Jon's Life. Or Other Odd People Doing Odd Things.

Coming Soon to Jon's Life.

2012-01-30T16:21:00.000-05:00

Blog Chain: Pieces of Me

2012-01-28T07:00:00.000-05:00

This next blog chain ROCKS and was started by Kate. She says:

Post pictures, songs, movie clips, poems, or novel excerpts that make you feel. Feel what, you ask? Feel anything. Happy. Sad. Angry. Nostalgic. Hopeful. Hopeless. Jealous. Joyful.

I have read in several different places that YA novelist John Green said of his latest novel, The Fault In Our Stars that he wants to make his readers "Feel All The Things." I would love that someone could go through this blog chain and through what we all choose to post have that same Feel All The Things feeling.

So, as you can see I am excited about this since I tend to frequently post random shit for your viewing pleasure. I usually do music videos because that's the closest thing to representing myself. Today, I am going to post only one, I repeat, ONE music video, and several other trinkety tidbits. Enjoy!

Happy: (for those concerned: video has an f-bomb)

the most beautiful song ever made.........................

Sad:

Angry:

Nostalgic:

Hopeful:

"Editing the Chrysalis" by Avis Harley

"At last," cried Butterfly.

Poised
Over its

Empty chrysalis,

"My final draft!"

And my tattoo:

Hopeless:

;)

Jealous:

Joyful:

& this pic of me

-----------------------

So...do you get a sense of what makes me Happy. Sad. Angry. Nostalgic. Hopeful. Hopeless. Jealous. Joyful.?

This has been the very best blog chain! I recommend you check out the previous intimate posts, starting with Margie's post* from yesterday. Tomorrow, check out Christine's** conclusion to this chain.

* http://margiewrites.com/blog

** http://christinefonseca.blogspot.com/

(I'm having link issues!)

A Heads Up

2012-01-27T11:50:00.002-05:00

Hey! Tomorrow is my turn on the blog chain. I am freaking excited to share my post with you.

I hope you'll come see me here tomorrow!

And I have a blog announcement Monday that will detail the direction in which I plan to head with Jon's Life.

A New Semester

2012-01-11T15:20:00.000-05:00

I never really followed up on telling you how last semester ended.

IT EFFING SUCKED.

But this next semester will rock. Or rather, I will rock this new semester.

Mhm.

Children's Lit.

Creative Writing.

That says it all.

Blog Chain: Welcome to the Home of the Dimwits

2012-01-03T21:15:00.003-05:00

I'm the head of the household at the Dimwits. I forgot that I to start the new blog chain today!! Ugh.

I hope you enjoyed the holidays. I sure did!

My topic (which is one of my favorite writing exercises):

Imagine the home(s) where you grew up, and start drawing a floor plan. As you draw, memories will surface. Grab onto one of those memories and tell us a story.

At five, my bedroom was in the basement of a 3,500 square foot ranch home. I miss that house. I shared my room with my older brother, Joey. Built in the mid-1970's, the finished basement featured flooring of brown carpet, red faux-brick wallpaper, and a wall covering that resembled corkboard.

One night, Joey stayed over at a friend's house and I was left to sleep alone in our room. I have never done so before. I was scared shitless.

I knew monsters of all kinds lived throughout the basement, but my brother always kept them at bay with his nasty smelling farts. This particular night was hot and I was burning to death in my red TMNT footy pajamas. I was most afraid the man living behind the corkboard would come and get me.

Deep in the night, I awoke to a noise. A cold sweat oozed across my body and my feet cold not breathe. Suddenly, I realized my eyes were crusted over and I could not open them. I started scraping at them, but it hurt, so I stopped. Then it hit me: the man from behind the corkboard had fused my eyes shut using the broken bits of cork that covered the floor (I knew I should have vacuumed those up!)

I did not scream and I could not cry because of the crust covering my eyes. I pulled the sheet over my head and held my breath as I listened for the man from behind the corkboard. At some point, I fell asleep and woke up to daylight some hours later. My eyes opened like normal, but I felt remnants of the crust around my eyes and on my cheeks.

The very first thing I did was grab the Oreck and vacuum the heck out of the floor where the cork pieces lived. Every time I get a cold or have allergies, I relive my fear of the man from behind the corkboard.

Tomorrow, check out Michelle McLean's blog to see which memory she shares!

the list just keeps getting longer

2011-12-12T10:49:00.000-05:00

iowa

minneap

chitown

portland

upstate ny

toronto

sea-tac

vancouver

boston

charlotte

salt lake citeh

denver

so many places i think i can make it. now i am looking to the ones that will help me go above and beyond.

that's a long list.

