Oh hai y'all

Did I forget I had a writing blog again? Ehm... Maybe.

I'm working on NaNoWriMo right now and putting off doing the final edits of ONCE ETERNAL for just a few more weeks. I hope to start querying soon but editing comes first and editing is important. But hopefully soon.

In other news, got a bill today from my student loan people. I owe more than I thought. Might have hid it in my sock drawer after that. Note, I rarely wear socks, so chances are I will forget it in a few days. I picked my undergrad school because it was cheap and then I got the bright idea to get my MA.

Not so bright now, are you, Megan? Nooooope.

So until I finish NaNo and come back to you all perky, I'm going to leave you with this. Be inspired.

Halp me? AKA Editing.

So I have put off revising (for the most part - it's out with beta readers at the moment so we'll see) An Absence of Light at the moment and focused on Once Eternal (well, I call it Eternity, but seeing as how there are 500 books with that same name, that might be an issue). I'm currently at 50K roughly, and I am plotting about 85-90K. I'm not a fan of massive books or small books, I like just right books, and 90K for me is just right. I've outlined and plotted and am stampeding towards the end. But I am going to take a break from the regularly scheduled programming of gifs and rambling to talk about my number one villain, editing.

Yes, editing, that dreaded word that most authors fear. I am no exception. Having to butcher apart things I love is hard. Imagine if you had to kill your dog and reanimate it as Super Fido. Well, that's a weird idea, but it's not entirely too far off I think.

My process:

1.) Reread. If I immediately see something egregious, such as typos or grammar, I correct it. This is always my first sweep.

2.) Do I overuse words? Okay, time to cut and pull out the trusty thesaurus. On edit two, I also look at my prose, my metaphors, similes - do they make sense? Are they worth the space they're taking up? If not, out they go.

3.) Read other stuff. I need a break. Also, I use this time to apply for jobs and cry over my student loan debt. But this only serves to be a good catalyst to go onto...

4.) Does this even make sense? When in doubt, ask your beta readers. In fact, I'm kind of looking for some at the moment. A critique partner would be LOVERLY. And not one that also shares the BFF role in my life.

5.) Breathe. We're not there yet. This step is critical to any success. If you do not breathe, you will die, and then who will finish this?

6.) Edit some more! Editing is only done when you look at your baby and see Super Fido. If you see dead Fido, then you might need some help. Call Dr. Frankenstein immediately and have a word. This is a good chance to ask your beta readers again for advice.

And finally...

7.) Query time. Hopefully I will get my act together and actually press submit soon on Light. It's almost ready to go. I just need to get some feedback and then I'll send it off into the world.

Okay, I'm probably not the person to ask when it comes to editing. I've been known to whine and moan to my friends on AIM or stay up until 4 AM procrastinating on Tumblr. But please, share with me your secrets to success! I want to know!

Getting To Know You....

I'm a little...hyper this morning, so how about a few fun facts about me so you can get to know me?

1.) Chris Hemsworth. LOVE HIM.



MORE PLEASE. Okay, yeah, I just wanted to post that GIF.

2.) Weirdest celebrity encounter - Jonah Hill. I stood next to him for five minutes on a New York City sidewalk while we both argued on our phones and I didn't realize who he was until some guys asked him if he was in Superbad. I mean, I'm not a fan, but I would have at least gotten a picture!

3.) I have a Masters Degree in International Relations. I have yet to use it.

4.) I'm 24.

5.) I took my roommate to see a Broadway play and she ended up having a ten minute chat with Kenneth Cole while wearing sweatpants and Ugg boots. At the same event, I almost grabbed Lee Pace and took him home with me. I have no regrets.

6.) I was a creative writing major for two years until my hatred of 18th Century poetry convinced me to switch to political science. I have no regrets about this, either.

7.) I lived in Japan for four months in college while studying abroad.

8.) My favorite TV channel is Bravo. I love Tabatha's Salon Takeover and Millionaire Matchmaker and the Bravo episodes of Project Runway. And Work of Art, I loved that.

9.) I am a big fan of the Carolina Hurricanes and last season was my 10 year anniversary of my first NHL game. This year will be the 10th anniversary of my first playoffs!

10.) And finally, my favorite TV show ever was Farscape. Favorite movie is Aliens. Favorite book is Brave New World. Do you see a theme here?

And that's it! Now I'm sleepy and want a nap.

Megan...likes music? Duh.

I thought today that I would discuss something actually related to the writing process instead of bogging you down with the details of woe is me, woe is me, can't find work, live with my parents, cat is an idiot, etc. Since I honestly can't tell you how to write a masterpiece (they've been hiding that secret from me sadly - if you find it, please let me know), I thought, well, why don't I talk to you, my friends, about music and writing?

Okay, yeah, you're probably thinking this right now...



But stay with me!

Music has the power to inspire, to encourage, to make your brain boil and explode into slimy confetti. For writing, it can be a tool or a problem. I only listen to music sometimes when I write (most of the time I admittedly watch television - most of my new YA manuscript so far, code name ONCE ETERNAL, was written while watching Parks and Recreation), but finding the right music is important. I tried writing an action sequence while listening to Bon Iver and I felt as if my character wanted to make out with the bad guys instead of ripping them a new one.

My story so far has been somewhat dark, but at the same time meant to give a feeling of starkness, disbelief, and an unusual sensation. It takes place in the afterlife, so yeah, but not heaven - not really. As the story progresses, it gets darker, moodier, and you begin to realize that the clean, perfect veneer is host to a great deal of turmoil beneath the surface.

So of course my music has shifted. I went from listening to Bon Iver wailing at me to Hybrid to Kosheen to *insert vaguely known British electronic group* back to Hybrid and randomly to Lordi. I don't really know where Lordi came from, I think it was because I have a poster of Finnish NHL players above my desk and their eyes told me that I had to listen to Finnish hard rock. I don't mind.

Randomly, though, The Fifth Element soundtrack has also been on my play list.



As the story changed, so does my music. I don't know if this is the case for all writers, but I like to create playlists dependent on the mood and feeling of what each scene is that I write.

Okay, yes, I'm sorry, I know you all just did this while reading my nonsensical rambling.



And in a writing update, I am at 31,200 words in less than two weeks. My two week anniversary will be on Thursday, but since I'll be at the beach on Thursday boiling in the sun and developing skin cancer, I need to push forward.

I hope this at least enlightened you about what my mind craves when I write. Once I finish the manuscript, I think I'll post an official play list so you can all download some inspiration-starting tunes.

Now, to pack my beach bag!