My First Taste of Rejection

Monday night I signed into my email account and low and behold I sat glaring at an email from an agent. I wanted to check it immediately--but I was too scared. I feared it might be a "no". I didn't know what to do so I left it there. I chickened out and left the email unopened in my inbox. I thought it safer to assume it was a "no" rather open it and confirm it. Besides, how many people actually get a yes on their first query letter? Not many I imagined so I thought it a safe assumption that mine was a "no" as well. I checked my Facebook account. I walked away. But a few minutes later, I had to know. So I reopened my email account and clicked the email open before my brain had a chance to register exactly what it was I was doing.

I read "We are sorry...."--rejection letter. Not just any rejection letter. A FORM rejection letter. The rejection stung enough but after sitting and thinking about it for a little bit I realized I have no way of knowing what they didn't like. I just got a standard "we don't want you" which isn't to say I blame the agency. They are busy but it just leaves me to wonder whether it was my query or my idea. With a form rejection letter, I have no clue. It could be that I just didn't sell my book well enough in the query letter or it could be that the book isn't good enough or good right now. I don't know.

So I'll tell you what I'm doing, on the advice of some very good people I follow on Twitter. I am:

-remembering that it only takes one "yes" per @KarenMusings (so I'm resubmitting my query to other agents and giving them the chance to say "yes" :)
-recognizing that it does get easier per @BookEmDonna (I just need to do it more often)
-and carrying on and improving my craft per @LStrongin (I love writing and luckily the only way to get better at writing is to write so I'm focusing on that instead of the rejection).

Not that the first rejection doesn't sting the most but this is all very good advice and I'm choosing to follow it--dealing with the rejection one sting at a time. It's kind of like what they say about beekeepers. Some of them get stung so much they become immune to it. Here's to hoping I get immune to the sting of query rejection letters.

Happy Reading and Writing!

The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson: A Review

By Stieg Larsson
Copyright 2010
Publisher Alfred A. Knopf
Cost $27.95


I read and enjoyed The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest but not in the same way I enjoyed Larsson's other two novels.

In this novel, we find Lisbeth Salander hospitalized following injuries she suffered at the hands of her father. But in typical Salander fashion, her father suffered equally from the damage she inflicted upon him. The novel continues where the second novel left off---with Salander accused of multiple murders. This novel however follows Lisbeth Salander as her guilt or innocence is proven and she tries to regain her life---pre-guardianship, pre-psychiatric evaluations, and pre-Zalachenko.

One thing this novel has working for it is that it is familiar. Salander is still silent but deadly. Blomkvist still sticks his nose into his stories well beyond that of a reporter. It even continues to ring of Larsson and his penchant for detail--right down to the type of sandwich his characters eat and when.

What works against this novel, and is completely different from the others, is the beginning. It opens with too much background information. The beginning of the novel consists of either a flashback in time or a description of events that occurred in the second novel. If you've already read the other two novels, like me, then the beginning tends to drag. If you haven't read the other two novels then the information will seem unnecessary in order to enjoy the book (per a friend of mine). I found myself waiting for the book to catch up to present day and take me on the adventure I knew lay in store.

And thankfully it did....eventually. And when it did, it became the page turner that made the first two novels bestsellers. Overall, I would definitely recommend the book but buyer beware you will need a dose of patience to reap the benefits of a good read.
I give it 3 1/2 stars out of 5.

Happy Reading!

I'd love to hear what you think. Have you read it? What did you think? Am I on point or completely off in space somewhere? Of course, I mean with the review. I already know I'm off in space with everything else.

Do You Compare?

Upon hearing this question, the writers out there are either thinking "I can't help but to compare another writer's success or style to that of my own" OR "absolutely NOT". But I'm not talking about comparing whether one writer got an agent or not, how fast an agent was acquired or how many query rejection letters one writer got compared to another. I'm speaking purely as a reader.

I find that when I read two young adult novels back to back, I instantly compare. And one doesn't live up to the other. Dare I say it....but I enjoy one of the books less than if I had read a crime fiction novel in between the two young adult novels. It's almost as if one of the novels isn't getting a fair shake or review. Subconsciously, I think the main character of this novel drips of likable sarcasm while this one falls flat. When in reality, they are both great, strong female characters---just different. Or it could be the story line. The list of comparisons goes on.

