What I'm Reading

Like a lot of people, I became a huge fan of Tim Gunn's when I first started watching Project Runway, so when this book came out I was eager and curious to read it. Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little Lessons for Making it Work is full of anecdotes from nearly every aspect of his life, which were fun and interesting to read. I love how steeped he is in manners and good graces, and I know plenty of people who can stand a reminder, and even a few lessons, on civility. I hope they will read this book!

xoxo,
bex

What I'm Reading

I have had this book on top of my reading pile for a while, resisting the urge to jump into it until I reached that point when I really, really needed to read a good book that I knew I'd love. Sarah Dessen does this for me, every time. Don't get me wrong, I love to read just about anything. But she is one of my go-to writers and after I've experimented for a while with new authors, I love to get back to one of my tried and true favorites. Lock and Key is another great read of hers, and the timing has been perfect. Every time I read Sarah Dessen, I feel a renewed motivation toward my own writing. She makes me want to be a better writer.

Do you have any go-to authors that you know will whisk you away in their good books? Inquiring minds want to know!

xoxo,

bex

Friday Check-In

This week's task still had everything to do with revisions. I made a little bit more progress on them, which are great baby steps forward on this book.

I also got the chance to reflect on my writing process over the past week and realized I could do some things that might improve my process over time. I keep telling myself that there is no wrong process, nor is there an absolute right one -- just what is right for each person. Still, I think I could help myself along by taking a step back and learning from some of the authors I admire.

This realization was helpful and made me feel better after a disappointing Friday. (I entered my book in a contest and did not do as well as I expected.) Every disappointment is a learning opportunity. It's not necessarily overcoming the disappointment, though that is important too . . . It's about what you do with that news to make things better for the future that is the true test. Here's to investing the time, doing the work, and reaping the benefits for a better outcome the next time around!

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

My dad recommended the book, Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart by Gordon Livingston, M.D., and I was eager to read it because I am always looking for wisdom to help me with the tough stuff in life. The older I get the more I understand the phrases that youth is wasted on the young, and if I only knew then what I know now . . .

If I learn nothing else from this book, it will be worth the read for the following advice I gleaned from chapter two:

The three components of happiness are something to do, someone to love, and something to look forward to.

I felt heartened by this advice because these are things we can actively pursue and create for ourselves. Happiness can seem so elusive, but by breaking the emotion down to these achievable parts, it is something that all of us can reach.

There is a beautiful foreword written by the late Elizabeth Edwards as well. I am just jumping into chapter three but I already feel strongly about recommending this little treasure of a book.

xoxo,
bex

What I'm Reading

I just finished reading Natural Born Charmer by Susan Elizabeth Phillips and I loved it. For reasons unknown, I had not read an SEP book in ages and this book reminded me of some of the great stuff I had been missing. I am an avid football fan and she writes about the players on the fictional Chicago Stars football team. What's not to love about that?

One thing that's for sure, I need to get back to reading more SEP books!

xoxo,

bex

Friday Check-In

This week was all about getting the first ten pages right. I went back to the drawing board and introduced a new thread that I think will make the rest of the book more compelling because it ups the romantic conflict. We shall see.

The ten pages were in submission for a future pitch appointment, so while we await that meeting we will be working on sewing that thread throughout the rest of the book.

Another awesome friend critiqued my query letter so that piece of the puzzle is ready. Now we must get the rest of the book fixed so that we can get it out on submission.

This post feels like a repeat of one -- or many -- I have already written on a Friday check-in, but what I am learning about my process, at least when it comes to revision, is that it can last infinitely. You just reach a point where you have to pull the trigger and launch the book into the world. But not yet . . . I have this one last pass to go.

And then . . .

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

I am late to the party when it comes to reading The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy, but I am excited to finally get to it! Here's some information about the book from Amazon:

Sixteen-year-old Jess Parker survives by staying invisible. After nine schools in ten years, she's come to terms with life as a perpetual new girl, neither popular nor outcast. At Mt. Sterling High, Jess gets the chance of a lifetime: an invitation to join The Cinderella Society, a secret club of the most popular girls in school, where makeovers are the first order of official business. But there's more to being a Cindy than just reinventing yourself from the outside, a concept lost on Jess as she dives tiara-first into creating a hot new look.

