Back From Hiatus... 4 Years Later... And Here We Go!

Ahem... Knock, knock... Anybody home...?

Hello again friends :)

It's been a VERY long time.  Far too long...

I'm having a hard time believing that my last post was in February, 4 years ago.  4 years ago guys...  

As a result, it seemed quite fitting to return in February too.  

I've truly MISSED all of you!!  And I will freely admit that I have silently creeped on most of you over the last few years.  Come on... could I really stay away? ;)

I'm sad to see some of you have stopped blogging, or taken a break (although I'm not one to talk ;)), yet ecstatic that so many of my other favorites are still going strong.  I will be around to visit each and every one of you over the coming weeks, I promise :)

I'm sorry for disappearing.  

It wasn't planned, nor was it expected.  Life took... an interesting turn, to say the least.  It's funny how people always say, "well, life got in the way"... I'm not sure I really understood what that meant until now.  Life does indeed get in the way.  Sometimes, life has other plans for you.. and suddenly, without warning, you find yourself on a completely unintended path, winding down an unfamiliar river, all the while hoping you emerge somewhere safe and dry.  

I've meant to return to blogging for quite some time now.  It feels like a part of me was missing the entire time I was away.  Yet I was struggling.  Struggling with where I was, what I wanted, where I was going....but mostly...how to make my life my own again... While I could see the end goal.. I couldn't quite reach it... couldn't quite touch it...

These last few years have been filled with change... with the unexpected... with loads of uncertainty at every turn, each corner met with an uncanny mixture of unprecedented endings, and hopeful new beginnings.

Sort of like some of my favorite books ;)

While so much has changed...in the grander scheme of things, it also seems like it all stayed the same.  I've grown, I've evolved, I've learned, I've loved, I've fallen apart.  I've felt like my very soul was being ripped out at times... But somehow...most of all... I'm still me... I'm still here.  

I will have some updates of my journey over the upcoming weeks, as well as a possible revamp of the blog.  

I'm still writing, I'm still hoping, I'm still dreaming.  

I hope you are too.

Now... your turn! Tell me, fill me in... I want to know everything!  How have you guys been?  What's new?  What's changed?  

Any one of you wonderful, amazing writers get signed while I was gone?  Do you have books out?  New series?  I hope you did, I hope you do and I can't wait to celebrate with you!

Love, 
WritingNut

Catch Fire Blog Party!

Alright guys... it's finally here... the long awaited and anticipated event!!

The CATCH FIRE BLOG PARTY!!

Alex, our very own Ninja Captain, is releasing the sequel to his incredible novel CassaStar.

I've known Alex for almost two years, and honestly, I can't say enough about him. Always ready to lend a helping hand or offer support in any way, Alex is one of the most down to earth, awesome, incredible bloggers/authors out there, and I am so honored to be able to share in his journey.

Please continue reading for more details, and don't forget to check out Alex's site... I PROMISE you, you will not be disappointed!

Today is the Catch Fire Blog Party, celebrating the release of CassaFire by Alex J. Cavanaugh! The goal is to help CassaFire “catch fire” on the best seller charts and achieve the success of the first book, CassaStar.

There’s also a special package of prizes being given away at the author’s blog (copies of CassaFire, CassaStar, tote bag, mug, and bookmarks) as well as book giveaways during his two-week blog tour (February 27 - March 9).

Check it out!!

See Alex’s site for additional details: http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/

CassaFire

by Alex J. Cavanaugh

CassaStar was just the beginning…

The Vindicarn War is a distant memory and Byron’s days of piloting Cosbolt fighters are over. He has kept the promise he made to his fallen mentor and friend - to probe space on an exploration vessel. Shuttle work is dull, but it’s a free and solitary existence. The senior officer is content with his life aboard the Rennather.

The detection of alien ruins sends the exploration ship to the distant planet of Tgren. If their scientists can decipher the language, they can unlock the secrets of this device. Is it a key to the Tgren’s civilization or a weapon of unimaginable power? Tensions mount as their new allies are suspicious of the Cassan’s technology and strange mental abilities.

To complicate matters, the Tgrens are showing signs of mental powers themselves; the strongest of which belongs to a pilot named Athee, a woman whose skills rival Byron’s unique abilities. Forced to train her mind and further develop her flying aptitude, he finds his patience strained. Add a reluctant friendship with a young scientist, and he feels invaded on every level. All Byron wanted was his privacy…

Available today!

Barnes and Noble

Amazon

Amazon Kindle

CassaFire is the sequel to Cavanaugh’s first book, CassaStar, an Amazon Top Ten Best Seller:

“…calls to mind the youthful focus of Robert Heinlein’s early military sf, as well as the excitement of space opera epitomized by the many Star Wars novels. Fast-paced military action and a youthful protagonist make this a good choice for both young adult and adult fans of space wars.” - Library Journal

Okay... are you still here? Why are you still here? Go get your copy of CassaFire today!!! :)

Insecure Writer's Support Group: OMG.. is it REALLY 2012?

So... uh... did anyone notice that 2012 just sort of snuck up on us? No? Is it just me?