After I discovered my bias I decided I would never read the same genre back to back. That has thus solved my problem. But I want to take a poll.

Do you read books in the same genre back to back? Does it affect how you feel about either novel? Or can you form an opinion of both novels completely separate from each other?

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins follows 16 year old Katniss Everdeen as she volunteers to replace her sister in the Hunger Games, a live death match played out on television in the country of Panem. She faces almost certain death with that decision. However, between rehearsals, costuming, lighting and her survival instinct in the end she stands a chance at winning.

Because I’m probably one of the last people on the planet to read The Hunger Games, I’m sure you all know how great the novel is already so I won’t bore you with a rave review. If you haven’t heard how great The Hunger Games is then just check out the New York Times bestselling list. I’d rather analyze why the book was so great and use it to improve my own writing not that I think I could ever be a Suzanne Collins.

However, she made me want to go back to my work in progress and make sure some elements of good writing were in my novel and add them if they weren’t. In The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins nails the hook, emotion from scene to scene and original story.

I read several pages before I even realized it. By then, I was hooked and wanted to know what took place between those two covers. I cared without knowing I cared. She paints the world very well and without being so matter of fact about it. She writes great description without going on and on setting up the world for the reader. Katniss sees stuff and moves about, action, but disbursed in between that is description about what she sees and what her life is like. Not to mention an emotion permeates the opening as well. An emotion is evoked right away. I think a hint of anxiety is written into the scene. And it’s written in first person which is way more immediate. The reader doesn’t have time to protest, they are thrown into Katniss’ world.

Even though I won’t change my novel from third person to first person, the opening alone makes me want to write my opening with a definite emotion in mind. In my novel, I tell the reader what setting the novel takes place in albeit very descriptive. But after reading The Hunger Games, I want my character to look out over the landscape and have the reader see the landscape through their eyes. I’m adopting the You Won’t Know It’s There Unless One My Characters Look At It approach or touches or smells it. I’ll see if that adds another element to my writing.

While the opening got me curious, I stayed interested in The Hunger Games because of the emotion that carried from scene to scene. Even though there was heavy action throughout the novel, it was not all action. And even when there wasn’t any action the writing was interesting. I think that was accomplished by filling each scene with an emotion. Love, sadness, fear, anticipation. You name it.

I opened the book to two random places and read the scenes. In one Katniss watches the reaping selections on television. The scene goes from anxious to humor. The next one---of the stylists prepping Katniss for the games leaves her bewildered and resentful while the stylists are excited. This element makes me want to go back through my WIP and evoke an emotion under the action or happenings in each scene. Subtle or not. As long as something is there.

Lastly, The Hunger Games is a pretty original story. The world is its own, with Districts separated from each other--each producing something for the capital. And while war is not new and the Romans fought to the death in the coliseum first before live audiences, The Hunger Games still brings something new to the table. We find out how children fare in all of this.

While I can’t write a Hunger Games and my story is set in the here and now of America—not Panem, I most certainly can make sure my novel has at least a small element that makes it unique when compared to others. And truth be told, I think I have this one covered.

So how about you, can you think of some other elements that made The Hunger Games an excellent read? Are those in your novel? Are the elements I noticed in your novel?

When Do You Stop Reading?

I'm currently reading a book, which shall remain nameless, that I just can't get into. I'm on page 32 and finding it a complete chore to read. This isn't the first time this has happened to me. I have failed to connect to other books for various reasons: characters I don't care about, not enough at stake for me, or a foreign dialect or setting that the writer fails to overcome--among others. However, this is the first. time. ever. that I've actually considered not reading the rest of the book. I usually painstakingly read the entire book if I chose to take it off the bookstore or library shelf in the first place, just to see where it goes or if it gets better. The books I have had to say this to myself with in order to keep reading--don't. Get any better. But I tell myself that anyway. Otherwise, I feel a sense of failure at having given up on the book. But for the first time, I may move on to another book that should make better use of my time.

How do you feel? Can you stop reading as soon as your connection is lost with the book? Or do you keep reading? When do you stop reading--if ever?