Things I Dearly Miss From My Childhood - Part I

2011-12-06T12:59:00.001-05:00

Making historically inaccurate dioramas out of food and kitty litter.

"Ooo wee ooo killer tofu!"

Disliking the taste of bleu cheese.

Skinny Topanga

Waiting for the bus, jumping on the trampoline with my friends, and listening to "Red Red Wine".

Candy cigarettes, swings, and gravel playscapes.

The time before I realized how effed up it would all turn out.

Mayflies surrounding the tent.

Drowning Polly Pockets.

Not knowing the definition of 'lament'.

Singing alto

Wanting to be an architect.

Orange pop

Ping pong, without it being beer pong.

Arcade prizes

Brady Bunch marathons on Nick at Nite.

The frickin' nineteen nineties, which includes Y2K prep.

Blog Chain: What Gets Me Going

2011-11-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

Tere Kirkland kicked off this round of the chain, despite having major computer issues. Good work getting it together, Tere! Yesterday, Margie posted. Tomorrow, head to Ali!

Here is her topic: What conditions do you need to get your best writing done? Closed door, crowded coffee house? Computer or notebook? Can you just sit down to write, or do you need to wait for the time to be right?

As always, my answer is not a simple one.

I have yet to figure out what the best writing conditions are for me. Whatever that condition that is is elusive. I have written for hours at a coffee shop with complete success only to return a week later without the ability to write. I have written in complete silence and I have written with "Time to Pretend" by MGMT blaring on repeat. I have written indoors, outdoors, and behind closed doors. BUT I can never repeat the success I have with one atmosphere. That is unless I don't try so hard.

When I don't try so hard to get in words and pages, they tend to flow on their own. It's kind of magical. And by magical, the process is *POOF* gone before I can analyze what worked about it. Like I said, it's elusive. I may be searching for this perfect writing environment, but I know it'll appear to me soon. Until then, I am content with short stints of writing as I work on my craft.

Goals and/or The Beginning

2011-11-21T11:52:00.001-05:00

1. Become a One Hit Wonder. *rumbo yo chaaange, rumbo yo chaaange*

2. Find a nice blazer, brown mohair perhaps, that makes me feel good.

3. Design a house.

4. Become a destination.

5. Never buy another bottled water.

6. Visit Stonehenge for the second time and change my mind about it.

7. Wear a pair of legit cowboy boots.

8. Order a coffee without feeling self-conscious (seriously, this happens).

9. Payback those to whom I owe mullah.

10. Shake hands with Neil Gaiman.

There ya have ten goals off the top of my head. You may notice none of them directly relate to me as a writer, I did not intend for that to happen, but am I glad it did. I am a writer, yes, but I am not Jonathon Arntson: Writer.

I am Jonathon Arntson: A Million Other Things.

Try it, it feels liberating.

Blog Chain: Greatest Accomplishment

2011-11-15T10:53:00.000-05:00

This time around, Michelle Hickman, started the chain with this question:

This is the month in creating writing goals and making big accomplishments. What is your greatest accomplishment -- in writing, your life or perhaps something incidental that had a big effect on you?

Hmm.......

Er...............................

Uh........

Well.

My greatest accomplishment, thus far, was my decision to move out to the country to become a writer. That sounds so much more romantic than it actually was. Things have not been all that easy since I made that decision, but I am happier. Let's just say that if I got paid to be a self-saboteur, I'd be a millionaire.

As I work on my writing, I am also working on a degree in secondary education. My writing is both helped and hindered by my pursuit of a degree. I also work at a restaurant as a server. That was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made. I spent the first 10 yrs of my working life refusing to work around food. I was scared to death of getting orders wrong, poisoning someone, or spilling burning coffee on some poor old woman (my family carries the clumsy gene in many, many ways.)

Working at the restaurant has given me so much confidence, even in my writing, but especially in my communication skills.

Where am I going with this?

I think I mean to say that sometimes, our greatest accomplishments do not look like finishing that big first draft, but instead are a small beginning to a grand end. That end is in sight, and it's not really an end, but yet another beginning.

There are other inspiring posts to check out! Go see Sarah's post from yesterday and tomorrow head to Christine's blog.

Keep writing (brought to you by our illustrator friends)

2011-11-12T10:56:00.001-05:00

I have been hard at work with my NaNo project, homework, and, well, work. Watch this amazing video, it inspired me to keep on writing!

keep drawing from studio shelter on Vimeo.

2011-11-03T10:51:00.002-04:00

For the latest blog chain, Matt asks What is your favorite all-time monster? Yesterday, Shaun posted (his post gave me the creeps!). In general, I am not a monster person - I prefer the scary shit of real life. But to fulfill the blog chain, I quickly thought of the monster that really scares the crap outta me.