Happy New Year guys!!!!

I think I may have officially won the award for worst blogger these last couple of months. I'm currently in the middle of a fantastic cold that I managed to get RIGHT before New Year's Eve... so it sort of delayed my return even more... *hides face in shame*

I was looking at last year's resolutions (naturally), and I realized I'd come down with the flu during the holiday season in 2010 as well. Weird, huh?

I don't think I'm going to make a list of resolutions this year... I'm terrible with them... but I will make just one though, and it's in honor of our monthly Insecure Writer's Support Group (which by the way, is an awesome way to start the new year and return to blogging - thanks Alex!).

And here it is:

BELIEVE

That's it.

(And it's so serendipitous how this theme seems to be EVERYWHERE lately ;) )

Sometimes this is the hardest part of being a writer... believing in yourself.

I know it's something I've struggled with tremendously in the past year. Some days have seemed beyond bleak, and I wondered what I was trying to prove. Why I continued to tread down this path when most of the time it seemed like I was getting nowhere.

It's not true. Every single process, every erased word, every daunting scene, every rewrite, every mistake made, every lesson learned... they move us forward.

So deep down, I know why I don't give up... even if I forget sometimes.

I love it.

Plain and simple. It makes me feel peace in this world of chaos. All the tiny pieces of my heart and soul that are tugged in a million different directions throughout each and every day all slip back into place when I look at that page.

I feel alive.

It reminds me of who I am, of my hopes and dreams... without writing, a piece of me is missing. A part of me goes dark and hollow and I never realize what is bothering me until I pick up that pen again.

And... because I DO believe in it... more than I have anything else.

I've been working on this book for 3 years now. 3 YEARS. I know the exact day I started it. It's been through several overhauls, and there are probably several more to come.

But I believe in it. I will keep believing in it. And I believe in each and every one of you. And I will keep believing in each and every one of you.

So there we have it... my resolution for this year... I'm going to believe in me and you, and all that we can do.

I wish everyone an awesome 2012... filled with oodles of agent requests and book deals and author signings. And here's hoping... no BELIEVing... that all of our dreams come true.

Because they will, guys. They will :)

What are your resolutions for the new year?

Will Be Back Soon

Hey Guys,

So sorry for my absence from the blogosphere. I shall be back in the next week or two. Just finishing up another round of revisions, and then things should go back to normal I hope.

I miss you guys! How is everyone doing?

Any of you participating in NaNo this year? How are those WiP's going?

Halloween Kisses

I've recently discovered these incredibly addictive molasses candies that I am totally and completely in love with.

Okay, re-discovered is more like it.

Do you know the ones I'm talking about? The toffee like pieces of candy that come individually wrapped in the orange, yellow and black paper? I used to get these in my Halloween bag all the time, and I remember sorting them out and putting them in the "not so great" pile.

How could they possibly compare to peanut butter cups or chocolatey covered nougat? But that never stopped me from unwrapping one or two, just for the heck of it (I mean, who was I to waste candy?).

A few days ago, I bit into one and it immediately took me back to my childhood. They're soft and gooey and chewy, and oh-so-good. And even though I saw absolutely no value in them back then, that one bite almost fifteen years later changed things.

Not only did they have value, but I actually chose to get them over the Mars Bars.

So, of course, one thing led to another, and you just know it got me thinking. A lot of the time we may write off a scene, chapter or entire novel, because it doesn't fit into our current goals and objectives. And I know the golden rule is to cut what doesn't work. Clean it up.

But then again, maybe it just doesn't work right now.

Save it. Come back to it. Maybe it will better fit somewhere else in your life... at a different point, in a different chapter... in a new story. Go through your shelved manuscripts, your long forgotten short stories. Who knows? You may just find a sweet treasure hidden within the pages.

So, my burning question.... what's your favorite Halloween candy? ;) AND, have you ever found ideas in an old MS or story that you could use now?

A Blank Page

As you guys know, I'm currently hacking my way through edits on my MS.

Right now, I'm staring at Chapter One, wondering how I can rework it.

Again.

I've already changed it three times. And to be honest, there is nothing more I can do.

It's time. To scrap the whole thing and start over.

With a blank page.

Let's face it. A blank page is scary. As a writer, it can be hard to find anything more intimidating than that empty white screen with the flashing cursor.

But there is also something refresing and reassuring about the blank page. Because in reality, it's hope in disguise, even though it seems to be dressed up for Halloween, ready to haunt you.

There are no limits. The prospects are endless. Instead of working with what you've got, you have the freedom to explore, to create, to venture outside the confinement of your scene or chapter.

It's a canvas of possibility.

Even when you're halfway through edits and your story is pretty much complete. Sometimes it's even better, because you already have your framework. You know where you want to go... Where you need to end up. You just need to remove yourself from the slush. Rehashing and overthinking your scene can become repetitive, stirring the same spot over and over until all you have is one big pile of messy scrambled eggs.

Set it aside. Open a new page. And see what you come up with. You might be surprised.

