How Low Would You Go?

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on our own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.

This Week's Topic: How far would you go to get published?

     If you head over to YA Highway, you'll see a picture of a baseball field and these words at each base: First Base- Jumping on the trend train, Second Base- Switch to a well-selling genre, Third Base- Minor revisions requested to sign with an agent, and Home Run- Major revisions requested by editor.
     Which bases would you hit?
     So... funny enough, if it was my version of baseball/getting published, I would jump straight to third base, and then on to the home run. Revisions I'd do, no problem. Well, I say no problem right now... I suppose if it came down to making huge major changes, I might balk. And I mean HUGE MAJOR CHANGES. Example of HUGE MAJOR CHANGES? lnstead of Jessica in Daze going back to medieval times to learn how to swordfight and kick some butt and fall in love, Jessica goes back to medieval times, teaches the peasants the dance numbers from West Side Story, and then the aliens come and she gets body snatched. (If some of you think that would make a great book... you go write it!)
     The reason I'd jump straight to third base? I'm not into writing to trends. I mean, obviously. I'm writing YA time-travel and chick lit. Not exactly hot trends right now. Although I did write YA, I did it because it seemed right and natural for Jessica's story, not because YA is hot right now. I just don't think I could write something just because it's "selling" or "popular". I wouldn't have a story. When Vampires were the huge thing, and I love them, I still couldn't write my own vampire story. I never had one. And to force myself? Only crap would ensue from forcing.
     So basically? I'm willing to do revisions, lots of revisions because I know I'm not the best writer out there, the most experienced, and I've got lots to learn. I'm willing to put in the work I know it takes to get the best of me into my novels. But to change myself or the story completely just to make some bucks or see my name in print? I don't think so.
     What about you? How far would you go?

I'm Ba-ack!



 This is where I was on Friday- Half Moon Cay, Bahamas

This is what I came home to on Saturday (my backyard)

 

     You know what really sucks? Being on a warm, white, sandy beach with clear blue water one day... then stepping off an airplane to heaps of freezing cold snow the next.
     Seriously- major suckage.
     I had a great cruise. It was awesome. I snorkeled (for the first time) over a shipwreck and took a catamaran in St. Thomas. I zip-lined (another first) through the rain forest of San Juan, Puerto Rico. I rented a junker car and got to see parts of Grand Turk that the cruise lines DON'T want you to see, and I laid on the above-mentioned beach in Half Moon Cay, Bahamas.
     Aaaahhhhh, heaven.
     Now I'm back to minus weather, shoveling snow (well, I don't actually have to shovel, my hubbie snow-blows), wearing mittens and toques and scarves, and generally freezing my patootie off. Sigh. At least it's Christmas. It helps to ward off PVD: Post-Vacation Depression.
     I hope everyone has been doing great and not slacking off like I did this past week. Although I have to admit, it was nice to be computer-free for a week. I think I needed a tech break. Everyone should take one once in awhile.
     I can't wait to get back to reading all your blogs!

Cast List

     Well, my peeps... okay, I should never write that word again. I don't say it out loud so why I thought it would sound okay in print...
     Anyway, I'm off tomorrow on a CRUISE! Yay me! Eastern Caribbean, here I come! Alas, this means internet silence. Seriously, don't know how I'm gonna deal. But maybe it'll be good for me. Maybe.
     I thought, for my last post for over a week (eek!), that I'd share the cast list I came up with for my new MS Sway that I'm currently editing. I know, I know, it's a bit early to be picking actors right? WRONG! I love to do this. I think it's fun. So back off.
     Kidding. Sort of. Clearly, I'm in a weird, slightly hyper-active mood today. It probably has nothing to do with the fact that I haven't been on a plane since 2006, I've never been on a ship (a boat- yes, ship- no), and I'm just so darn control-freakish that I feel like my head is going to explode. And my stupid iPad has gone berserk- right before the trip (ARGH!).
     Anyway... again... (stop blabbing Melanie), here's my cast list along with some great pics. FYI-
I've got A TON of characters! Enjoy! And see you all in December!
     Oooh, one more thing. I've said this before, but a quick explanation. My character Eric Wentworth is inspired by this (oh-so-lovely) actor:

Rupert Penry-Jones

     But, since he's in his early forties now and Eric is only twenty-seven, I chose this guy:

Eric Wentworth- played by Chris Evans

Ava Elliot- played by Alexis Bledel

Beth Elliot- played by Jessica Biel

Mari (Elliot) Musgrove- played by Michelle Trachtenberg

Charlie Musgrove- played by Erik Knudsen

Gage Johnson- played by Mark Salling

Lexi Smith- played by Emma Stone

Lacey Musgrove- played by Ashley Benson

Halle Musgrove- played by Hilary Duff

Luke Hayter- played by Tom Felton

Sam Benwick- played by Emile Hirsch

Giving Thanks (Even Though I Already Did)

     This week's Road Trip Wednesday Topic:

What writing or publishing-related thing(s) are you most thankful for?

    
     Since I'm Canadian, I celebrated Thanksgiving last month. But you should never stop being thankful for things right? And it doesn't hurt to express those thanks more than once a year.
    