I am deathly afraid of everything that lives in the water. Anemones, crustaceans, sharks, bluegill: they all freak me out. Like, I've had panic attacks at PetCo over the pet hermit crabs with peace symbols painted on their shells. No lie.

It makes perfect sense that the monster that really takes away my ability to sleep is the biggest, baddest, scariest sea creature: the kraken. Tentacles reaching fifty feet covered in suckers that are lined with spikes are scary. And there's that mouth with rows and rows of teeth. Those features pale in comparison to the kraken's eye. When they show the eye of a kraken in a movie, I am done. No more. I just want to go sit in the window seat with a down blanket and a bowl of popcorn and rock back and forth for the rest of my life.

Despite the fear, I think krakens are fanfreakingtastic. There's something beautiful in their ethereal existence. They definitely rule the deep sea.

Halloween may be over, but these creatures occupy our consciousness all year. Tell me what monster scares the shit out of you! And go visit Christine for her favorite monster.

Oh, and to my fellow blog chain members: I promise I'll be getting around and commenting! I was without internet for almost an entire week due to Frontier's sillyness.

Happy NaNo 2011

2011-11-01T13:52:00.001-04:00

It's kickoff day! I could spend 500 words telling you more about my excitement and wishing you luck, but I won't

Basically, this is the time to write and write for the sake of letting go.

Write dammit!

Okay?

Okay.

nano3

2011-10-24T18:01:00.001-04:00

.nanonanonanonanonanonanonanonanonanonanonanonanonanonanonano.

My head still feels a bit like Times Square with crazy news tickers all over the place.

But that's okay, I am still super excited about nano.

So, let me elaborate on the process Kelly and I are employing this year.

First, this is Kelly's first nano and my second attempt. We aren't pretending we know what we are doing; this is all an experiment. We will succeed though.

So how will we succeed? Well, we have about 15k words (give or take a few grand). Using the outline we are currently creating, we will start from where we left off and write. Our goal is 50,000 words because we believe our novel will end up just shy of that when it is ready for publication. Since we are collaborating, we have each taken on the goal of 18,000 words.

I know, I know, that is SO CHEATING! But cut us some slack. We are not doing NaNo for the competition (which breaks my uber-competitive side's heart). We are doing NaNo for the sake of finishing our project and participating in the fun conversations around our corner of the blogosphere.

Thank you to all who have wished us luck. We will be updating you as November rushes by. Come December, we will be editing and looking for readers after the new year!

I love how I can feel the energy behind nano!!

.nanonanonanonanonanonanonanonanonanonanonanonanonanonanonano.

I promised you a post about nano...

2011-10-18T11:37:00.000-04:00

And...here it is!

I am crazy ambivalent about nano this year. A large part of my hesitation is due to my crash and burn last year, which lead to a two month blogging hiatus. Also, I am wondering how the hell I am going to write when I don't even have time to write right now. Let's call those the cons.

The pros? Well, I am writing my nano project with Kelly (you may call this cheating, but we don't give a fandango). Kelly is a ball of energy, and even when we have no idea what we are doing, we are productive and prolific.

Another pro is that I will finally be challenging myself. It took me a year to take on a challenge...a real challenge. Part of being a writer is to push yourself, right? Well, I have been living a safe distance from the edge. In the words of ~~Celine Dion~~ Lea Michele, "But what do you say to taking chances, what do you say to jumping off the edge?"

I say, let's go! (Picture me and Nano holding hands and jumping off the edge as Lea Michele sings in the background.)

So you've seen the pros and the cons, what about the project? Kelly and I have been ~~working on~~ ~~pecking at~~ resuscitating our collaboration project for eight months. As the summer came to a close, we realized it was now or never. And with the wave of energy Nano creates, we decided why not tap into that grid.

And so, here we are: outlining, skyping, typing, and riding the waves, in prep for Nanowrimo 2011!

Pay it Forward Blogfest and A SCARY GOOD BOOK

2011-10-14T07:00:00.000-04:00

First of all, today is a great day because the Tigers and the Red Wings won last night! Yeah!

Okay, so let's get down to business. Today I am taking part in Matt McNish and Alex Cavanaugh's Pay it Forward Blogfest! I will be highlighting three blogs that I really want you to know about. I will briefly describe them and then let you follow the link. Hopefully, you will become a follower once on the other end of the link. Let's get started.

