julie Kenner and you should too. Keep an eye out for this name, I'll be blogging about her soon... and probably frequently.

11. Composite The day I reorganized my bookshelf, this shelf stayed pretty much empty until I was almost done... at which point it became the home of all the books I hadn't placed elsewhere.

12. Series-- Harry Potter Some of my books must be on vacation, because this shelf is usually packed with my various copies of the Harry Potter books... with a little room for the Twilight books. Sigh. I know. But I was a high school girl from 2006- 2010, okay? It was practically required reading.

13. Series I have the books to, but have not read Most of these are the Stephanie Plum books, and there are a few of the Outlander books. We shall see how those turn out.

14. Yearbooks/ photo albums You know that place in your room where you keep all the stuff you'll never take the time to look through, but you can't seem to throw away. Yeah. This is that place.

** You may have noticed my unlabeled shelf between dots 8 and 12. Um, oops. But really, thats not such an interesting shelf. Mostly, it holds textbooks that I haven't managed to resell just yet. I should really work on that...

What you're getting yourself into

2011-10-20T01:22:00.000-07:00

Hi, there! I'm Chelo.

I'm a 19-year-old college student, nerdfighter, journalist, aspiring novelist, and avid reader.

I'd like to talk to you about books and such. You know, which books are excellent, which books are less excellent, and what it is like trying to write books while going to school full time.

The "and such" aspect is pretty open ended, but I'm most likely to deliver writer's tips, quotes, and overall geeky wonderfulness. I want to show you nerdy things that will make you smile.

But first, lets talk about me.

I'm a full time student at Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona. I'm a journalism major, and co-editor of my college paper, the Aztec Press. That takes up a lot of my time, but I figure "proper journalism experience" is probably a good thing to graduate with. We shall see if this pans out.

I volunteer for the American Cancer Society, and I raise money to donate by selling handmade notebooks. If you're feeling generous, pop over to my team's fundraising page.

Non newspaper/class/volunteer time is spent with my boyfriend, Duncan. He's probably a bigger geek than I am, which is both impressive and really handy for getting a good handle on nerd culture.

You can follow me on Twitter (@Chchchelo).

So, welcome to the Book Drop. I'm so happy to have you with us.