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Showing posts with label Novel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Novel. Show all posts
Monday, January 16, 2012
1,000 Subscribers Giveaway!
2:08 PM
My YouTube Channel, Kate's Book Club has reached 1,000 Subscribers!
I'm thrilled!
So I'm hosting a Giveaway!
Three Winners will get their pick of one of these books!
And One Grand Prize Winner will get their choice of three!
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Disney Princesses
9:00 AM
The other day, while stalking people on Twitter, I came across a link that @lissawrites posted.
I'm a big ol' Disney fan. And when I saw that there was a site where I could create my own Disney Princesses, I jumped on the band wagon!
Check out the site here! It's so much fun!
Because I've always wanted to be a Disney Princess, I started by making one of myself!
Looks just like me, huh?
And once I realized how addicting this program is, I knew I needed to create Jorra, my novel's main character! I love that I'm now able to better visualize certain scenes!
There's a fun feature where you can put your princess creations in book form like an illustration.
So I did this with Emma. A character from another story I'm working on.
It's even fun to try and recreate some of the iconic Disney girls!
Go check out Doll Divine and try it out yourself! It's totally addicting!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Writing
6:53 AM
I've been reading a lot lately.
As you may have noticed.
And with every new story, chapter and word, I am more and more impressed with these authors who are able to create such articulate and captivating stories.
The people who sat at their computers, typewriters or notebooks through countless rewrites and edits.
These writers who persevered as they got rejected by publisher after publisher until they finally got their book in print.
And every time I think of their achievements, I look over to the manuscript that is sitting on my bedside table.
It has been almost a year and a half since I last touched it.
This work of fiction that I was so proud of, so dedicated to, just faded out of my life.
Today I picked it up and read the first chapter.
I had a pen in hand and slashed it to shreds.
I made notes in the margins.
I corrected grammar and punctuation.
I scribbled on the pages until they were full.
And I'm not stopping now.
I'm determined to see my novel on shelves someday.
(Though, sadly not in Borders. Rest in piece good friend.)
I'm going to be an author.
Just you wait!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Some Notes
10:00 PM
Dear Bedroom,
I really want you to be clean. I don't have the gumption to clean you. I'm going to go to sleep tonight, and I'm going to hope you'll be all spotless when I wake up. If you aren't, I'll be very put off. Kay thanks.
I really want you to be clean. I don't have the gumption to clean you. I'm going to go to sleep tonight, and I'm going to hope you'll be all spotless when I wake up. If you aren't, I'll be very put off. Kay thanks.
I am so excited! I can't wait to rejoin the fun and games (and stress) that you create and sponsor!
Will you plot yourself already? I've been wracking my brain about where to take the many characters that are now named in the world that is now mapped out. But all of that is useless. They'll all just sit happily in their little imaginary world with no adventure. That's boring. You will never get read. So hurry and create a reason for me to write you!
Your adoring (frustrated) author.
To My Job:
I really like you. There is nothing better than getting paid to play, color and watch Disney movies. I approve.
(I would appreciate it if you would create an instant disinfectant sprayer for all of the children. I'm not a fan of being sick all weekend.)
Hey Cold!
You're ridiculous. My lungs rumble so much when I breathe you'd think it was 2012 in there. Go away.
Also, I don't like your irony. "Get some rest and I'll leave you be." Yet your insistent need to tickle my throat and make me cough won't let me sleep! Jerk.
P.S. Making me cough so hard I throw up isn't acceptable. I officially hate you. Except you made me lose five pounds... I guess I'll forgive you...
-Dearest Halloween-
My feelings for you do not reflect the picture above. I love you. I love feeling like a little kid, getting all dressed up in silly outfits. You make me smile. Oh how I miss the days when I would map out my trick-or-treating route and fill two pillowcases with candy. More than I could ever eat of course. I would wait until Spring and walk door to door selling it all back to the people who gave it to me. *Sigh* Good times.
I love you.
Costume,
I'm really excited about my ideas. Please don't make me look fat! I would be sad.
Thank you!
P.S. Voting for my costume is still open! Go vote!
To the people who tagged me:
I'm a slacker. I'll admit it. I honestly am just not in the mood to answer more questions. But the rest of you should definitely check out their blogs! They are awesome!
Jamie @ Spread Your Wings and Fly
Daniela @ dk everyday
These blogs are wonderful! So sorry I didn't answer your questions! I hope you three love me anyway!
Awards -
I've been getting a lot of blog love lately. THANK YOU! You're all so wonderful. I love getting awards. It's so fun to get blog love and then pass it on! But I feel like I am only ever posting about awards. (Which I love to do.) But I don't want to weigh you all down. So I've created a separate blog just for accepting and passing on awards! I'll announce whenever I have accepted and passed one on here, so you can go check it out, but won't bore you all with award posts here if you don't want to read them. It's not quite finished yet, but a few more awards will be posted there over the next few days! Thank you all so much for the blog love! It's overwhelming and I love you all! MWAH!
Dear Social Life,
We've kind of been on the rocks lately. I'm going to give it my best shot to get out there. I'll make you proud. (NaNoWriMo is going to be a major competitor in November, but I'll try my hardest.)
Sleep:
Take me away.
Tags:
Awards,
Bedroom,
Cleaning,
Costume,
Halloween,
Job Interview,
NaNoWriMo,
Notes,
Novel,
Sick,
Sleep,
Social Life
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8
Thoughts
Friday, October 1, 2010
One Month Left
6:38 PM
Last year, I wrote a novel. In one month. But I had a lot of help. I wouldn't have been able to do it without National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo.)
