Show n Tell. Oh, contests and blogfest.

Show vs. Tell. I thought about this yesterday because my daughter had show n tell at her school this past week.
A few of you have posted on this recently too. I'm learning how to show vs. tell. I think I'm getting there--my CPs say so. I write in first person so this is crucial to my writing. It definately makes a difference. Drawing the reader in, making your characters real.

I tried to remember that lovely classroom lesson of show n tell.

You show what you will tell about.

You stand up in front of the class.

Shaking slightly.

A cough comes from the back row.

Your heart thumps in your ear as dozens of sparkling eyes lay upon you.

Waiting.

You hold up the floppy stuffed animal like a trophy.

Then after the kids eww and ahh about it ...you tell. This is my dog spot. He has white and black fuzzy fur. He can bark. He also needs a bath because he smells funny. My brother tries to eat him and says he tastes like plastic. I love my dog, he's my best friend.

What happens when you show it? You the owner hold it up to the class letting them see the object (let's say the stuffed dog). The class will observe- noting the texture (touch), color, sound (if it barks in which it would require batteries), taste (some kids do this--just sayin') and smell. That's right the five senses. So how would you write this? 

A deep musty smell traveled up my nostrils as I rolled over. I pulled my best friend from under me.
"Good morning, Spot."
Squeezing my little companion, a plastic taste filled my mouth as a bunch of fur blanketed my tongue.
Wiping the hair from my tongue, I cringed. "Yuck. blah."
"You bad dog you." Spot stared back leaving no expression but let out a light bark.
"Oh no. Mom needs to change your batteries." I scratched the scruffy fur behind his ear.
"Mom! I need new batteries for Spot," I yelled.
My mom opened my door. "You don't have to yell, sweetie. I'll check and see if we have any." She gently picked up the fuzzy beast. "I'll also have to throw Spot in the laundry. His white fur almost matches his black spots."

I'm sure this isn't the best example. Probably pretty crude and my little kid sounds a little more adult. I guess that's why I write YA. Forgive me if I made a mistake.  I also put it in a different setting--again I'm not a certified teacher but I hope you get the idea.

Please check out these posts on showing and telling as well as dealing with writing senses.

 Erica Mitchell Spickard -about writing about the senses.

This fantastic post by the lovely Lola Sharp. I think she explains this much better than I did. Please check it out!!

Contests:
 Karen G is having a contest. Ends June 1st. Pay it Forward contest. Really cool.

B. Miller is having a Pay it Forward contest ending June 1st. Actually, she started it.  Go check it out--it's awesome.

Christi Goddard-106 followers contest. Write a 500 word story and you can win an awesome prize. Ends June 15th.

Frankie at Frankie Writes-Having a 500 follower contest. Lots of signed books. If you go there tell her I sent you. Ends June 6th.

Blogfest:
Michelle Gregory is holding a blogfest July 1st. The Share your Darlings Blogfest. Check it out!
Have a great day! Have a great Memorial Day!

Warrant

I'm posting a warrant for the following words.  If you see any of these words in my manuscript please contact me right away. They're quite dangerous and can severly damage your baby.

Was

Quickly

Slowly

These words have taken over my brain when writing and made my fingers type their sexy little letters. They seduce by buying you a drink, sweet talking in your ear and then they go in for the kill.

My CPs have had enough of you so get out of my WiP.

Now.

My one CP caught 'was' invading a sentance three times.

Oh and don't send 'just' over to try and talk to me. 

I have to go and quickly eat my breakfast because my brain is slowly going back to sleep. I was going to write. I just need to get some sleep. ARGGH! Blasted words.

If you didn't catch yesterday's post go here. Have a great weekend!

Blogs provide crazy motivation.

My blog. I have said this before--I never realized what I was getting myself into. I really thought it would help me with 'getting my name out there.' Not that I'm some amazing writer that will be published tomorrow (I can dream). I thought it was something to just get recognized. I also didn't know how much I could contribute. I'm by no means an expert but I gave it a shot.

I didn't realize the amazing people I would meet --along with how much I would learn (I'm still learning). It has been an incredible journey to date. The feedback I get for what I write is priceless, good and bad. The support is something I could have never imagined.

The blog is all of these things as well as addicting. It's a time sucker but worth it in the long run.  It's finding the balance between the blog (and other addictions via internet) and writing that can be the most difficult. I think I'm finally getting there.

So why is she babbling like she always does? About nothing? She just rambles on and on about the same thing. I hope tomorrow to have something new but I have received an award I have not seen. Maybe you have but I have not.

The Journey Support Award.  I received this from Erica Mitchell Spickard. Thanks Erica, you are super sweet and this means a lot. (Oh and go VOTE for me in her contest). ;)

I think we all need support on our crazy writing paths. I never knew how emotional this journey could be and there will only be more emotion. It never ends--I know.