1. Anita Laydon Miller's Blog (AND Anita Laydon Miller's Middle Grade Blog, oops - is that cheating?) With each blog, Anita gives her readers anecdotes about her personal life and her writing life, and how the two tie together. She asks for advice, gives advice, and shares techniques learned through her classes as she works toward an MFA. Anita has been a rock for me since I started blogging, and I am so thankful for her friendship and her nagging.

Anita recently released her second self-published children's ebook, A Scary Good Book. I love the title and cover of her latest release, but the inside is even more amazing. Children and adults will be wowed by the thrills and chills, but Anita grounds this great kids ebook with moments of reality and depth. The characters are easy to relate to one minute and totally annoying the next - that is a great skill in writing, in my opinion. Anita rings several seemingly unrelated events together and knocked my socks off with the ending.

I really want you to give A Scary Good Book a chance, head to Anita's buy page to see Anita's answers to many ebook-related FAQ's.

2. Jedi! Ninja! Homeboy!, which is the virtual home of writer Bryan Bliss. Beside having a kick ass author name, Bryan is one insightful son of a gun. His posts are so deep, but also hilarious. At times, I feel like I am reading a Sherman Alexie/John Green hybrid. But Bryan really has a unique voice and perspective that is hard to find. His critiques are amazing too. Why should you follow his blog? Well, Bryan needs your readership and you need Bryan's humor. Win-win.

3. Mia Hayson, a Scottish writer around my age, has one of the highest quality blogs out there. My Literary Jam and Toast has a lot of followers, but every time I go there, she has very few comments. I just don't get it. Mia is always good for sweet, custom-made infrographics, zombie related everything, and just heartwarming well wishes for everyone. I really think I am in love with her. And Scotland.

A Post on Thursday, Why Not?

2011-10-13T10:53:00.000-04:00

I'll end up posting every day this week. I have not done that in ages. The initial reason for posting today is to explain my post for tomorrow when I will be reviewing Anita Laydon Miller's A Scary Good Book AND participating in Matt McNish and Alex Cavanaugh's Pay it Forward Blogfest. Follow the link for Matt's intro post and the official list of participants. The point of the blogfest is to feature three bloggers who may not be well-known but are pure awesome. I have had an extremely hard time choosing three, and my old followers will not be surprised by my list. So come back tomorrow and see who I want to share with you!

With that out of the way, I want to share with you a poem from Edgar Guest, who wrote over 11,000 poems for the Detroit Free Press in the first half of the 20th century. One of the things I like best about Guest's poem is the clarity of word and ease of rhythm. I urge you to check out Guest and get a taste for the Michigan I love.

Story Telling

By Edgar Guest

Most every night when they're in bed,
And both their little prayers have said,
They shout for me to come upstairs
And tell them tales of gypsies bold,
And eagles with the claws that hold
A baby's weight, and fairy sprites
That roam the woods on starry nights.

And I must illustrate these tales,
Must imitate the northern gales
That toss the native man's canoe,
And show the way he paddles, too.
If in the story comes a bear,
I have to pause and sniff the air
And show the way he climbs the trees
To steal the honey from the bees.

And then I buzz like angry bees
And sting him on his nose and knees
And howl in pain, till mother cries:
"That pair will never shut their eyes,
While all that noise up there you make;
You're simply keeping them awake."
And then they whisper: "Just one more,"
And once again I'm forced to roar.

New stories every night they ask.
And that is not an easy task;
I have to be so many things,
The frog that croaks, the lark that sings,
The cunning fox, the frightened hen;
But just last night they stumped me, when
They wanted me to twist and squirm
And imitate an angle worm.

At last they tumble off to sleep,
And softly from their room I creep
And brush and comb the shock of hair
I tossed about to be a bear.
Then mother says: "Well, I should say
You're just as much a child as they."
But you can bet I'll not resign
That story telling job of mine.

THE WHITE ASSASSIN by Hilary Wagner

2011-10-12T07:00:00.000-04:00

Upon finishing Nightshade City, Hilary Wagner's debut novel, I was so inspired that I moved one of my animal-civilization books to the front burner. That project lived off Hilary's inspiration for two months. Part of the reason I was able to ride the wave for so long is because Hilary's writing is gorgeous and flowing, but lucid. It really blew my mind. As Nightshade City came to a close, every muscle in the plot was tense and then the book ended with a fifteen thousand foot cliffhanger. I was wowed and found myself yearning for the sequel in the same way I awaited Catching Fire.

As you can imagine, the instant the ARC of The White Assassin arrived, I ignored my homework, ripped open the packaging, and glanced at the first page. I had intended to read page one and then get ready for work. Oops, I was a little late for work that night, and extremely tired from lack of sleep the next day.