Up Next

Per one of my twitter followers, I have decided to choose the next book I read completely at random. Her suggestion---place all of the books I received from the Friends of the Library sale on the floor and throw a rolled up sock at them. I read the one the sock lands on. Picking the next book to read was virtually impossible any other way since I got so many at the sale. So here goes:



And the winner is:



The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightdress by Ross O'Carroll-Kelly

Has anyone read it? If so, what did you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Until then, I'm off to read---and hopefully review by next Tuesday.

Happy Reading!!

Where am I now?

Much like the reality shows I love so much, I must ask myself "where am I now"? With the end of March fast approaching and a quarter of the year almost over, I thought it appropriate to see how I'm doing on my writerly New Year's resolutions.

First up, my goal to publish 5 freelance jobs this year. Status report. I've only submitted one query to one magazine for one article. Ummmm. Status update. Not good. I haven't heard back from the editor yet but I sent it less than a month ago and it takes 2 months for a reply. I'll keep you posted.

Goals 2 and 3. I wanted to edit my MS, have it critiqued and then submit it to a few agents. Status report. I haven't even finished the first draft. I have 10K more words to pen. Oy Vey. And that brings me to my next resolution.

I wanted to start and finish a rough draft of my next novel. But (in my best Sopranos impression) forget about it. I haven't even finished the first draft of my first novel.

Lastly, I want to add 100 followers to this blog. Status update. I've only added two but hey I have to start somewhere. I absolutely love the 17 followers I've got.

Some people may wonder why I'm writing about this but a status report is the perfect way to find out where you are and where you need to go. For me, where I need to go is off to write. See you later. Happy reading and happy writing.

By the way, how are you coming along with your New Year's Resolutions? Or have you completely pushed any thought of them to the back of your mind? Feel free to leave me a comment and let me know.

The Dawn Country By Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear

The Dawn Country
By Kathleen O’Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear
U.S. $25.99
Copyright 2011
Historical Fiction
Published by Forge Books



Kathleen O’Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear wrote The Dawn Country as the sequel to their best-selling novel People of the Thunder. The Dawn Country continues to follow the Iroquois people of North America’s past. It tells the story of Gannajero, a witch, who buys children from the surrounding villages and sells them into slavery and many other unimaginable situations. Her story is illuminated by the brave children—Odion, Tutelo, Wrass, Zateri and others--who live in and survive captivity along with the brave warriors—Koracoo, Gonda, among others--who attempt to rescue them.

I struggled to pick up this book and start reading. Even though I love to read, the images of historical fiction deterred me. I imagined a book that read something like my high school history book, boring and utterly filled to the brim with facts. And while high school history was one of my favorite subjects, I felt no need to repeat it. However, this book was quite to the contrary. Don’t get me wrong. The novel was impeccably researched but it also possessed a captivating story somewhere between the histories of these people.

The Dawn Country was a good read. I didn’t want the story to end. It had several factors working for it—an intertwining story, an otherworldliness, and the fact that the reader does not need to read the first novel to enjoy this one.

I love when a story intertwines, following the lives of several different characters. This book does that and does it well. While the main story belonged to Odion, a child captured by Gannajero, sometimes the story followed Gannajero and her warriors then Odion, his parents and their group and at times even shadowy figures. The novel is one journey that shows how each person came to be in his or her position and a part of the story. By the end, I found myself able to sympathize with each of them.

Aside from its intertwined story, The Dawn Country also has the ability to transport its reader to a secret Native American world not only by the description of the terrain and the people but also through their plight in crossing the land and water—the way in which they did it--the tools they used and the clothes they wore. And that was only the beginning, the beliefs they held and the ways in which they chose to adapt to circumstance pushed the reader into that world.

Although The Dawn Country is the second novel in the series, it can be read and enjoyed without reading the first. The Iroquois people are the subject matter of the first novel, however, the second novel is set up in a manner that spells out everything you need to know. I never read the People of the Longhouse novel and I followed it easily. Although I do recommend not skipping the Nonfiction Introduction, it helped a lot in prefacing the novel. I can’t wait for the next novel in the series but in the meantime I have People of the Longhouse, the first novel in the series, to satisfy my appetite.

The Dawn Country is a story not to be missed. I liken the story telling to that of The Other Boleyn Girl in that the story is encased with every aspect of the time period; you leave with a better understanding of an era, a smile on your face and a story in your heart.

