Writery Wednesday's Cover Lovin'

I don't know about you guys, but I LOVE when a book cover corresponds with the contents in some way. For example: One of the ones I'm reading now, on the cover is the background art. There is a swirly thing in the middle that appears at the heading of each chapter. It's a stupid little thing that entertains me no end.

I just love when something inside the book corresponds well with the cover. If the cover is a metaphor for the theme or a character in the book, I love to figure it out. If there are swirly things all over the book and they appear in the novel itself, love it. Sabriel had those neat little signs at the heading of each chapter that were like the symbols she had to draw throughout the whole book. And how you get to see what Nix is describing when he tells us about the bells. Things like that.

On the opposite side, I HATE when the cover is wrong, doesn't have anything to do with the book, or anything! It is very very hard for me to forgive. It doesn't ruin the whole book or anything but it sure does taint it.

A book I read not too long ago described a male character and man, he was nice sounding! And generally, I overlook when a character doesn't look exactly like I picture. It's normal. BUT I can't overlook when a character is described with, oh lets say, shoulder length blonde shaggy hair, and the cover guy has short cropped, spikey hair. Ehem. Really?

You see the cover every single time you pick up the book. You relate the story you're reading to that cover every time you see it. How can it NOT correspond?

I have big dreams for a beautiful cover for INTO one day. Do you dream of your own covers too? 


< sketch I drew for INTO a while ago.



Do you have cover crushes? Some are amazing! Do you mind when a cover doesn't represent the novel well? Does it matter to you either way?


 Instead of NaNoWriMo this month, it has turned into CriParMo. Which stands for Critique Partner Month. I get the very great privileged to read not for just one writer but 2!! This thrills me.  I love it! I love to read and help and be amazed at amazingly talented people.


So that is how I will be occupying myself this month instead of working on my own stuff. Come end of November beginning of December I will be getting back to my own writing, working in the changes my own crit partner has found for me to make.

January I want to be able to send it off to a new pair of eyes. And hopefully a few months later I can be completely, 100% satisfied with INTO. SO, the tentative absolute finished date for INTO will be March. I only say that here, for you all to read, so I will stick to my plan and hopefully squash my inner procrastinator for a little while.


How's NaNo going for you so far? Are you making your own month instead of Nano this month? Editing, finishing, revising month for you?

I bought my cloak and tickets Monday. Just need a nice, quality mask for my Death Eater get-up to be finished! Unfortunately, I will be alone in my group of two as dressing up. My friend and movie partner wont be joining me. He is very tolerant of my need for dressing up (the Victoria costume for Twilight did nothing to deter him from my company.) but he doesn't participate. Boo.

 They said at the theater, they are selling out pretty quickly. So, I advise if you want to get in for the midnight show, you get the tickets soon!

And finally:


Okay, wait, this is last: So, I'm 1 follower away from having 1-freaking-hundred! I'm...flabbergasted, befuddled, woozlebanked...ok I made that one up but...whatever.

So, I don't say this to be all go me er nuttin' (that's Southern for I went to community college) I say it to wonder, what are you guy's favorite kinds of contests? Easy, mind-numbing just comment and you're in? Or an actual goal to accomplish to get entered?

AND would you rather have a gift card or straight books?

For my 100 contest, I want it to be something fun YOU guys decided on. After all, it is thanks to you I'm giving! So let me know your choices and I'll supply something great for you!


HERE is a post about Character Planning for all you NaNo-ers!

HERE is a great blog post on over-done and cliche novel stuffs by Sara @ Glass Cases(an associate literary agent at Curtis Brown, Ltd.)


Happy Writery Wednesday!

How I Like to do IT.

Okay. I was going to post a new TV spot for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows(pt1) every post. But honestly, I just didn't want to have to choose since there are 9. 

So HERE is where you will find all 8 Brand NEW TV spots for HP7(pt1). You're welcome. Ha! So pumped. Are you pumped!? Officially LESS than 1 month to go!! Get PUMPED!

Back on schedule!

On my fav. scary movie list I forgot From Hell in the top 10! Honestly, top 5. SOOO good. Just had to mention it.

I just love a new idea. It's like Christmas, a new book concept.

I love the first blank page in Wordperfect(apparently I may be the only person alive who still uses it because no one I send my MS to can open the dang thing. My lil bro pretty much told me to man up and use Word.) and setting out on the new adventure with my characters.

The way I handle a new idea is as follows(apparently):

1. In the middle of doing something unrelated to writing an idea will strike.

2. Jot down notes and basic idea before I lose the sucker to a distraction (I NEVER remember exactly what the brilliant idea was if I put this step off until later. NEVER.)
Some advice: Quick notes of whatever the idea is usually do, **but don't use shorthand as you will never remember what NAHO for BOA in CCDC means later. or even:"like that one time with the guy in the place with the thing where that chick said the stuff about that chick to her friend but with vampires." or whatever. Days, weeks, a month later when you come back to that note you will go "WTH man!?" and the idea, she is gone.
EX: one character description I jotted down just says "think fat Jesus+gimpy pirate" Bet you know exactly what that guy looks and sounds like don't you? rough but kind. large, facial hairy guy. scarred and tough. but full of love. 

3.Put it aside as usually that one bit of information that is the idea is all that comes to me during that time.

4.Get an awesome idea for a new character that is not originally intended for previous novel idea.

5.Get the character down in new WP doc so I don't lose him/her.

6.Start trying to form a story around new character only to realize that he/she could go into previously mentioned novel idea *facepalm* and will make the story more rich and deeper than it started out being.

7. copy/paste character into bottom of novel notes for later. Delete new document dedicated to just the character as I can't keep saving all these danged little documents that have no purpose! It's getting ridiculous, self.

8. Put on some instrumental music on Pandora Radio(current fav. channel is The Shanghai Restoration Project channel)

9. Write. Write. Write. Write. Get idea for blog post. Write blog post. Get back to novel. Write. Write. Write. Facebook break. Write. Write. Might as well check twitter and e-mail before I get too deep into writing again. 

10. repeat step 9 until I have no where else to go with novel at the current time.

11. Turn T.V. back on and wish I had had more to write out.

12. Think of something to add really quickly.

13. repeat from step 8 as usually the fresh burst of inspiration starts a whole new writing flow.

Now that I have completed "Write blog post" I will move on to finishing step 9. I am really liking this new story.

I don't outline, so as of right now all I have is 5-6 characters, the first chapter, and a semi tragic love story formed. I just love this job/hobby/career/passion. 

So, all this to say: I'm toying with the idea of joining NaNo this year because I really need the push. The new novel I started between working on edits is lagging. I keep finding excuses to do other things even though I really want to get this one out.  

As of now INTO is being worked on by fresh eyes, so I have put it aside. NoNameNovel has been shelved for an undecided amount of time, and this new one just needs to be let loose. I think NaNo will be the push I need to knock it out. What do you think? Any advice for a NaNo virgin? 

How do you like doin' it? 

HERE are 5 ways to make your novel helplessly addictive! 

How cute is THIS HP shirt being produced??