The White Assassin moves at a different pace than its predecessor in the series, and readers will find themselves excited by the frequent changes in direction and emotion. Through fantastic writing, Hilary does not allow the reader to be jarred or pulled out of the story. She makes things too important to miss or ignore. Each character is vital and multidimensional, which is another spot where Hilary inspires my writing. You will fall in love with several characters in these books - consider yourself warned.

My attention was held until the very end of the The White Assassin. I highly recommend these two books by Hilary Wagner, especially for families who like to read together.

Look Forward to Two More MG Reviews

2011-10-11T12:01:00.001-04:00

Sometimes I really suck as a blogger. I am too neurotic for this biz. Anyway, I forgot to tell you that along with yesterday's review of My Very UnFairy Tale Life, I have two more amazing middle grade novels to feature. Tomorrow, I am part of Hilary Wagner's The White Assassin tour. On Friday, I will be encouraging you to purchase A Scary Good Book, Anita Laydon Miller's $0.99 children's ebook.

Kick-A**, Catch-All Monday: MY VERY UNFAIRY TALE LIFE, by Anna Staniszewski

2011-10-10T15:56:00.002-04:00

I no longer trust Blogger's scheduling apparatus. Anyone else having issues with it?

You may be here for a Kick-A** Debut Author Spotlight.

You may be here for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday.

You may be here as part of Anna Staniszewski's blogtour for her debut novel, My Very UnFairy Tale Life.

YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE!

I took every opportunity that came about to highlight Anna's debut novel. Here's why:

My Very UnFairy Tale Life by Anna Staniszewski is the perfect middle grade novel for anyone who wants to escape and laugh a heck of a lot. Jenny the Adventurer had me laughing on nearly every page as she ran from unicorns, talked-down to a gnome, and sought to reclaim her "normal" life. Besides Anna's lucid sense of humor, MVUFTL is an amazing debut middle grade novel because we explore Jenny's life from profound angles as well. Jenny struggles with the loss of her parents and overcoming common adolescent inhibitions.

I found myself relating to Jenny, no matter where she ended up. Anna created very real worlds, some I would love to visit, and others I wish to never see. I recommend MVUFTL to every middle grade reader, no matter your age.

Take yourself on a journey and join Jenny as she "accidentally" changes the world. My Very UnFairy Tale Life is now available for preorder and will be released next month.

In the comments, tell me about a land you'd like to visit, or avoid, that exists solely in your head.

I rely on my crit partners to tell me what day it is

2011-10-07T11:32:00.000-04:00

I had the following blog chain post written and ready for your eyes. I scheduled it and went along my merry (extremely busy and stressful) day. Well, since Heather, my main writing partner, has been dealing with tragedy and celebration this week, we have been out of touch. If I had chatted with Heather, she would have reminded me that it is not 2012. You see, I scheduled my post for October 6, 2012. Go me. What follows is what I had intended for you to read yesterday about my crit partner Heather.

Sarah started the latest blog chain. She says: Do you work with critique partners? How did you find your crit pals, and what influence have they had on your work? Afterward, check out Christine's post!

Yeah....that's me

Six months into my "writing career", I started my blog. Followers, and their comments, came in droves! I felt like the Willamette Valley of the blogosphere. Several folks from those beginning days are my closest friends here in the virtual world and they often read my work. In the beginning, I think my blog made me sound vulnerable, but willing to take feedback. Tina Laurel Lee, Marisa Hopkins, and Kelly Polark came to my rescue, so did many more amazing people. No one was there like quite like Heather Kelly was.

As easily as a friendship starts at a coffee shop between two "soul mates", Heather and I hit it off! We shared many goals, but we were more interested in the goals we didn't share. Heather and I spent a lot of time getting into each others' heads and discussing the things that make us tick and the those that give us tics.

We have never met in person, though that is at the top of my list right now, but Heather and I know more about each other than I know about most of my IRL friends. She has seen my writing in its rawest form, for good and for bad. She has also seen the really good stuff that I am unwilling to put out there at the moment. Heather is one of only two people to have seen portions of my autobiography, which is a story that tends to surprise people.

Other than my own life story, Heather has inspired me to get my ideas out of my head and onto paper. She has encouraged me to push myself and to push the envelop. Even Heather's writing inspires me. It's like playing baseball with Gibson and becoming a great yourself (Heather and I also share a love of baseball - GO TIGERS!! ALCS baby!!).

Right now, we are pushing each other to work toward publication, but not necessarily in the traditional way. I'm not speaking directly to self-publication. Heather and I are brimming with ideas that involve technology, great story telling, and interaction. It's been a ongoing project that seems to have a life of its own. Expect great things :P

I think it's clear that Heather and I have an unusual bond, one that will stay strong for many years to come.