If you enjoyed The Other Boleyn Girl then you’ll love The Dawn Country. Go out and buy a copy today or stay tuned to my blog for a chance to win one.

I'm still here

I know this may be hard to believe but.....my blog is still active. Although I won't hold it against you if you don't believe me given the amount of activity on here lately. However, with my recent move from Florida to Texas this blog has been a little---actually a lot---hard to maintain. Now that my life resembles something of its former self---boxes unpacked, a routine---I can resume the blog. Up next! I'm taking part in a blog tour for the novel The Dawn Country by New York Times bestselling authors Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear. Stay tuned for a possible author interview and chances to win the book along with my review of course.

Thanks for continuing to follow me. I hope to make it well worth your time.

To Have or Not to Have: An African American fiction section

I shopped for Terry McMillan’s Getting to Happy a few weeks ago. Initially, I had a hard time finding the book. My first instinct was to go to the fiction section but it was not there. I only found it after scouring the bookstore and making it to the African American fiction section. That experience did not stand out for me at all---that is, until I read the book.

After reading the novel, I could not see how it needed to be in any other section than fiction--perhaps, women’s fiction but fiction nonetheless. The novel dealt with menopause, divorce, children, adult children (a whole other ball of wax) and friendship. I struggled to see how those things were strictly African American in nature.

The only thing in the book slightly unique to African Americans may have been the feelings toward Hurricane Katrina and George Bush during that time. Not much else. But even with that, I don’t see how it qualifies as African American fiction because as with any other novel what you see on the page is unique to the group of people you reading about--not all people. Yes, obviously other people can relate hence the book sales. But any novel gives you an experience unique to the group of people on those pages. Not all African Americans hated George Bush because of Hurricane Katrina just like not all teenagers experience the same YA story.

Perhaps, some books qualify as African American fiction. It just seems to me that it should take more than the mere presence of African American characters---who experience the same things as any other group of people. I’m thinking books along the lines of the works of Alex Haley.

So I ask you, how do you feel---as a reader. Is there a need for an African American fiction section or not? Do you find it helpful because it tells you what to expect when you buy the book? Or do you think the topics are relevant enough to women’s fiction that it does not need a section all its own? Do you think all books written by African Americans should be in the African American fiction section or only certain ones dealing with issues unique to African Americans?

A review: Getting to Happy by Terry McMillan

Getting to Happy By Terry McMillan
U.S. $27.95
Copyright 2010
African American fiction
Published by Viking Peguin






Savannah
Bernadine
Robin
Gloria

Terry McMillan wrote Getting to Happy as the sequel to Waiting to Exhale. I read Waiting to Exhale back in the 90’s and saw the movie. It was one of the rare occasions in which I felt the novel actually made it to the big screen with its essence in tact. So I read Getting to Happy purely to see what the girls were up to almost 10 years later. I did not read it because I thought it would be great---sequels rarely are. They always seem to disappoint me by not living up to the original. So I merely read this book out of curiosity. Did Robin ever find a man? What happened to Bernadine and the man played by Wesley Snipes? Well, all of those questions were answered and more.

The realism worked in the novel’s favor. It started off very real. The women remained friends but hardly saw each other. I liked that. When kids and husbands come into the picture, realistically, it becomes very hard to see your friends. Getting to Happy acknowledged that. I loved Sex and the City but they unrealistically met up quite often. In Getting to Happy, the women were not able to drop everything, like they did in Sex and the City, just because one of the ladies ended up in a terrible marriage or lost their job after 18 years with the company. They were not able to all go on a vacation together at the spare of a moment. Much like women in the real world, they had jobs and obligations.

The one thing that did seem a little far fetched was the way in which the women never saw each other because of their obligations but then everything in their lives seemed to take a turn for the worse all at the same time. It appeared as if these simultaneous tragedies came along to get them to the point where they were able to see each other more often. But that depends on how you look at it. There is, after all, a reason your parents tell you to be careful about with whom you hang out---because your life tends to take the same direction as the people with whom you associate. So from that point of view it is very possible that their lives would have all taken a turn for the worse at approximately the same time.

From neither a good nor bad standpoint, Katrina played a major role. It set the time frame for the novel unlike anything else in it. Once that catastrophic event stepped foot on the pages, it became very apparent to the reader when the novel took place. Before that, it could have occurred at any point in time.