     1. I'm thankful for AWESOME books. Persuasion, The Twilight Saga, Lola and the Boy Next Door... just to name a few. I realized lately, as much as I want to be one of those wonderful and talented authors, if I was them... well I'd have nothing to read!
     2. I'm thankful for beta readers/crit partners/brainstorming buddies... whatever you want to call them and whatever they are to you. Without those people, my books wouldn't make it very far. Speaking of which, anyone want to be a beta for me and read my Persuasion remake? Anyone? Bueller?
     3. Some people might be surprised about this one, but I'm thankful for books turned into movies. Seriously. Yes, sometimes they suck. Sometimes they're even better than the book (okay rarely). But mostly, when I love a book so much and don't want to leave the world, I'm happy to take part in extending my time in that world, and with those characters, in any way possible. Now. Who's going to make movies of Anna and Lola? Anyone? Bueller? Get on that someone. (Cuz I can't wait to see St. Clair and Cricket come to life on the big screen.)
     4. I'm thankful for the time I can find to write/edit/read. Sometimes it's hard to find that time. So when I get it... lucky me. I just need to learn to be a bit more appreciative and a little less cranky when that time gets interrupted.
     5. Mostly- I'm thankful for whatever talent I have to write. I'm not saying I'm the greatest writer out there (because of course I'm not). But I know I've got something. And I'm grateful for that. And I'm thankful that I've found something that makes me happy.
     What are you thankful for on this American Thanksgiving weekend?

On Vamps and Wolves

     I saw Breaking Dawn on Saturday night. It's nice that our theatre close by has the AVX theatre. Meaning, you can buy your tickets in advance and pick your seats. So a week before, we bought our tickets, picked prime seats, and then didn't have to get there early or wait in any lines on Saturday night. Meaning I could pretend I wasn't a screaming fangirl. Nice.

    Anyway... my verdict? Well, I liked it. A lot. I wasn't expecting much. Breaking Dawn is my least favorite of the books, although I do love Jacob's perspective. With a wedding, honeymoon, and pregnancy... well I knew the movie would probably be a bit slow, with very little action.
     I didn't find it slow at all. I guess because I know the characters, I know the story, and I was caught up in it. My brother-in-law (who just came to be with his wife) found it VERY slow. So I guess, if you're a fan you'll probably like it. If you're not... don't expect to be riveted.

     Jacob was the best part for me (and I'm a Team Edward girl). Taylor Lautner did an awesome job. It was really evident how much Jacob has to grow up and mature in this movie. And they did the whole birth scene VERY well. It was gross, a little bit traumatizing, and Bella looked AWFUL. Seriously, so so bad. I enjoyed the movie enough that I'm miffed I have to wait another year to see part two.
     Anyway, of course I'm going to do my crush of the week. And I've got two. Like I said, I'm a Team Edward girl. In fact, in my first reading of the books, I never got Bella's thing for Jacob in Eclipse (that whole begging him to kiss her scene). Seeing the movies... well, I understood better. Maybe that's just because of Taylor Lautner! Haha. Actually, this re-reading, and watching all the movies again... I couldn't help but think as a human I'd rather be with a werewolf. Hot bods aside, the warmth is very appealing. And there's something about the idea of snuggling up with a big, furry dog. But the love story between Edward and Bella has always been what got me, what hooked me to the books.
     So right now, I'm on Team Both.

   

First-Chapter Phobia

    
     I think I've developed beginning-phobia. Or maybe I should call it first-chapter-phobia.
     With Daze and Knights, I wrote probably twenty different beginnings. And the funny thing is, I liked them ALL. Seriously. But I was on this quest to find the BEST one, a beginning that would blow people away. I don't think I achieved that goal, but I did finally settle on one.
     With Sway, I just jumped right in, ignoring any kind of beginning. I know that's what you're supposed to do, but by jump right in, I literally mean jump right in. There was no backstory or description WHATSOEVER. I know, I know, too much backstory is a BAAAD thing. But this had NONE.
     Probably mid-way through, I did come up with an idea- two paragraphs- for a start. I really like it, but it still wasn't enough. It wasn't until I'd written "The End" that I went back to the start and tried to connect those two paragraphs with my jump-right-in chapter. It was difficult. Hence- first-chapter-phobia. I did write it, but I'm not altogether happy with it. I feel like I forced it too much and when I force my writing, I'm never happy with what comes out.
     I guess I should remind myself that all those many beginnings for Daze came about during my many edits, NOT during the first draft. So hopefully edits will help me tighten the beginning I've got now or give me inspiration for something completely different, and completely amazing. Hopefully, I really haven't developed first-chapter-phobia. Because that freaks me out! I'll get a phobia of having the stupid phobia!
     How about you? Any writing phobias? (Is it just me, or is phobia a funny word or what?)

Dum-Da-Da-DAAAHHHHH!!!!!

   
    I'm done! I did it! I finished writing my third book! Ooo-aaa, ooo-aaa, woot, squee (and all those other weird internet sounds people like to make up and somehow become wildly popular).
     So it's no NaNo, but I did write it in three and a half months, which is a record for me. Not that I was trying to hurry, but I did have a goal to have it finished before I leave for my cruise next weekend. And I did! Yay!
     Anyway, I'm giving it one edit right now while separating it into chapters and then I'm going to put it away for a bit. Maybe send it to betas if I think it's ready. I've got some other editing to do and I'm already brainstorming what to write next.
     I'm totally psyched I did it. Writing the first draft is probably the funnest part of all, but there's nothing like that feeling of accomplishment when you've written that last word.
     Aaaahhhh.