Has anyone taken a class like this one? Was it good? Helpful? Completely overwhelming? I just stumbled across it tonight and I'm intrigued. Of course, there are only nine days until it starts (so I might not even get in) and it totally interrupts my "on a break until after Labor Day" thing. Still, I'm doing that crazy pondering.
I randomly decided to take a break from writing for the rest of August. Okay, it wasn't a random decision. It was very well-thought out. My brain is exhausted, I'm discouraged, and I need to recharge.
At first, I was like, But what am I going to do with myself?
You see, I only work three days a week for a total of 20 hours at my part-time job. I have many, many hours left which are usually spent writing (or feeling guilty for not writing).
It turns out that I needn't have worried. I've only been on this so-called break since August 10th. During this time I've already read seven books!
1. Inexcusable / Chris Lynch. 2. Life, love, and the pursuit of hotties / Katie Maxwell. 3. Girl, 15, charming but insane / Sue Limb. 4. Smack / Melvin Burgess. 5. The lovely bones : a novel / Alice Sebold. 6. Girl, (nearly) 16, absolute torture / Sue Limb. 7. Someone Like You / Sarah Dessen.
Actually, come to think of it, that is a little worrysome. My husband and I tried to go to a movie this evening, but we ended up just picking up more library books, grabbing dinner at Subway, and coming back home. (Oh, and I made milkshakes, which were yummy.) I'm almost dizzy from the EXTREME laziness.
I may have to put myself on reading restriction...
How to Write a Novel: 1. Give up your social life. 2. Turn your husband down when he wants to make plans. 3. Don't leave the house! 4. Don't leave your desk!
It's working so far. I'm actually piecing some of this rough draft together. And I'm liking what I have.
This is the last time I try to write a novel in the months of July and August, I tell you what! It is too hard to stay cooped up like this.
In February of 2005, I thought of an idea for Novel #2. I was really, really excited about it, but I forbid myself from thinking about it. You see, I was in the middle of Novel #1 and I was determined to finish! I was finally able to get started on Novel #2 in January of 2006. I toiled for five months and got discouraged partway through. In the meantime, I came up with the idea for Novel #3. Since I was frustrated with Novel #2, I decided to take a break and go for Novel #3!
In that time, I wrote (by hand) a good portion of a first draft for Novel #3. I have only typed up three chapters so far. I am still interested in the story and the characters and working out how to make it better. But my mind is straying again. I am obsessed with my idea for Novel #4. It consumes my thoughts! It's all I want to be working on! I am so in love with it!
This is worrying. Dropping projects in favor of new ones is NOT a good way to finish anything! I'm not sure whether any good will come of this.
People say it is good to follow my inspiration and to work on the project that most excites me. But maybe it would be better to go back to my original strategy where I forced myself to finish one project before allowing myself to think of another.
It's almost August. I should have one full manuscript completed for the year by now. Instead, I have one abandoned half manuscript, one rough draft, and elaborate plans for yet another.
Introducing.... THE REALITY CHICK BUZZ THE BOOK contest!
The PRIZES:
(1) Your choice of either an iPod Shuffle, OR a fifty dollar Amazon.com gift certificate (2) An autographed copy of REALITY CHICK by Lauren Barnholdt (3) A copy of the August issue of Teen People, which lists REALITY CHICK as a Can't-Miss Pick for August (4) Free tuition to a session of Lauren's YA writing class
THE CONTEST:
STEP ONE: Simply copy and paste this whole message (including the info about the contest) into any blog, message board, email list, or myspace bulletin.
REALITY CHICK by Lauren Barnholdt is NOW IN STORES!
Going away to college means total independence and freedom. Unless of course your freshman year is taped and televised for all the world to watch. On uncensored cable.
Sweet and normal Ally Cavanaugh is one of five freshpeople shacking up on In the House, a reality show filmed on her college campus. (As if school isn't panic-inducing enough!) The cameras stalk her like paparazzi, but they also capture the fun that is new friends, old crushes, and learning to live on your own.
Sure, the camera adds ten pounds, but with the freshman fifteen a given anyway, who cares? Ally's got bigger issues -- like how her long-distance bf can watch her loopy late-night "episode" with a certain housemate...
Freshman year on film. It's outrageous. It's juicy. And like all good reality TV, it's impossible to turn off.
IN STORES NOW!
Check out Lauren on the web at www.laurenbarnholdt.com or on her myspace at www.myspace.com/laurenbarnholdt
STEP TWO -- Email Lauren at lauren (at) laurenbarnholdt.com and let her know you've posted about the contest and the book, and you'll be entered to win the prize pack! The winner will be picked at random on September 1st. The more places you post, the more entries you get. Have fun and good luck!!!