It was weird reading about a real life event in a fictional story. The whole world already knows how that played out. But more interestingly, the worldview of the event has changed. Looking back on it now, after the nation has analyzed it and given George Bush some slack, the situation presents a very different outlook. But McMillan captured the essence of how the nation, and African Americans in particular, felt at the time.

Overall, Getting to Happy gets 4 1/2 stars out of 5. Not for being revolutionary like Waiting to Exhale was back in its day but because McMillan wrote a satisfying sequel for the fans of the story line, which is not something to be overlooked.

.

Up Next: A Review of 'Getting to Happy' by Terry McMillan

I guess the title of this post tells you all you need to know. I'm currently reading Getting to Happy by Terry McMillan, the sequel to Waiting to Exhale. I know. Some of you are too young to have enjoyed Waiting to Exhale back in the 90's but to those of you who aren't, stay tuned for next week's review of the next chapter in the lives of Savannah, Bernadine, Robin and Gloria.

I'm on page 108 of 373.

Happy Reading!

My Writerly New Year's Resolutions

Here comes the time of year when I sit and think and think AND THINK about what I'd like to accomplish in the coming year--along with the rest of the world. This year, however, I choose to focus my goals clearly on writing instead of some weight loss goal or my third attempt at learning to swim before the end of the year. After a lot of time and consideration, my New Year's writer resolutions entail the following:

1. I want to publish five freelance jobs. I don't care if the jobs are local, online, or print. I just want publication and a little compensation wouldn't hurt. I'm starting with Cat Misener's guest post on freelance writing at http://inkyfreshpress.com. I hope to use her posts to find out how to achieve this goal.

2. I plan to edit my MS. I'm jump starting the editing process with The Forest for the Trees (Revised and Updated): An Editor's Advice to Writers by Betsy Lerner.

3. After I beta/edit that MS & put it aside, I plan to query a few agents. I turn to Twitter for this one. If I tweet my genre and beta reader or critique partner with the hashtag 'betamatch', I hope to match up with a beta reader and/or critique partner. Twitter also comes in handy when I submit to agents. It gives me information about when they are closed to queries, what they are looking for, where to find their guidelines, etc.

4. I plan to write another terrible first draft. I have several story ideas. I just need to pick one and nurture it.

5. I want to add 100 followers to this blog, for which I have no starting point whatsoever.

I welcome any suggestions on making one or all of these things happen. Better yet, what are your New Year's Resolutions? Are any of the writing related?

A review: Harvest by Tess Gerritsen

Harvest, a medical thriller by Tess Gerritsen, follows Dr. Abby DiMatteo. She is a two year intern on the brink of getting a coveted fellowship within the transplant team at Bayside Hospital. She dates the perfect man and is well on her way to making her professional dreams come true just as a decision regarding two heart transplant patients changes everything. She ends up fighting for her job, relationship and even her life.

Tess Gerritsen wrote Harvest in 1996 but I only became aware of the novel a few years ago when an English Composition instructor encouraged my class to read the novel to get an idea of how to achieve suspense in writing. I purchased the book but did not read it until now--several years later. She was right and I could have read this good book much sooner. The suspense was only one reason to read the book; I also enjoyed the journey the main character went on and her likeability.

The opening scene alone elicits vivid imagery that makes a person cringe. It doesn't take long after that to pull the reader in. Gerritsen hooks the reader into wondering where the story is going. While the novel obviously follows the harvesting of human organs, precisely how it plays out is unknown and the novel is written in such a way that the reader finds themselves compelled to read the novel to find out just how it plays out.

I was hooked after just a few pages. I had to know what happened to Abby and even so I never knew Abby's fate---not until the very end of the novel. The novel could have been a movie with the amount of twists and turns it took.

Gerritsen wrote Abby DiMatteo into some very difficult predicaments but the more fantastic the story became the more I rooted for her. The likeability of Abby also served to hook the reader. Before I knew it, I cared about what happened to Abby and I read until I found out. I wanted her vindicated.

The only things that the novel is up against are the time, it was written in 1996, and the medical lingo. Both of which Gerritsen handled very well. Brief references to VCRs and old televisions let the reader know the time wasn't present but insert Blue Ray player and flat screen and the novel could have taken place today. Nothing else gave the decade away or took away from the story. The story could have just as easily been printed today.