Well, it's coming up on NaNoWriMo again! In one month! I'm excited!
October is just as important for NaNoWriMo as November, when you actually do the writing. This is the 'prep month.' You work on plot outlines, character names, and for me, covers and maps.
Being the Photoshop obsessed girl I am, this is always my second priority in October. Seeing the images helps me visualize the adventure that will unfold in my novel.
I finished my images to the best of my abilities at this early stage.
Here is the current cover! I am very excited about how it turned out!
It will be a companion novel to the novel I wrote last year, Sacrifice.
So I expanded the area of map that wasn't explored in Sacrifice and will be using it as the map in my 2010 project.
(Sacrifice Map)
(2010 Project Map)
The ideas are turning in my head and I'm so excited to explore this story and see where it takes me.
I also made a cover for my friend Alex (a fellow NaNo-er).
If you are interested in NaNoWriMo, join HERE! It's free, and a lot of fun (and hard work).
My username is Kate Weber! Add me as a writing buddy!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Author
6:04 PM
I need to blog. About two hours ago, I was given some really heart breaking news. I don't want to go into detail. But ever since I've just felt the need to do something. Anything. Get my mind off of this.
So I'm going to blog. I'm going to tell you about something that has made me so happy these past few months.
I wrote a novel. It was for a program called National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).
The whole concept of NaNoWriMo is to write a novel of 50,000 words or more all in the month of November when NaNoWriMo takes place. I had heard about it in 2008 but not until half way through the month of November, therefore thwarting any thoughts of joining. So in 2009, when November rolled around, I decided to sign up and give it my best shot.
I have tried to write novels before. I've always lacked the discipline needed to actually sit down and finish. My best attempt before 11/09 was about 14,500 words. I loved the story, but there is a big reason why I quit. I was obsessed with it being perfect.
In October of 2009, I had the opportunity to meet and interview one of my favorite authors, Shannon Hale, for my YouTube book review channel. She was speaking at the Utah Humanities Book Festival in Salt Lake City prior to our short interview. She and another author, Sara Zarr, were paired together to talk about their books and writing. They said something profound that I think every aspiring author needs to hear.
"Your first draft is just that. It's a first draft. It doesn't need to be perfect. Just write it, you can fine tune later."
That was my problem with each of my previous attempts. I wanted it to be a publishing ready novel right from the beginning. That doesn't happen. This is also the point of NaNoWriMo. No revisions. Revisions are for December. You spend the whole of November getting the novel written, fixing can be done later.
This is what I did. I ate up the experience, writing for hours and hours each day. I had my 50,000 words by the 17th. Each moment was amazing and it became a race to finish the novel completely by the end of November. I did it. The novel ended up just over 90,000 words. (For those of you who don't understand how many words that is, picture writing about 32.5 term papers for college.)
I've since read through it, doing some minuscule editing and have sent it out for a few family members and close friends to read. It's terrifying knowing that it's in the world being read at the moment. But I've gotten good words of encouragement so far.
"I have not finished your story yet, but I am really into it so far! You really are an awesome writer. Love your work!"
"I too am enjoying your book.....not much editing going on because I am getting lost in the story."
It's been such an amazing experience and I'm so glad that I did it! I can't wait for next November. I'll be writing the prequel to my current novel. Exciting! I encourage you all to join, too!
The cover was made by me, and if it ever gets published this will not be the final cover. I'm just a very visual person with access to photoshop.
Here are some of my favorite lines from the novel:
Beautiful and hollow; just like the flames.
My mind screamed cautions in my head, but my foolish heart was beating so loudly that I didn’t hear a thing.
I hope that someday everyone will get the chance to read it. But even if that day never comes, it's been one of the biggest blessings in my life.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
A Good Day Letter
8:39 PM
Dear Good Day,
I have so many reasons to thank you! You have continually managed to make me smile! If I had a hat, I would tip it off to you!
I'm not sure if you are aware, but here are the things that you have done for me today, GD.
You brought me lots of return messages from people I care about. It been very good to reconnect with friends and family.
You got me motivated to work on my novel again. I read about 12 chapters and will probably read some more before the day is out. It's been so much fun to reacquaint myself with my characters and the story. I had no idea how much I missed it. I also came to the realization that I'm ready and excited for people to read it. When I'm finished reading it through this time, I think I'll start sending out manuscripts!
(You also made me feel like my writing doesn't suck as much as I thought it did.)
Anytime I was feeling a little bit iffy, you did something to make me laugh! Thanks. Laughter is the way to make me happy! Like when you made me smile when my pajama pants fell around my ankles in the kitchen. No one was around and I don't think anyone knew. I pulled the drawstrings tighter. Thanks for making me feel like I'm losing weight!
You allowed me a few moments to watch Friends. I will love you forever for this!
You let me eat spaghetti for breakfast. How awesome are you? Also! You didn't make me gag when I drank that gross yogurt stuff that I drink first thing in the morning. I think I actually enjoyed it a little today. Nice little bonus you've thrown in there!
You also made me feel VERY loved, which was about the best thing ever! I've realized that Heavenly Father has a plan for me, and I just need to smile and be patient.
Anyway, Good Day. My point is this: Thank you for the smiles and happiness!
Hope to see you again really soon!
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