Titled. Perhaps?

While waiting for my dad's comments on each chapter, I wrote up a first draft query letter (which is really only half-terrible) and brainstormed a new title for my book to replace "A Tale of the Fairies". Yes, thank you, I know the old title is long and uninspiring. Hence, the brainstorming session.

I used to cringe every time someone asked, "What is the title of your book?" And I always follwed up quickly with, "And it's just a working title, really!" I treated the old title like a disowned child. I was not about to claim it as my own. Certainly, not after the bored looks everyone gave me after hearing it.

The gruesome task to rename has hovered over my head for weeks, and I decided the other day that I'd procrastinated long enough. My brain-blizzard produce a few promising keepers and several more that definitely belonged in the trash can, such as "The Great Beanstalk Adventure" which sounded more like a Muppet movie than a title for my novel.

The new title is certainly an improvement over the old. But I'm not sure if I'm completely attached to it yet... I feel like some sort of overly-cautious parent, unwilling to reveal my child's name to the world just now, for fear someone might...gulp...laugh. And so, I will reveal the new title on December the 31st when the book is entirely complete.

Novel Update: Besides what's contained in the above paragraphs, nothing new to report. 61 days. And counting.

Secret Code

I'm quite certain this photo represents how people feel when they glance over my Microsoft Word documents. Confused, they only see a jumble of green numbers scrolling up and down along a black background. Or, rather, a white page covered with boring 12-point letters. Whereas, I see an entire other world, peopled by creatures of my wild imagination.

The computer keyboard is my portal, transporting me from the trials of reality to the wonders of fantasy. Cue Aladdin's "I can show you a world..." I step into that world and I'm lost for hours, trying to collect enough souvenirs to take back to Earth and share with my fellow humans.

It's difficult to put my passion for writing into words. Even though I'm a writer. The words escape me for this. I suppose I'm sort of in awe of creativity itself. Art impresses me. Painters, sculptors, dancers, musicians, and writers get a very small (and yet very potent) taste of how God felt when he created this world. How kind He is to share with us a small measure of his personal joy, by giving us creative minds!

Novel update: Up to chapter seven edited (third draft), 189 pages (only 11 more to reach my goal), and a measly 64 days to finish. I honestly can't believe it's almost the end of October. Where did the time go?

Imaginary Friends

When I was little, I had imaginary friends. And, the truth is, I still do.

I recently saw a shirt that read, "Writer's Block: When Your Imaginary Friends Won't Talk To You". I laughed at the truth in it! Elle and Jak, along with all the other characters in "A Tale", are my grown-up imaginary friends. I spend hours with them. Sometimes I have conversations with them and even arguments too. I understand their secret hopes. I sympathize with their deepest fears. And, whenever I am lonely or bored or sad, my characters will always be there to keep me company.

My good friend went away to college this week and, again, I am faced with the trials of growing up. Life is in constant motion and change, and I loathe it. I feel like Peter Pan. I want to run away to Never Land and remain forever young.

I suppose that's why I love to write so much. Because, even when I'm eighty-two and a half, I can still "play pretend" in my novels and no one will ever think the less of me. For a few hours at a time, I can escape to a world where dragons and princesses and knights in shining armor really do exist.

By the way, this photo is by Annie Leibovitz (who has done an AMAZING collection of Disney photographs). Here are a few more she's done:

My life would be absolutely complete if Ms. Leibovitz did the cover art/photography for "A Tale"... Indeed, I am a big dreamer.  But Les Brown says, "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it, you will land among the stars."

Novel Update: Phase Four fully underway. Three chapters completely edited. 78 days.

All The Juicy Details

My dad and I are in the midst of editing "A Tale", and he instructed me to, please, add more detail!

As I read over Chapter One again, I realized that there isn't much description at all. Even I, the author, don't really know where anybody is standing or what anybody is doing in particular. And that, as we all know, is a very bad thing.

I completely agree with what my cousin said about her own characters, "I feel like they're all speaking in a vacuum".  It was as if Elle - my main character - was floating in a foggy meadow with her eyes closed while trying to describe what was going on all around her.

Needless to say (or perhaps not so "needless"), I'm going back and adding in all the juicy details. I never described Elle's employer. Nobody knew what she looked like! But, now they do.

Also, I embellished the opening scene with all kinds of lovely descriptions, so that Elle is no longer floating awkwardly in my metaphorical foggy meadow, but is now surrounded by a huge bustling excitable crowd in the middle of the village square. The scenery is finally becoming tangible. Happy day!

Wow, this picture makes me want a glass of orange juice immediately.......

Novel update: Twenty-four more chapters to edit and add descriptions to! 80 days to go!

Searching...



My dad finished reading my book this week. Phase Four: Third Draft is set to launch next week.

But, in the meantime, I've started searching for a literary agent. By "started searching", I mean logging into agentquery.com and swiftly scanning a few agents in the "middle grade" genre, before a few friends stopped by for a spontaneous movie night. Needless to say...yes, I got sidetracked.

I will get to it, eventually. Ok, sooner than later. After all, I only have 89 days until deadline. Can you believe it's October already?

As prep for my superhero series, I've started reading some popular bestelling series (how do you pluarlize series?) to sort of study the style and pace. I'm on Chapter Three of the Hunger Games. I've actually never read a book written from first person perspective AND in present tense. It's more difficult to get into the rhythm. But it definitely moves at a much faster, snappy speed, which is important for younger easily distracted readers. I also have The Lightning Thief and Lemony Snicket's The Bad Beginning to follow.

Also, I'm still in the middle of Francine Rivers' Mark of the Lion series. She is, by far, the most incredible writer I've ever read. She is a writing magician, and I'm not quite sure how she accomplishes it. Someday, I hope to be as talented.

I started this post to talk about literary agents, and strayed to listing off random books I'm reading...

Novel Update: "A Tale" has been read by two people, officially. Third draft is coming soon...