I thought the medical lingo would be off-putting but it wasn’t. I only have a teeny tiny understanding of medical lingo but I followed the story and the lingo didn't loose me. I only read two passages that were over my head. I read them for an understanding of the situation without going to get lengths to decipher the medical meaning but those passages still held my attention and didn't take away from the story.

The novel was very well written and the story was compelling. I only wanted to hear more of the little boy's story woven into Abby's. The novel opened with a little boy named Yakov. He had a compelling story of his own and at least twice during the novel as I read Abby's story I wondered what was going on with Yakov. I wanted a little bit of Abby's story then a little bit of Yakov's story all the way through the novel. It read more like Yakov, Abby, Abby, Abby, and then Yakov and repeat.

All in all, however, the book is a must read and it gets five out of five stars.

Happy Reading!

*twists faucet* Nothing. *taps faucet* Nothing. Between nanowrimo, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, my cup runneth over but my writing drips dry. I'm all tapped out. My creative juices are NOT flowing. And I know. I can't believe, I'm telling anyone else this either. *sits in the writer's naughty chair* To top that off, I have not read a book that I can brag about incessantly. Which isn't to say, I haven't read a book--just not one that I can brag about and urge you to spend money on. At least not with a clear conscience. Sooooo, the only thing I can do is tell you what will be in this space next Tuesday. I promise that a book review of either Harvest by Tess Gerritsen or The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins will fill this space next Tuesday.

By the way, I welcome suggestions for getting out of a NON-writing funk? Not that this ever happens to you.

My Guest Post

Okay, I'm using this week's post to direct you to the guest post I wrote at www.aspiringwriterworld.blogspot.com.



Confession time---It was my first guest post so check it out. I hope you like it.

Nanowrimo: Nearing the End

Nanowrimo takes 30 days to complete. In the end, participants have written a first draft of their novel. Each participant writes 1667 words a day for a total of 50,000 words in a month. It requires a lot of time to complete as any Nanowrimo participant can attest. Participants sacrifice if success is attained. More than a few people can probably attest to just how much sacrifice.

I participated in Nanowrimo this year and I lost track of how many hours I put into Nanowrimo weeks ago. The one thing I didn’t loose track of, however, is what I’ve given up to be a participant. While Nanowrimo provided a much needed break from some things like the laundry and dishes (they were done, just not as often as normal), I gave up some things that I can’t wait to get back to.

I have given up countless hours of sleep, reading and free time. As Nanowrimo comes to an end, I look forward to sleeping again, reading a good book, and catching up on my weekly magazine subscription. The lack of sleep is catching up to me. My characters, plot and writing goal are in my every waking thought. When my mind can process something other “Family Times” (my WIP), I plan to use my free time to catch up on my back issues of US Weekly. I haven’t read my US Weekly subscription in a little over a month (Nano prep) and I need to read my weekly news, gossip and entertainment. At this point, I’ll accept just being able to read my Twitter feed. I don’t need to read the next great American novel--any reading will be fine.

So I ask you, what have you given up to complete Nanowrimo? And what can’t you wait to get back to?

Old Books: Love them, Leave them or Throw them away

In anticipation of the new books I’ll get for Christmas, I started thinking about the old ones I have. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t own a ton of bookshelves lined with books. For that matter, I don’t even own one bookshelf overflowing with books. But the small area I do have for books suffocated a while ago.

I need to get rid of them. I don’t recall what I've done with my books in the past. I know I have never thrown a book away and I rarely donate my books to the library. However, considering the books I’ve owned in the past and the books I currently possess, something is not adding up.

I did something with them. I probably left them in an old apartment or house in a prior move.

But for the first time, I need to get rid of some books and I am making the conscious decision to do so--and I have a blog. I’m considering hosting a giveaway on my blog for all of the books I need to clear out---and can bear to part with.

But first I ask you, what do you do with your books? Are they hoisted upon one or several bookshelves in your home like a red badge of honor? Do you use them as conversation pieces at dinner parties? Do you give them away to friends, acquaintances, or donate them to a library? Will some of them--a chosen few--be taken to the grave with you? Because of the impact they've had on your life.