I love you, Heather. You're the world's best writing partner, but you're also my best friend.

So, like, um...

2011-10-05T15:47:00.001-04:00

I meant for October the be the month where I finally energized my blog and regained the presence I once had in the blogosphere. So much for that endeavor! As I prepare for nanowrimo and mid-terms, I lose hope that I will be able to turn my blog back into what it was in the glory days.

I should say that I do not lament any part of my journey. In fact, I feel extremely comfortable with where I am today. That, I feel, is part of the problem. I have stopped pushing myself.

In the coming weeks, I have several book reviews to post, all of books written by friends. It will be a week of praise! After that, I will start making goals and confessions about nano. Plan to be surprised. That makes no sense...lol. Oh, and tomorrow is my day to post for the blog chain - there's another great topic this time around.

Okay, I have spent enough time away from my speech. I must go finish writing it - I present tomorrow morning!

What to Sacrifice?

2011-09-28T10:56:00.000-04:00

That post title could lead into so many things. I bet most of you thought I'd be talking about cutting things off my to-do list. Au contraire, my friends. I am adding to my to-do list because apparently I want it to not only cover the circumference of this planet but also those of the other 7 (8?) planets in the solar system.

So what is it that I am adding to my to-do list? More like, what am I not adding.

Okay, okay, I'm getting to the point: I want to make social networking my bitch!

Go make me a sandwich, Zuckerberg! (btw, the soundtrack to your unauthorized biopic is mind-blowing)

You see, dear readers, I have been meaning to conquer social networking sites for two years now. I want them working for me and not the other way around.

Twitter is the easiest to conquer, but I still have opportunities there - blankets to nest in.

Facebook changes every seven days, so that has been a game of cat and mouse. meow.

Google+...I have no effing idea what to even say about that maze. Where's my f*cking cheese, yo?!

tumblr, LinkedIn, and the others can stay in the background for now. I don't have energy for those.

What am I forgetting??? Oh yeah, perhaps my best friend, or what should be, this place: jonathonarntson.blogspot.com. Am I using this platform to its fullest potential? Not by any means. What else can I do?

Enough questions. My new goal is to find the damn answers.

The correct answer does not involve sacrificing things from my to-do list - I need to multi-task like my mother did while doing the dishes, yelling at the five of us kids, and carrying on a lovely conversation about hydrangeas on the telephone. What I mean to say is adding this social networking challenge to my list cannot make me into a monster. I need to gracefully multitask. I shall plie and/or curtsy after completing each task.

The point of all this, I need to find an offering for the tech gods as I take on this social networking endeavor. At first I was thinking a lamb, but I hear the tech gods have a thing for circuit boards. I am heading to the basement to look through the boxes marked RELICS OF THE 1980's AND 90's. Oh, look, a bag phone!

This open-ended series between Heather and me is sure to be interesting. Please join us in any fashion by giving us advice or posting your own trials and tribulations of sticking it to the tech gods.

But, seriously, who moved my cheese?

nano1

2011-09-27T12:10:00.000-04:00

It's running through my head like a hyperactive news ticker.

_nanonanonanonanonanonano_

I am excited and scared.

A large part of me wants to work on the second person experiment, which now has a title! Speak for Yourself just isn't what I want to use a month of awesome writing for.

Another part of me wants to work on my autobiography, which I am developing as an assignment for my Michigan Lit class. My idea with this project is to write short stories and see how they come together. But...I don't want to use nano for this either.

My nano project is going to be Sasquatch Eleanor, a project Kelly and I have been chewing on for half a year. We have faced many setbacks between both our schedules. Writing a novel when the authors are a college student who works 50 hours a week and a mother who is moving and working is, like, impossible. It's kind of funny that we once thought we'd be edited all summer.

In all honesty, Sasquatch Eleanor is the perfect project for us. There's humor, drama, and summer camp (because that's a genre all its own). The love we have for this story premise is palpable for our crit partners. So are the pushes they have been giving us! With that said, I'd better get back to work on my outline so that Kelly and I will be rearing and ready to go come November.

Are you nanoing? If so, what are you working on? If not, what is your goal for November?

Can You Hook a Teen? Blogfest Contest

2011-09-21T10:28:00.000-04:00

UPDATE: My entry has been posted. Thanks to everyone who read and gave feedback. I appreciate you all!

I am participating in my first writing contest. I chose to pare down the first 250 words of The Second Person Experiment, which remains untitled. I know some of you are sick of this story being shoved down your throat, but I think some new folks will be stopping by and I wanted to get their input. All input is appreciated and will influence my final entry to the contest, due Thursday night. The entries will be judged by Teen Eyes, have you seen these girls? They are amazing! The contest is hosted by Brenda Drake.

