New Release Spotlight: Kaitlin Curtice
1 week ago
Sunday, January 30, 2011
ridiculous word counts
Wednesday my novel was 15,000 words. Today it is 29,000 words. I thank the snow.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Book Reviews
Push by Sapphire 7/10
Push is emotionally touching but hard to read because of the language and details of the rapes. I also wanted it to be longer. It didn't seem believable that the main character could transform so quickly. The changes she made were great and admirable, but I'm one of those people who appreciate the journey.
Let The Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist 10/10
This is a real vampire novel. Scary, bloody, gory...loved every page of it! I felt sympathy for every character even the "evil" ones. I think this could be enjoyed by mature high schoolers. It's graphic but not over the top. It's classy gore.
On the Prowl 6/10
This is a collection of urban fantasy short stories. "Alpha and Omega" was good. The rest were so-so. Too much telling not enough showing.
Next reads...THE REPLACEMENT by Brenna Yovanoff. I will admit, I bought this book based on its cover but I've heard it's actually really good. :-)
Push is emotionally touching but hard to read because of the language and details of the rapes. I also wanted it to be longer. It didn't seem believable that the main character could transform so quickly. The changes she made were great and admirable, but I'm one of those people who appreciate the journey.
Let The Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist 10/10
This is a real vampire novel. Scary, bloody, gory...loved every page of it! I felt sympathy for every character even the "evil" ones. I think this could be enjoyed by mature high schoolers. It's graphic but not over the top. It's classy gore.
On the Prowl 6/10
This is a collection of urban fantasy short stories. "Alpha and Omega" was good. The rest were so-so. Too much telling not enough showing.
Next reads...THE REPLACEMENT by Brenna Yovanoff. I will admit, I bought this book based on its cover but I've heard it's actually really good. :-)
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award
So I entered SEAWEEDS into the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. This is my 3rd year doing the contest. The first year I made it through the first round and got reviews of my excerpt. Last year I didn't make it through the first round even though I my piece was probably a thousand times better than the first. This year I'm hoping to make it to the 2nd round. And if I go further...well, that'll be real nice.
I am about 4,000 words close to finishing my Nano novel. And 14,000 words into my new novel. I find that I tend to write sad stories in the winter and happier stories in the summer. My nano novel is a happy story. My new novel is sad. That explains why I'm compelled right now to finish the new novel. But I will finish the Nano novel by February. Then wait until spring to edit it.
In non-writing news, I'm on foot rest. Curse having flat feet!!!!!!!!!!
It needs to snow right now. I need a real snow day so I can write my snow chapter. I've decided I'm going to record some voiceovers of my experiences shoveling snow, making snowmen, feeling cold, feeling warm afterwards...but I need a legitate snow day to do all that.
Is anyone else doing the Amazon competition? If so, best of luck!
I am about 4,000 words close to finishing my Nano novel. And 14,000 words into my new novel. I find that I tend to write sad stories in the winter and happier stories in the summer. My nano novel is a happy story. My new novel is sad. That explains why I'm compelled right now to finish the new novel. But I will finish the Nano novel by February. Then wait until spring to edit it.
In non-writing news, I'm on foot rest. Curse having flat feet!!!!!!!!!!
It needs to snow right now. I need a real snow day so I can write my snow chapter. I've decided I'm going to record some voiceovers of my experiences shoveling snow, making snowmen, feeling cold, feeling warm afterwards...but I need a legitate snow day to do all that.
Is anyone else doing the Amazon competition? If so, best of luck!
Friday, January 21, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
on a role again
I finally feel like I'm on a role with my writing again. January started busy. My brother got married in sunny FL. My dance studio had their dance recital. And I got sick! Evil, evil, EVIL stomach flu stole 24 hours of my life this past weekend, but now that I have revitalized and filled myself with plenty of liquids, I am back in the writing game.
Next week the Breakthrough Amazon Novel competition begins and I will be submitting Seaweeds in the Young Adult category. I've changed some things around with the book, the biggest--making my main character 19 instead of 23. I guess some people can't handle immature 23-year-olds, but an immature 19-year-old is a-okay in the writing world. I personally like it better now that my character is younger. Increases pathos, you know. ;-)
I've also written 1,500 words in my Nano book. I plan to finish it by January 31st.
My newest novel is still on a role. I'm 12,000 words strong and loving every minute of it. I'm really taking my time with this one. Planning, making character charts, dissecting every syllable like a freaking science experiment...I want it to be real. It's my first non-fantasy, non-supernatural, non-science fiction book. It's life. Real people. Real issues. There aren't any fantasy worlds I can fall back on when I make a wrong turn.
Which makes me think...what is my purpose as a writer? Do I write to entertain? Do I write to teach? Or do I write to make people aware of things? Make them feel things or encourage them to feel things they normally wouldn't feel?
At this point, I'd say I write for me. But in the future, I will write to make people read. And think a little more.
Why do we have toenails?
Next week the Breakthrough Amazon Novel competition begins and I will be submitting Seaweeds in the Young Adult category. I've changed some things around with the book, the biggest--making my main character 19 instead of 23. I guess some people can't handle immature 23-year-olds, but an immature 19-year-old is a-okay in the writing world. I personally like it better now that my character is younger. Increases pathos, you know. ;-)
I've also written 1,500 words in my Nano book. I plan to finish it by January 31st.
My newest novel is still on a role. I'm 12,000 words strong and loving every minute of it. I'm really taking my time with this one. Planning, making character charts, dissecting every syllable like a freaking science experiment...I want it to be real. It's my first non-fantasy, non-supernatural, non-science fiction book. It's life. Real people. Real issues. There aren't any fantasy worlds I can fall back on when I make a wrong turn.
Which makes me think...what is my purpose as a writer? Do I write to entertain? Do I write to teach? Or do I write to make people aware of things? Make them feel things or encourage them to feel things they normally wouldn't feel?
At this point, I'd say I write for me. But in the future, I will write to make people read. And think a little more.
Why do we have toenails?
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
new laptop=new inspiration?
I think having a new laptop will help my writing. It's something new and exciting. The keypad is so nice and smooth and the screen is bigger.
So it's January. I completed half of my December goals. I edited a lot of stuff, but I could have done better. I was also supposed to finish my Nano novel. I have roughly 5,000 words to go but I'm falling out-of-obsession with the story and becoming enthralled by a new novel that 9,000 words strong. So here's my dilemna: finish the old novel or continue with the new?
I could work on both, and that sounds like a fair compromise, but I'm so excited by my new novel. So maybe I'll promise myself this: I can write my new novel so long as I write 500 words a night on the other.
I love arguing with myself.
That's what makes me a writer. ;-)
So it's January. I completed half of my December goals. I edited a lot of stuff, but I could have done better. I was also supposed to finish my Nano novel. I have roughly 5,000 words to go but I'm falling out-of-obsession with the story and becoming enthralled by a new novel that 9,000 words strong. So here's my dilemna: finish the old novel or continue with the new?
I could work on both, and that sounds like a fair compromise, but I'm so excited by my new novel. So maybe I'll promise myself this: I can write my new novel so long as I write 500 words a night on the other.
I love arguing with myself.
That's what makes me a writer. ;-)
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