Tell me, what do you do with your old books. But if you throw them away, don't tell me. In that case, I grant you full authority to lie to me.

Am I too old for Chick Lit??

I recently read a Chick Lit book, which shall remain nameless, and found it a little difficult to relate to. I must say that experience left me a little freaked out. Chick Lit is MY genre. I read it. I write it. I get this genre---or so I thought. I know what you’re thinking---It must be the writing. But no. The author aptly wrote the novel.

The author hit all of the points of a Chick Lit novel. A Chick Lit novel is typically written from the point of view of a twenty something to a very early thirty something woman. The main character was a 25 year old female. Chick Lit typically involves the search for the perfect man, a promotion or new job—all while either looking fabulous doing it or painstakingly tipping the scales (think Bridget Jones' Diary and Confessions of a Shopaholic). The main character in this novel wanted the promotion and while not specifically pursing a man wouldn’t turn down a good one; all while being very aware of her weight. The author met the criteria for the quintessential Chick Lit novel and wrote it well enough.

I just couldn’t connect with the desire for the promotion or a man. I pursued both at one point in my life but now I feel accomplished in both of those areas. At this point in my life, I could not help but think the main character does not have any children depending on her. Priorities tend to change after children. I kept thinking if your family is okay then you can rebuild. You’re okay. If the job did not pan out for the main character she could always find another one. She’s in her twenties. In my twenties I had a billion jobs. Well, I had a lot. I’m 32 now so I sneak in just under the wire of the typical age for the main character. However, with the gnawing feeling that the stakes just weren’t high enough I find myself asking “am I too old for Chick Lit”? And I need an answer before I give my husband my Christmas list—of books he would never otherwise get me on his own.

Not to mention, I entered a contest to re-name MY genre and was selected as a semi-finalist. *insert look of disbelief here* No really. I was. Here’s the link: http://aspiringwriterworld.blogspot.com/2010/11/we-have-our-semi-finalists.html. However, to become a finalist and win the critique, among other things, I have to write a paragraph explaining why my name best suits the genre. Yes, for the genre I’m not even sure I’m suited for. Umm.

So what do you think? Have you ever read/enjoyed Chick Lit? If so, did you outgrow it or are you 80 years old still reading it?

Off I go to think about whether I’m too old for Chick Lit and why my name should be chosen for its new moniker.

Giveaways, Contests & Prizes Oh My

I find myself jumping from website to website for the latest contests, prizes and giveaways related to writing. This week, I compiled the things I found here to share with my fellow writers.

1. On http://www.aspiringwriterworld.blogspot.com/, Gabriela Lessa in conjunction with ChickLitShortys is hosting a contest to rename the ChickLit genre. So if you enjoy writing or reading Chick Lit here's your chance give the genre a new and much needed moniker. Not only do you get to rename the genre but if your name is chosen you win books, an Amazon gift card, a guest spot on the blog. And best of all a 10-page critique. SQUEE!!!

2. Lisa Desrochers is giving away signed copies of the Young Adult novels, Firelight and Personal Demons, if you enter her contest at http://www.lisadesrochers.blogspot.com/ by November 3rd at midnight. Readers need I say more than--free books. Writers, it helps to read the genre you write in and there's no better reading than well-written FREE books.

3. If you are looking for a critique partner and/or beta reader and have a Twitter account, tweet your genre and what you're looking for with the hashtag 'betamatch'. This hashtag is being used to match writers with beta readers and/or critique partners.

4. Nanowrimo--the contest in which you write 50, 000 words in 30 days, started yesterday. I'm sure if you'd like to join in the fun and haven't yet, you still can at http://www.nanowrimo.org/. You just have a lot of catching up to do.

5. Literary agent Nathan Bransford provides a first page critique every Friday. At http://www.nathanbransford.blogspot.com/, you can upload the first page of your novel to the forums section. He critiques one random page every Friday. So eventually you'll get an awesome free critique of your writing by an expert in the field.

6. WriteOnCon, the first ever free online kidlit writer's conference, is hosting another live chat on November 15. Visit http://www.writeoncon.com/ for more information.

7. The IndieBookIBC is hosting a free social media workshop for writers via webinar on November 9th. Visit http://www.indiebookcollective.com/ for information.

Do you have others to add to the list? Please share anything I haven't mentioned and help out your fellow writers.