The Second Person Experiment

YA contemporary

Chapter One

“Excuses are like assholes. Everyone has one and they all stink.” –Grandpa

You avoided getting a summer job for three reasons 1. you’re lazy 2. you had prior obligations and 3. you try your hardest not to listen to your parents. Sitting on the toilet, you ponder these truths.

1. Yes, you are lazy, but you’re lazy with class. You bathe and workout. You wear Axe body spray and hold doors for the ladies. You work hard on your material, and it pays off - everyone laughs at your jokes.

2. Video games. Parties. Video games. Sleep. Video games. indeed, you were very busy this summer. There was no time to ‘freshen up and head to the mall and ask for applications’ like your mom asked you to do on a daily basis. You were too busy. So busy, in fact, you didn’t have time to fill out the day planner your dad bought you. That was supposed to be the proof that you were trying. Well, you weren’t.

3. Your parents are wrong 99% of the time. “Allen, do this, Allen, do that, and everything else will fall into place.” Well, you listened to them for the first twelve years of your life and look where that got you.

There’s only one person who lead you in the right direction and that was Grandpa. You miss him and wish he were still here to tell you what to do. And then you realize he would’ve told you to get a job.

Dammit, someone forgot to change the roll. Oh yeah, it was you.

Blog Chain: Three Books That Took Faith

2011-09-20T07:00:00.000-04:00

Shaun started the newest chain, then Sarah posted and now it's my turn to partake in this thought-provoking chain! Shaun says, "What are three books you would tell people that they need to keep reading even if they aren't immediately sucked in by the first page?"

I tend to abandon books, even good ones, because I get distracted, stressed for time, and sucked into my own writing. I try to give books fifty pages before I'll abandon them all together. The following three books are ones that may not have had me at page 1, 20, or 40, but I stayed with them and by page 50 I was hooked.

1. The Dust of 100 Dogs, A.S. King. It's not that King's debut novel starts off slow...it just starts off odd. It's the early nineties and right away the reader is expected to believe the main character is a reincarnation of a seventeenth century pirate, who dies in the first chapter. It's a convoluted mess, but King starts to lay out pieces that push the reader to begin piecing the puzzle together. The real thing that kept me reading was King's amazing narrative through several characters over many, many years. By the end, I was proclaiming to the world how much I loved this book!

2. Going Bovine, by Libba Bray. As with all Bray books, it starts off normal and then things get weird, and fast. My immediate issue with the novel was not the plot, but the main character, who hardly cared about his own life - I could not understand why I should care. Bray introduces characters who are gems and this pushes the story into high gear. The characters mixed with the bizarre places they go makes for one of the most hilarious books I have ever read. Going Bovine really has it all.

3. The Host, by Stephenie Meyer. Despite the feelings you may have on the Twilight realm, The Host is something completely different. Meyer utilizes the first few hundred pages to lay the groundwork for what becomes and amazing story. If you enjoy ready descriptions, then this will be no issue for you, but for me it dragged on and on. And yet, I was totally invested. It was a bizarre experience reading this novel. I had no expectations. I didn't really know who Stephenie Meyer was at the time. She drew me into the story with vivid details and an extremely large cast of characters.

So there you have them, three books that I had through till the end, but boy was I glad I did! Tomorrow, we need to check Christine's blog to see what three books she lists.

Let's Redefine Monday

2011-09-19T06:00:00.000-04:00

Every Monday I have class in the afternoon, which is rather rough for me. Part of what makes it so difficult is when I wake up and log onto facebook, blogger, and twitter, my spirit to succeed is assailed by ten thousand posts about how Monday is being a jerk and not being fair and is the worst day of the week.

Monday is just another day of the week - we are in total control of how good or bad it goes. If you're reading this early in the morning, then put on your game face and go forth and conquer. If you're reading this in the afternoon, then stop lamenting the time gone by and start your good day now! If you're arriving here on Tuesday, take an honest look at yesterday and find the ways the day was bad...I bet you'll have to think really hard.

Make it a good week, my friends! Tomorrow, I am a link in the blog chain again. The new topic focuses on books that took work, but were worth it.

For the record, I frequently partake in the Monday hates me posts. I posted my Monday face on facebook last week:

Blog Chain: A Dark and Stormy Night

2011-09-16T07:00:00.000-04:00

It's my second time participating in the blog chain that Christine invited me to and this time she got to pick the topic! If I were you, I'd head to Christine's blog and check out all the awesome entries after reading mine. Of course, you could back track too and check the previous link on the chain from Sarah. Another way to keep on up the chain posts is to utilize the blog roll on the bottom of the left sidebar here at my blog. Someone posts every day.

