Linkity Links

More linking!  I like to share my journey through the interwebs....

The best writing rules and advice - Misprinted Pages
http://misprintedpages.wordpress.com/2013/03/11/the-best-writing-rules-and-advice/

Does Your Protagonist Have Amnesia? - Writer Unboxed
http://writerunboxed.com/2013/03/14/does-your-protagonist-have-amnesia/

5 Industry Trends Requiring Every Writer’s Attention - Writer Unboxed
http://writerunboxed.com/2013/03/18/5-industry-trends-requiring-every-writers-attention/

Does Your Platform Represent The Complexity Of Your Work And Your Journey? *
http://writerunboxed.com/2013/03/22/does-your-platform-represent-the-complexity-of-your-work-and-your-journey/

*Probably one of the best articles on "Platform" that I've ever read.  Ever.

Goodbye Google Reader

I'm sure most people have heard by now that Google Reader will be no more come July 1, 2013.  I'm not sure what I'll do yet.  I like getting feeds in Google Reader.  It's so easy to use.  I've been using it for years.  YEARS!

Going through my Google Reader this morning, as I do most mornings, I found that Kelly from Radiant Shadows has already done some research about what she'd like to use to replace Google Reader: 

http://radiantshadows.ca/2013/03/when-your-reader-goes-into-retirement.html

I also found a similar post from Parajunkee:

http://parajunkee.com/2013/03/alternatives-to-google-reader.html

Thanks bloggers for doing all that research for me :P

Seriously, they list a number of alternatives I plan on exploring.  I'll see which one fits me best.  Even if I have to import each blog/website individually.  That will give me an opportunity to go through my lengthy Google Reader reading list and maybe I'll cull the blogs I don't actually read or haven't updated in months/years and maybe I haven't noticed because of the number of sites in my Reader.  This could be a good thing...  I'm still a little sad though.  At least there are alternatives out there.

Some Feelings

I've been rejected again.  I know it's not really me.  It's a story I wrote that perhaps did not fit with the style of the literary journal I submitted it to, but it still feels like me.  Every time this happens I wonder why I'm still trying.  I know the answer is because I love writing.  I still continue to hope to be a published author.  I hope that people will read and enjoy my work.  I'm still a little sad.

Here's a snippet of the rejected story:

A pink rose, her favourite; he placed it on the hood of the car as he leaned back against the driver’s door. His beautiful red car, which he also loved. Ashley had always said that he loved it too much. He spent too much time with it. That was no excuse. There was no excuse for her betrayal.

What was he going to do when she arrived? Chad waited patiently a few doors down and on the other side of the street from her parents’ home, a home he knew so well. The home Ashley had moved back to when she left him. This was her home now, but Chad could not let go. Her home ought to be with him.

Would you change anything?  What would you do to make the story better.

A Themed Link Post

Just a couple links, both involving the use of social media for writers (or anyone really).  I hope you find them helpful.

What Writers Need To Know About Tumblr - GalleyCat

Twitter: My 5 Unshakable Beliefs - Writer Unboxed

Maybe I Can Stop Thinking About It

I've been distracted lately, by daydreaming about future plans.  I've been working on a project and I can see the end approaching.  I'm very excited/nervous/tense/happy.  However, I keep letting myself get distracted.  I start thinking about what I'll do when my first draft is complete.  So, I was hoping that if I share my thoughts here, they'll stop occupying me when I should be writing...

When my first draft is done, I'll let it sit, ferment, for a week.  Then I'll read it over again.  Once those edits are done, I'll give it to my Hubby.  He reads everything.  When he's done reading, I'll probably read it again too... while looking for Beta Readers.  Then the Beta Readers will read it.  More changes.  Then I'll hire an editor (right, editor after Beta Readers?).  I think editors are very important.  Then I'll try to get it published.  That's a good plan, right?  Now, maybe, I can stop thinking about it.

Do I Have A Problem?

On my other blog, The Eye Of Loni's Storm, I participate in a bookish meme, Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and The Bookish.  (FYI, I really enjoy this meme.  It can be fun... and informative, apparently.)  This week's topic was series you want to, but haven't started yet.  Making the list for yesterday's Top Ten Tuesday brought something to my attention that I wanted to share here too.  I own the beginnings to A LOT of series.  This doesn't count series I've already started. For some of these series, I own multiple books.  Am I ever going to catch up?

