Perspective on Writing

So my baby just turned 3 months, and she's growing up way too fast.  I have enjoyed this baby so much more than my other kids at this age.  And while this sounds like a horrible thing to say, here's why.  With my other kids I was always worried and stressed out, like all other new moms.  Is my baby sleeping enough?  Is she getting enough tummy time?  How many ways will I ruin my child's life forever today?  Why did I do this?  I'm not good at this.

But with this baby I have perspective.  I know how fast these quiet moments turn into road trips to soccer tournaments or violin lessons.  I know how quickly the cute baby coos turn into a child telling me I'm not the boss of her.  So I'm enjoying every single moment because I know this is my last baby.

I've come to realize that I need to have this same perspective when I'm writing.  I often find myself saying the same things about writing.  Why am I doing this?  I'm not good at this.  This is too hard.  Sara Zarr once told me to appreciate and enjoy the time before you're published because it's the time when you are truly writing for yourself.  So even though I am struggling with the story arc of my book right now,  I'm trying to maintain perspective and enjoy writing without deadlines and bad reviews...because now that the baby is here, and I am not returning to my "real" job, I would actually like to get published.  And that's a scary thing.

Notes Parents Hope Not to Receive From Their Kids

I almost forgot to blog today, but Showcase Friday can't be missed.  So I present to you a note parents never want to receive.  And, of course, it's written by Maile.

And the Winner is . . .

And the winner of Everneath is . . . Gaylene!  Just send me your mailing address through an email or Facebook and let me know who you want the book signed for.

So Brodi's launch party was last night, and it was amazing! There were so many people that the only picture I could get was one of her right hip.  I decided not to post it.  The SIX came dressed in our Dead Elvises t-shirts, red hair extensions, and I even wore an eyebrow piercing.  Unfortunately the piercing wasn't real, but I did get a lot of extra long stares. Brodi was awesome, and I can only hope I have a fraction of the people that were there show up to my first signing.  At least my parents should be there, so the room won't be totally empty.

Anyway, it's writing day, and after an extensive discussion, Christian and I are still knee-deep trying to figure out what revisions need to be made.  Essentially we have realized that we need to destroy our current version and start all over.  But I'm slogging through despite a  baby who doesn't like to sleep and has decided she doesn't like to take a bottle.

I'm grumpy.

Okay, back to revisions.  Congratulations, Gaylene!

Happy Boxing Day

So last week was my birthday, which I generally try to forget, but it was a very good day with friends and family.  The kids, however, had no clue what day it was, and after school I took them grocery shopping.

Maile: Can we please go look at the birthday cakes?
Me: Sure.
Maile: Man, I really wish it was somebody's birthday today.
Me: Um, guess what today is?
Maile (very excited because she thinks she has an excuse to buy cake): Uncle Mitch's birthday?
Me: No, that was yesterday.
Kea (very excited because she thinks she knows the right answer): Boxing Day?
Me: What?

Kea: It's a real holiday in Canada.
Me: I know it's a holiday, but it's MY birthday today.
Kea: Oh. Happy birthday.
Maile: So do we get cake?

Unfortunately we never really need an excuse to have cake because that's how we roll.  Anyway, don't forget that I will be rolling at Brodi Ashton's signing tomorrow at the King's English at 7:00 pm.  AND don't forget to enter to win a signed copy of Everneath.  Contest ends today at midnight!

Spoiled Children

First, don't forget to enter to win a signed copy of Everneath by Brodi Ashton.  Click here to enter.

And second, for Showcase Friday, I bring you a note written by Maile.  Before the baby was born, Maile was saying how she hoped the baby wouldn't turn out to be a spoiled brat.  Then she paused for some inner reflection, and this is what resulted.

 

Win a Copy of Everneath by Brodi Ashton

And the countdown to Everneath by BFF Brodi Ashton begins.  Her signing is at The King's English on Tuesday, January 24 at 7:00 p.m.  I absolutely LOVE this book, and so will you.  To get everyone excited, here's a hint of the storyline:

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

So in anticipation of the event, I'm running a contest so you can have a chance at winning a signed copy of the book.  Here's how to enter:

1) Follow the blog by hitting that little button on the right that says "Join this Site"
2) Follow me on Twitter (@valynnemaetani)

You get an entry for each so let me know by leaving a comment once you have done either one or both.  If you're already a follower, just let me know in a comment, so I know that you want to enter the contest.  Unfortunately the contest is limited to U.S. residents.  Contest ends Monday, January 23, 2012 at midnight, and the winner will be announced on Wednesday, January 25.

Who doesn't love to win free books?  Let the games begin!

The Misbehaving Sea Person

Maile continues her pursuit of publication from Harlequin.  So for Showcase Friday, I give you her latest work in progress.

It's Good to be a Writer . . . Sometimes

Wednesday is my official writing day with The SIX.  Here's what I love about being a writer: I get to read books before they even come out.  A few weeks ago I finished The Savage Grace by Bree Despain.  It's the final book in the Dark Divine Trilogy.  I know, you're all jealous.  And you should be because it's awesome.

And yesterday I finished reading the sequel to Everneath by Brodi Ashton.  Loved it.  Everneath, by the way, comes out Jan. 24 and I will be giving a copy away on the blog so watch for details.

So here's what I'm working on right now.  It's actually a collaboration with writer friend Christian Heidicker, who is an extremely talented writer.  The book is young adult and alternates perspective between a male and female character.  And it's really funny....at least I hope it is.  Writing humorous fiction is always difficult because sometimes what you write is only funny to you.  I often find that I am the only one laughing at my own jokes, so it may be a book that only our mothers love.  It's been fun to work on.

But here are the questions I often get:
1) Isn't hard to write with someone else? 
2) How do you handle disagreements?
3) What does your husband think of your working with another guy?

So I thought I would answer them in case you are all wondering the same things.
1) Isn't hard to write with someone else? 
It's actually really easy, as long as you pick the write person.  You never get writer's block because you have someone to work through the problems with you.  And when you don't feel like doing revisions, you can yell "not it" first and be exempt.


2) How do you handle disagreements?
We handle it the old fashioned way: with our fists.  I always win.


3) What does your husband think of your working with another guy?
I think he actually likes the fact that there is someone else who has to put up with my craziness.  It gives hubby a nice break.

The book is done, but it needs some major revising.  Hopefully we can have everything ready to go by June.  In the meantime, if you want to see me, I'll be at a signing tonight at The King's English for Marissa Meyer's book Cinder.
 

Dumbbells Really are Dumb

I'm really questioning my resolutions right now.  Like in order to lose the rest of this baby weight and then some, I might actually have to muster enough energy to open the box of weights I bought last year at this time. They're just sitting on my floor, content to be ignored.

Obviously there was a perfectly good reason I didn't take them out of the box.  I mean, once you take something out of the original package, it loses value.  And I'm pretty sure 2011 was a vintage year for weights.

Anyone else already lost their resolve to keep resolutions?

Notes to Santa

Yep, I'm bringing back Showcase Friday, or maybe it's more accurate to say that I'm continuing it after a long absence.  In reality, it's a quick way for me to do a blog post and get back to writing my book.  Either way, I present to you a couple of notes to Santa, written by Maile.

The first note was a simple question.

 But the answer confused her.

Ultimately she decided he had to be real if he was writing back to her. Thus,

Then she won him over with the picture of a Nintendo DS, and now they are BFFs.