Success!!

So, I haven't been blogging as much lately, and even if no one noticed but me, I wanted to explain why. You might remember (or not...who knows) that I am somewhat of an amateur writer. I have participated in NaNoWriMo and I'm in a Writers' Group (with two awesome chicas!! Becca from Alice:Journey of a Fake Writer and Jen from Yabooknerd).

Well, I decided that I have to get serious. I want to publish a book someday and that means I need to buckle down and "Get 'R Dun," as they say...but with better grammar! So, while I will absolutely not give up my reading time, because not only do I consider it important research, but it is the highlight of my day, every day...I have decided to cut back on blogging. Not just actually posting on my blog, but I have also cut back on how often I read my blog feed.

It's been tough! I think I was going through a little bit of blogger withdrawl, BUT in the time that I was using for that I wrote a killer short story! Not only did I write it, but I revised it, and...submitted it for the National Writer's Digest annual contest. *fingers crossed* Realistically, I have no intention of holding my breath anticipating a win. I'm sure a bajillion people enter every year. Having the goal and a deadline, though, really got me to pump it out and make sure all my word choices were sharp, my sentences were concise, and that the characters and plot were developed just so...

Did I mention how *HARD* it is to write a short story?! So hard, but totally worth it. I have a real finished piece that I am eminently proud of and would love to share with the world at some point. For now, I await the decisions of others...and turn back to an older project. :)

All right, off to go read!

Gemini Night

Gemini Night
by Bonnie Hearn Hill
Star Crossed, book three

Starting her junior year, Logan McRae is excited about her internship at CRUSH magazine. But she is not so excited about her new boyfriend Jeremy’s travel abroad in Ireland. Logan’s in over her head trying to balance school, love, and friends, while trying to solve an astrological mystery—the fate of a Gemini is star-crossed.

Will Logan find out who is in danger before the CRUSH Halloween costume party? Can she prove to the publisher she deserves her own astrology column? And will her relationship with Jeremy survive the distance? Only time will tell as Logan continues to reach for the stars! (description taken from Amazon.com)

This was a fun, easy read. The overall plotline was interesting with a good twist and the pages interspersed between the real chapters containing astrology knowledge were really cute and intriguing. I like the way the book was structured with Logan's "columns" about how to interest each individual type of guy (ie. Taurus, Virgo, Pieces, etc.) in between the major chapters. I liked the "handwritten" notes that Logan made to herself as the story moved along.

I liked Logan and all of her friends. I especially liked the way that Logan and her two best friends, Chili and Paige, always supported and stood up for one another. They were a group I would have loved to have hung out with in highschool.

And, though at some points I was actually distracted by Logan's references to peoples' signs (ie. - "Way to go, Gemini" or "That's because he's a Taurus..."), I did find myself thinking about what signs each of the character was...as well as many of my friends and family. It made me want to go out and get a copy of Fearless Astrology to start reading more.

Overall a fun, light read.

Full disclosure: Review copy received from publisher

Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars

Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars
Starring Jennifer Stone

Young spy, Harriet Welsch, crosses paths with popular student Marion Hawthorne as the two girls vie to become the official blogger of their high school class. (description taken from imdb.com)

Okay, I was officially obsessed with Harriet the Spy when I was a kid. I even carried around my own observation notebook for awhile and went to see the professional play with my Grandmother!!

Thus, I loved the fact that they made an updated movie. It's still Harriet, but she wants to be class blogger!! How awesome. There were lots of nods to the original...can we say red shoes, anyone?... but a whole new generation can also enjoy. :)

My only qualm was that the boy she spends the whole movie stalking, I mean spying on, of course, has a meltdown then just suddenly forgives her at the end. It made for a cute ending, but was totally unrealistic. Oh well. Overall, I really enjoyed it!

NaNoWriMo Wrap-Up

Sadly for 2010, a participant is what I will stay...not a winner.

*sad face*

As of the final day, I have just about 20,000 words for this WIP...and it is most definitely a WIP. This is my first time trying to write sort of a dystopian/adventure book and I think I keep psyching myself out. Oh well.

I plan to spend the rest of the year figuring out my blocked plot points, then I am GOING to finish it!! I will let you know when it's done. For now...poor Jen and Becca in my writers' group are going to have their work cut out for them as readers.

NaNoWriMo 2010

Just wanted to share that I am now officially signed up for the
NaNoWriMo 2010!!!



If you haven't heard of it, the goal is to write a 50,000 word novel during November (National Novel Writing Month). I did it earlier this year off month, writing 50,000 words in January, but I am an official participant this year!!

Good luck to everyone else who's signing up. If you want to be my writing buddy my username is jmlib923. :)