***So, I would love to give this to all of you. You have supported me this far and I will keep supporting you. Give it to someone who has given you super support on your journey. 

I do want to mention some people who have meant a lot to me on my journey so far.

Kelly Lyman

Crystal Cook

Summer

Jen

Jon

Michelle Gregory

Jody Hedlund

Stephen Tremp

Shannon O' Donnell

Elana Johnson

Lisa and Laura

Nisa

Roni

Nicole Duclerior

Carolina (Carol's Prints)

Tina Lynn

Roxy

Karen G

E. Elle

Kimberly Franklin

Abby Annis

Talli Roland

Amie McCracken

Theresa Milstein

Anne (Piedmont Writer)

Christine H 

Susan Fields

SarahJayne Smyth

Shelley Sly

Stina Lindenblatt

Christi Goddard

Sandy Shin

The Alliterative Allomorph

Sorry for the long list which made this post super long. It's also a lot of links. I really want to list all of you. You all have been an inspiration and have motivated me to press on. Thanks to all of you who keep me going. I hope I provide the same support.

Update--Yesterday I did make some progress on my revisions--yeah. I only got one chapter done but hey it's progress. I skipped my chapter 5 moved on to chapter 6 and wa la chapter 6 is finished ---for now.

Whew! with that said --Have a great day and Happy writing!

Awards and a contest.

I recevied some lovely awards over the past few days.

Stina gave me the One Lovely Blog Award. Thank you Stina you are so sweet.

I will pass this on to:

Alexandra Crocodile

Alesa Warcan

Tina Lynn

Melissa J. Cunningham

Laurel's Leaves

Thanks to the amazing Nicole for the Blogger Buddy Award. She just rocks.

I would like to pass this on to:

Erica Spickard

Lola Sharp

The Southern Princess

Elliot Grace

Roland D Yeomans

Alex J. Cavanaugh

Contest : Go to the fabulous Kimberly Franklin's blog for an awesome contest.  Ends May 30th.

There you have it. It's a short one today. I have to get to revisions. They are killing me.

Have a great day!

Which road will you take?

Most of my life I have been a quiet, shy girl. I never wondered why things happen they just did and I thought I would grow up, get married, have a couple of kids, maybe work a little and live life--like my mom. Not that there is anything wrong with my mom's life. I thought --"that's what I should do." I went to college for something I thought I loved but really I just like it and it gets me by.

 But why did I think this? I realize now that it's not me.

My best friend stresses that everything happens for a reason. Whether good or bad--it happens and you may or may not know right away-- why.

I sort of believed her but it wasn't until recently that I really believed her.

Last year, I started my current WiP. Why did I start it then? Why not 11 years ago when I started doodling ideas down on paper just to get them out of my head?

Beacuse I wasn't ready.

It took me 11 years to gain confidence, take criticism, and be the person I am now. There are some days, I wish I figured out how much I loved writing and went to college for something writing related. Would I be farther than I am now? I don't know.

I feel like my age (o.k. I'll tell ya 36) is part of it. Approaching 40 makes me feel sick at times --I have a fear of getting old. Yes, I know weird--right? Don't we all have this feeling? :) It made me look back and think of how stupid I was but showed me why my life took the path it did. I had many opportunites that would have sent me on a detour--on a different path but I refused to take them. Why? Sometimes I wonder where I would be today if I did. Would I be in a better position in the writing world? Instead of trying to gain the respect of other writers and working extra hard to make my writing better--would I already be there? Would I already be published?

Then I looked hard and really looked at certain pieces of my life--- I see why things happened.  I went college for interior design so I could gain confidence in myself, to be more outgoing and learn how to market myself.

Having kids has made me a little more patient--just a little. They provide me with love and the motivation to write. I want to show them that no matter what-- you can try to accomplish any goal no matter what age.

I married my hubby because he is a wonderful man and does push me to do what I believe in.

I also realize I don't want to live my life with regret. Like I have said before, I have a few but I must hurdle over them and move ahead. Regrets only slow you down.

I know that I'll write till the creativity that runs in my veins is drained. Till there is nothing left. (that's not including when Edward changes me into a vampire). :) Sorry I always have vampires on the brain. 

Ahem! I'll continue...and whether or not I get published (although I really, really want to one day. Who doesn't, right?)

There are many roads for our journey and you must be able to read the signs that are right for you. The signs that lead you to happiness.

Where is your road leading you?

Do you believe things happen for a reason?

How do you get over regrets?

What has made you realize that writing is your passion?

I don't have the secret formula on figuring this out. Hey, it has taken me 36 years to figure out this much.

Happy writing and have a great day!

Writing the Next Line recap.