Here is my list from yesterday's Top Ten Tuesday.

1. The Raven Cycle (Book 1: The Raven Boys), by Maggie Stiefvater

2. Falling Kingdoms (Book 1: Falling Kingdoms), by Morgan Rhodes

3. All The Wrong Questions (Book 1: Who Could It Be At This Hour), Lemony Snicket

4. His Dark Materials (Book 1: The Golden Compass), by Philip Pullman

5. Forever Girl (Book 1: The Forever Girl), by Rebecca Hamilton

6. The Strain Trilogy (Book 1: The Strain), by Guillermo del Toro & Chuck Hogan

. 7. Cadence Jones (Book 1: Me, Myself & Why?), by MaryJanice Davidson

8. Legend (Book 1: Legend), by Marie Lu

9. Fallen (Book 1: Fallen), by Lauren Kate

10. The Wolves of Mercy Falls (Book 1: Shiver), by Maggie Stiefvater

 Here are the books/series I didn't put on yesterday's list.

11. Infernal Devices (Book 1: Clockwork Angel), by Cassandra Clare

12. Delirium (Book 1: Delirium), by Lauren Oliver

13. Eve (Book 1: Eve), by Anna Carey

14. Sword of Truth (Book 1: Wizard's First Rule), by Terry Goodkind **

15. Abandon Trilogy (Book 1: Abandon), Meg Cabot

16. All Souls Trilogy (Book 1: A Discovery of Witches), by Deborah Harkness

17. A Love Story (Book 1: Bloodsucking Fiends), by Christopher Moore *

18. The DemonWars Saga (Book 1: The Demon Awakens), by R.A. Salvatore **

19. The Frey Saga (Book 1: Frey), Melissa Wright

20. Darkness Falls (Book 1: Darkness Falls), by Jessica Sorensen

21. Fallen Star (Book 1: The Fallen Star), by Jessica Sorensen

21!  How do I have books belonging to 21 different series that I haven't even started yet?  Seriously, I need to consider not buying the first book in a series, only to have it sitting on my shelves for years (YEARS!).  What is it about series, or books in general, that keep me accumulating more and more?  Am I ever going to be able to read all the books I own?  Ugh.  Any advice on where to start with this list?

*Christopher Moore's series is the only one where I own books 2 and 3, but not book 1.  How did that happen?  I wanted to read Moore, because there are bloggers and people I know in real life who love his work.  I saw You Suck (book 2), liked the title and synopsis, plus it was a hardcover on sale for $5.99, I think (I remember it being really cheap), so I bought it.  After I did some more research, I found out it was book 2.  Ugh.  This past summer, I was in a used bookstore and saw Bite Me (book 3).  Since I already had book 2and the price was right, I bought it. 

**The Terry Goodkind and R.A. Salvatore books are technically my husbands, but there's still there, sitting on the shelf, with all the other books I want to read, but I could have left them out if I wanted to seem less crazy.

Words!

I know it's been a while, but I have words that I want to share!

Stately Argosy

*I started Word(s) of the Week ages ago so that I could share all the new, brilliant, crazy words I kept coming across in my readings of fiction, articles, blogs, etc.*

From Sonnets From The Portuguese, by Elizabeth Barrett Browning:

Sonnet II: Amerce: To impose a fine on. 

Oxford * Wikitionary 

Sonnet III: Athwart: From side to side; Across the path (of something); In opposition of. 

Oxford * Wikitionary

An Argosy

Sonnet XIX: 

Argosies: Plural of argosy 

Argosy: A large merchant ship. 

Oxford * Wikitionary 

Sonnet XIX: 

Purpureal: Of a purple colour. 

Wikitionary

Via Wikimedia Commons

Sonnet XXVII: 

Asphodel: Eurasian plant of the lily family, typically having long slender leaves and flowers borne on a spike. 

Oxford * Wikitionary 

 Sonnet XLIV: 

Eglantine: A Eurasian rose, Rosa eglanteria, having prickly stems, fragrant leaves, pink flowers and red hips. Another word for Sweet Briar. 

Oxford * Wikitionary 

via Wikimedia Commons

From Undead Reckoning, by Mike Slabon

(pg 337) Wattle and Daub: "Wattle and daub is a composite building material used for making walls, in which a woven lattice of wooden strips called wattle is daubed with a sticky material usually made of some combination of wet soil, clay, sand, animal dung and straw." 

Wikipedia