With a date with her popular crush and a chance to finally fit in, Jess's life seems to be a perfect fairy tale. That is until the Wickeds--led by Jess's archenemy--begin targeting innocent girls in their war against the Cindys, and Jess discovers her new sisterhood is about much more than who rules Mt. Sterling High School. It's a centuries-old battle of good vs. evil, and the Cindys need Jess on special assignment. But when the mission threatens to destroy her new dream life, Jess is forced to choose between this dream realized and honoring the Sisterhood. What's a girl to do when the glass slipper fits, but she doesn't want to wear it anymore?

Girl power versus the mean girls, a Cinderella-like make-over, great friends, and cute boys. What's not to like? I hope you guys will check it out!

xoxo,
bex

Friday Check-In

I got some more feedback on my wip this week -- it echoed the stuff I heard last week, which is helpful and has spurred some energy to tackle the mounting work that I need to do. This is my last pass revision. Once I get these threads tweaked I am going to start sending the book out on submission to agents.

Having said that, there's just one more to-do item standing in my way: the query. The synopsis is not great, but at least it is written. I have a draft of a query but think I need to devote a little more work to it to try to make it snap.

I promised that if I came across helpful tools I would share them here, and there is one in particular that has been useful to me in this query adventure. There is an e-book on Amazon written by Noah Lukeman called, How to Write a Great Query Letter: Insider Tips and Techniques for Success. It's a pretty helpful resource and at $0.99 it's a steal!

Any other tips you query writers out there might want to share? Inquiring minds want to know!

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

The last book I read made me want to keep on with my thriller kick so I started reading Kidnap and Ransom by Michelle Gagnon. I had read an article several months ago about this book -- how it was inspired by the true story of a real-life security expert and hostage negotiator who, himself, becomes the victim of a kidnapping. I can't do the backstory justice, so I hope you will read the article and the chilling inspiration behind the book. As soon as I read the piece, I immediately put the book on my must-read list.

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

My latest read was a departure from what I had been reading. I love a good thriller and The Siege by Stephen White is an engrossing read that ranges the gamut of suspense caused by terrorism as the FBI, CIA, and local law enforcement fight the clock to save students-held-hostage on the Yale University campus.

It is a tense, engaging read. I hadn't read a thriller in a while but this one fit the bill. I highly recommend it!

xoxo,
bex

Friday Check-In

I got some great feedback from the awesome someone who recently read my book and while I am trying to revel in all the positive things she said about it I can't help but focus on the things she said that still need work. I would have never come to these conclusions on my own, so I am in complete awe and gratitude to her for sharing her precious insight.

So . . . this Friday instead of looking forward at the secret project I have been itching to start I am instead going to be taking a few steps back to try to make the last project a better book.

I get tired just thinking about it, but I am in it to win it so I am going to commit to doing the best I can to make this project shine.

Wish me luck!

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

What I'm currently reading is a memoir by Haruki Murakami entitled, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running.

Ironically, I am not a runner -- it is embarrassing to admit that it's not that I don't run, I actually can't run. I was on my high school track team, but I wasn't very good and, let's face it, whatever speed and nimbleness I may have at one time possessed evaporated a long time ago.

So why this book? My friend Jane shared a link to a podcast conducted by Creative Screenwriting Magazine that featured a group interview with all the Oscar nominated screenwriters from last month's Academy Awards. There is so much awesome insight to be gleaned from this interview and I hope you will listen to it.

One of the questions asked of the panelists had to do with books they had read that had helped them with their writing careers and this book, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, was one of the more unusual titles mentioned. So, of course, I had to run out and get it.

What about you? What books have helped you with advice for your writing career? Inquiring minds want to know!

xoxo,

bex

Not Only the Right Pieces, But the Right Puzzle

Right now it feels like someone dumped three very different jigsaw puzzles onto my playing surface and I am left to pick up the pieces, not only trying to figure out which pieces go to which puzzle, but which puzzle to focus on first. My brain is in a knot as I think and toy and tinker with these myriad pieces for my new book.

As much as it is a challenge, it is exciting, too, to start this new puzzle. This book feels very different for me, so I start, stop, retrace steps, and start again. I think this is telling me that I am still finding my way through the mismatched pieces.

I read a blog piece today by Diana Peterfreund that gives good advice on synopsis writing: write the synopsis before writing the book. This makes sense to me, even though I have yet to start any of my books with this level of detail. Still, since this book is a new experience for me I think it would be a good exercise to give the synopsis a try.

What about you? How do you start your writing process? Inquiring minds want to know!

xoxo,

bex