I want to give a big congrats to Elana Johnson for getting a book deal. She is so awesome and sweet. So go over and give her a big congrats. **popping cork on champagne** Oh and eating chocolate. :)

Thanks to all of you who participated in this months Writing the Next Line. Great job guys! I will do it again next month. Check out how it turned out below. I will call this Broken Glass by Theresa Milstein, Piedmont Writer,Melissa J. Cunningham,  Jen, Tina Lynn, Bossy Betty,Alexandra Crocodile, Susan Fields,  The Alliterative Allomorph, Alesa Warcan.

Slamming the car door, I ran up the stairs two by two.

God! He's such a jerk!

"Lexi! Wait!" Jeff yelled.

"Why should I?" My angry words echoed.

I stopped on the top step fumbling through my bag, searching for my keys.

"What did you want me to say?"

"It's not what you said, it's what you didn't say," I hissed.

He slowly approached, taking one step at a time. "Lexi, come on. What I didn't say? What's that supposed to mean?!"

"You know what it means. Why do you have to act like a--"

"Like a what. Go ahead say it," he said squinting furiously.

"Like a ..."

The sound of breaking glass came from inside the house, cutting our argument short. My breathing ceased as I looked at my keys then to the door.

It was cracked open.
 
"Stay here," Jeff commanded.



I grabbed his arm before he left. "You're not going alone. You don't know who's in there or what you'll be facing."


Most of all, he didn't know my secret power.

"Here," I reached over and grabbed the clay pot of geraniums on the porch and dumped it out, "Take this."

He looked at me and rolled his eyes.

"What am I going to do with this?" He hissed.

"I don't know but it's all I've got." For now, I thought.

I unlock the door and Jeff sneaks through the opening. I follow, my hands on the small of his back, pushing him forward.

My heart races, filling with dread. I know what awaits but how do I tell Jeff? How can I share this dark secret?


The fear sets in but I remain quiet I don't want to be the one to tell Jeff but I also don't want him to see if for himself.


A low growl rumbles from behind the door leading to the kitchen. My heart drops to my feet, then crashes through the floor.


There I see it. I thought I would never see it again. Hadn't I dealt with this all before? Hadn't I buried it deep so I would never have to see it again? I walked over to it, there are on the kitchen floor. It was the...

... body. I was reminded of that silly scene in "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" where the body ends up in Harry's hotel room, and he calls the detective and says "they gave her back". That's just what they'd done to me now. They'd given her back.

"What the...?" Jeff asked.


"Cara," I whispered.


Jeff turned to me, eyes wide. "You know this person?"

"I'm afraid I do," I said to Jeff. "She's my sister."


"Your sister? I never knew you had a sister" Jeff looked bewildered.


"We haven't really had that much contact. She's been in isolation in the Sheffield lunatic asylum for years - with no visitors allowed."


"But... why is she dead? And why is she here?" Jeff asked.

"Um", I said, scratching an itch in my right ear. "I didn't think it'd come to this, Jeff. I really didn't. I'm so sorry."

"But what the heck is going on? You knew something like this was going to happen?"

"Er ... I ..."

"And what the hell am I doing still holding this clay pot of geraniums? Have you lost it?"

"Oh shush Jeff... Put the pot and look at this. I have a secret power I've never shown anyone."


I knelt by Cara and touched her forehead. "Fifteen minutes backwards ought to be enough."


Well there you go. What did you think?  Great job guys!
 I will do an awards post on Wednesday. Thanks to Stina and Nicole.

Have a great day!

Thanks Chimera!

Have you tried Chimera Critiques?

What is Chimera Critiques you ask? It is an amazing site where three incredibly talented, and experienced writers will critique a chapter of yours--for free.

Who are these lovely critiquers? Callie Forester, Zellie Blake, and Erica Spickard.  Did I mention they are awesome?

Here's how it works. This is a directly from their blog--"Every month, we accept two submissions from our slush pile for these free critiques. While we each have preferences, you are welcome to submit work from any genre."

So I submitted and they critiqued my first chapter. I received their critiques in about two weeks. Each one provided me with such helpful feedback. Yes, I was nervous as I always am when submitting for a critique but these gals made me feel quite comfortable and tension free. They are all very sweet.

Not only is this site for critiques but there are many helpful writing tips,interviews, forums with an array of topics, and fun stuff like writing exercises and contests.  They are having a contest right now!!!

The contest is giving a name to this little guy! Make sure you call him a guy. The Chimera is not feminine. Sorry Chimera, I was wrong.

I would highly recommend Chimera Critiques. Go check them out. I will be submitting another chapter soon.

Callie, Zellie and Erica thank you so much!


Monday, I will post the Writing the Next Line recap. So If you still want in on the action go here.

Have a great weekend!