Have you guys ever reached the point where you need to edit your scenes/chapters by starting afresh? Do you find it easier than trying to make sense of what you've got when it's not working? What works for you?

Keep On Truckin'

A guy wrote this in my ninth grade yearbook. That's it. No "see you next year" or "it's been cool knowing you". Just "Keep on truckin'" scrawled above his name.

After that I heard the expression everywhere, and it used to drive me crazy. Who even says that?

It drifted back to my mind recently as I've been struggling through edits. This book is finished guys, but it's still not...right. I can feel it. I know it can be better. I know there's still lots of work to do.

One of the most difficult things in this process so far has been the following:

Looking at a swelling 100k MS, realizing I have to add at least 30k more and then cut 50k... well... it's pretty daunting.

No, I'm lying. It's downright scary. And this is when the book is still living in only my hands.

But I soldiered on. And I did it. But it's still not finished.

And it won't be finished until it's the best I can make it. I feel like that moment is just around the corner... I hope, but I won't know until I feel it.

Until then... I'll just keep on truckin'. I think I've finally learned to appreciate exactly what this means.

Don't give up.

Don't let go.

Don't stop fighting.

Stay with it.

This is your dream, and you deserve it. The hard work will pay off in the end. It always does.

Sooo... which part of this process have you found the most difficult? The easiest? Are you soldiering on... because you better be!

Have a great weekend guys :)

After Happily Ever After

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, they met and fell in love, and went off in search of great adventure and journeys of epic proportions, bested the beast, slayed the dragon, received her parents approval....

...and lived happily ever after.

But then what?

What happened after all that?

Did they have kids? Grandchildren? Did the evil stepsister come back to exact her revenge? Did his best friend ever become a rock star and buy the jet pack?

Yes, even though I'm short of breath following all the excitement that makes the story what it is... I still want to know.

A part of it may be that I grow so strongly attached to the characters. They become my friends... I care about them, I care about their lives. I want to see them twenty years later... see for myself that not only are they doing well, but that they've succeeded.

Different from a sequel, or a series (although we WILL get into that another day), it's the after that you continue to ponder even when you've been rest assured that everything turned out okay.

Life doesn't just stop at happily ever after, does it?

I do understand the other side of the coin though--sometimes endings are best left exactly where they are. Trying to return to something twenty years later and re-create the same mood often fails. It's always better to end on a high note.

But gosh darn it, I still want to know.

I guess this is why I write... so I can make up my own "after happily ever afters" ;)

Are you guys okay with the happy/satisfying endings you're given? Do you ever wonder what happens to your favorite characters after? Am I the only crazy one who cares to know?

Pay It Forward Blogfest

Happy Friday Everyone!

Today I am participating in my first ever official blogfest. Yuppers, the incredible brainchild of Matthew and Alex... The Pay it Forward Blogfest! As a general (insane) rule, I never take part in these things, but this is a great initiative, and I couldn't resist.

And guys.. blogfests are FUN... like the "jump out of your seat, run down the street hollering at the top of your lungs fun"... it's fantastic to visit a variety of blogs and read everyone's take on things.

So the name of the game is to get us meeting people, and connecting and making new friends and all that wonderful stuff. All participants must list three awesome blogs they read and think others would also be interested in.

Kapeesh?

Sooooo... without further ado... blogroll please!

1. Theresa's Tales of Teaching Tribulations and Typing Teen Texts - Theresa never fails to amaze me with her down-to-earth, inspirational posts. Always relatable, always spot on and always thought provoking.

2. Words and Such - I've known Kenda for quite some time, and I can always count on her for beautiful, creative posts that just make my day.

3. Claudia Del Balso, Writer - Claudia is a power house of stellar advice and helpful tips for new and aspiring writers. She has published nine short stories and writes for an online magazine.

Please check out these blogs if you have time. No time? Bookmark them and come back to them later... I promise you, you won't be disappointed! :)

What is everyone up to this weekend?

A Dark and Stormy Night

It's pouring rain outside today. The skies are dark and gloomy... there's a definite chill in the air.

I'm sitting in a familiar foreign place, surrounded by what I don't know, and what I dream about everyday.

Half the time I don't even make sense to myself, let alone anyone else.

Today I am broken. Small pieces. Fragments of what I normally am.

It sounds bad, right? Surprisingly, it's not.

Sometimes I find it the best place to be. It's the place where you reflect, where the thought process takes on a life of its own. Where the words transform on the page... they become more than just words. They hold a deeper meaning.

So what should you do? Use it to your advantage!

Take that dark mood and those swirling emotions and write. Sure, it's the opposite of happy, but it's still beneficial. Just in a different way.

I do some of my best writing in this place. Maybe it's where I do most of my soul searching.

This is also the best place to write those particularly difficult scenes--you know the ones, right? The ones that tear at your heart, and stump your fingers. The ones you have to erase and re-do over and over. The ones that are so hard to get right because they need to be conveyed just so.

Sometimes all it takes is a dark and stormy night...

What about you guys? Does the mood you're in affect your ability to write? Do you find it easier to write gloomier or difficult scenes when you're also in a likewise mood?