Las Vegas Trip

One of my sisters got married in the Las Vegas this week. A whole bunch of us flew out for the event.  (I think there were 22 wedding guests total.)

Here are just a few pictures of the going ons.  Their clothes should help you spot the bride and groom, and my other sister is the one not wearing a white dress.  The part that might throw you off is the three year old.  She doesn't belong to me or to my husband, even though we are both photographed with her.  She belongs to that same sister not wearing the wedding dress. 

Oh, and the champagne and strawberries were a "Welcome to Las Vegas/Congrats on your book deal!" gift from an online friend whom Dwayne and I met up with while in town.  Such a sweet gesture!

Overall, it was a very busy trip.  There was lots of good fun, a certain amount of drama, some exhaustion, but also some relaxation.  I really liked staying at Mandalay Bay and hanging out at the Mandalay Beach!

By the way, my book has a title.

This is kind of funny.

For the past few months, I've been calling my book ridiculous things like, "That One Book That Sold to Pulse That Has No Title."

Today, I learned that, um, it does have a title, and has had for about five weeks!

Me not knowing the title occurred because of hilarious high jinx-y-ness where nobody called it by name to me (until today!), everyone thought someone else had already let me know (which made perfect sense under the Circumstances, actually), and I hadn't asked because I assumed we were all growing weary of talking about it.

So, LOLs and YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYs and *jumping* and *dancing* all that stuff.

MY BOOK HAS A TITLE!  And it was my favorite from the latest brainstorming session!

FREEFALL

by

Mindi Scott

It's true: Sometimes the Goodreads numbering system doesn't suit your purpose.

John Green posted last month about book reviews and discussed whether how much one likes a book is the best determination of whether a book is good.

On Goodreads, how much one likes a book is precisely what one is meant to evaluate.  And for some books, in some situations, maybe that isn't the best test. 

There's a book I read not too long ago, which I discussed with at lunch the other day.  I have complaints about the style, think the pacing could have been improved, and find the premise and almost every character in the book beyond vile. 

But I'm torn.  I can't decide whether to give it one star or five stars on Goodreads.

1 star = I didn't like it 
5 stars = It was amazing

The definition of "amazing" according to dictionary.com is "causing great surprise or sudden wonder." 

And, well, that is pretty indicative of how I feel about this book (not, I hasten to add, in a good way).  And also?  I didn't like it.

So, you see, somehow both of these ratings options are similtaneously true about my feelings for this book.  I didn't care for it.  I even loathed parts of it.  And, yet, it has stuck with me.  It has given me a lot to consider, not only as a writer, but as, you know, a woman/USian/human. 

This book that I don't like has broadened my perspective.  Pretty amazing, huh?

(Yes, yes.  I know that I could stop being lazy and write actual reviews to explain my choice of numbers.  But even doing that wouldn't help me with my dilemma of which number describes how I feel the most toward this book.)

How to use the number ratings on Goodreads.

(This is the first in what might become a collection of posts where I yammer on about Goodreads.  The good and bad of it as I see it.)


I notice a lot of this on Goodreads:  "I wish I could have given this [x] and a half stars."

Um, people?  That makes no KOMO 4'ing sense.

Goodreads doesn't leave room for interpretation.  That's one of the things I like about it.

1 = I didn't like it.
2 = It was okay.
3 = I liked it.
4 = I really liked it.
5 = It was amazing.

What would a half a rating even look like?  Especially a 3.5?  "I was exactly halfway between liking it and really liking it"?

WHAT.

Sometimes, I find myself wanting to respond to every comment about the desire for half ratings, asking them to elaborate on what it would really mean for them.  I did it once.  Not, like, in a rude way or anything.  I was friendly.  But I think it would be cool if people would understand and use the rating system the way Goodreads was set up, you know?  FOR CONSISTENCY'S SAKE.

Oh, oh, oh. Wish I were revising...

My first ever publishing deadline is exactly two weeks from today.  September 30th.  That's the day, according to my contract, when I'm supposed to turn in my revised manuscript.

I. Still. Don't. Have. My. Revision. Notes.

My agent says it's okay.  I don't have to worry.  My delivery date is "very soft" and my editor is going to give me all the time I need because the hold up here has everything to do with what's going on with her schedule and nothing to do with me. 

Still, secretly (well, not anymore), I've been hoping to beat the deadline.  I wanted to, like, work like crazy, be up all hours, go mad with writerly passion, completely rock my revisions, and get the finished product sent back perhaps mere hours before it was due.

As the days go on, that scenario is becoming less and less realistic.  I'm covering for a coworker's vacation this week.  Then I'm running my second ever 5K race on Saturday.  Then I'm flying to Vegas for my sister's wedding for three days.  Then I'm coming back to work next Wednesday to try to catch up on my own work stuff as well as cover for a coworker's jury duty. 

Every time I look at the calendar, I mentally plan the moments when revising could still take place.  Every time I see that I have a new email, my heartrate speeds up and I think, Are the notes here?  Are they here yet??????

This is my life right now.