Christine:

Since we are all writers, I thought it was about time for us to stretch our creative muscles and do a little writing. So, take the following topic and go crazy! Show us what you've got. Your story can be as long or as short as you choice.

The topic: A dark and stormy night.

I decided to drag out something I wrote over a year ago that seems to fit the theme. The Storyteller and The Ghost was a brainstorming exercise, one that I have repeated several times, where the first line and the last line should line up. Enjoy an installment from my mini stories series!

Blogger's new image viewer is so annoying. I am sorry if you cannot read the story below even after enlarging it. I am working on a new version.

Click image to enlarge

I believe Shaun chooses next, so head to his blog tomorrow to see the new chain!

Pictures of the Mackinac Bridge

2011-09-14T11:11:00.001-04:00

I already have a million pictures of the bridge, but every time we head up to Mackinac I have to take a million more. Here are some pics I took with my iPhone over the course of the weekend.

From Wawatam Park in Mackinaw City

From the ferry (we beat that other ferry by minutes!)

From Mackinac Island

The Mackinac Bridge spans the Straits of Mackinac, which is the separation between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, to connect the Lower Peninsula with the UP. It's 5 miles long long and green, with white towers. Needless to say, the bridge is an important icon to Michigan.

Interesting fact: In 1835, Michigan and Ohio went to war over the strip of land where Toledo stands. If you look at a map, Indiana's and Ohio's border with Michigan does not line up. President Andrew Jackson stepped in and Michigan conceded the land to Ohio. In return, we received the UP. The timber and copper found in the UP in the subsequent years has made Michigan more money than the cold rush made for California.

Michigan is a beautiful state. It sucks to know that most out-of-staters view us as unemployed hicks who are trying to invent the next great American car. Even without talking about industry, Michigan is still the 8th most populous state where natural beauty abounds and opportunities lie around every corner.

Step Back in Time: Mackinac Island, Michigan

2011-09-12T10:21:00.000-04:00

This past weekend, three of my closest friends and I made a four hour trek to the tip of Michigan's Lower Peninsula and had a blast!

Mackinac Island (pronounces mack-in-aw) is most famously known for two things. In 1875, the island became America's second National Park (following Yellowstone). It is now a Michigan State Park where no cars are allowed and Victorian mansions abound.

Secondly, Mackinac Island is famous for its fudge. I am not sure about your states, but Mackinac Island Fudge ice cream is one of the most popular flavors and is available at every ice cream shoppe (including the one that employs me).

The history of Mackinac Island is staggering and those who have not heard of the island are amazed at the number of historically important sites on the island. Fort Mackinac, built during the Revolutionary War, helped the British maintain control of the upper Great Lakes until 1796 (fifteen years after we gained independence!).

The Grand Hotel, built in 1887, is an architectural treasure that has been beautifully maintained. I think the photos speak for themselves.

You can't tell from here, but the pool is in the shape of a foot and is said to be Paul Bunyan's footprint.

Oh, and you may wonder about the no car thing, the island is home to hundreds of carriages and bicycles. We usually bike, but since one of my friends is pregnant, we opted for a private carriage tour.

How did we get to the island? We took a ferry, of course.

And finally, a few random photos so you get the gist of Mackinac Island.

On Wednesday, I'll wrap up my vacation with a post about the Mackinac Bridge and Mackinaw City, which is where we stayed.

Review and contest: UPGRADER: RE-ENGINEERED, by Terry Tibke

2011-09-09T07:00:00.000-04:00

When Ali Cross asked me to participate in Terry Tibke's Upgrader blog tour, I got excited because I had seen Terry's posts about the book several times. I read Upgrader on my iPhone, but there are several other ways to get engrossed in Terry's e-book.

Right off the bat, we are thrown into action as a massive explosion takes place. It's a bit jarring, but it works well and sets up the intensity of the novel. The first chapter is cryptic, but detailed, and I knew right away that this was going to be an exciting mystery/adventure story.

The plot moves quickly as the world we know, Dylan's world, is meshed with the world of Brahm and other terrors. Terry makes sure to implant back story at the appropriate moments, but for the most part Upgrader moves very fast. In fact, it ended a bit too quickly for me. I only wish I had more time with the creepy monsters and the formidable characters (the good and the bad ones!)

Anyway, most readers will quickly identify with Dylan and find it exciting to be in his shoes with his recent development of "special powers" and bizarre nemeses. The sci fi nature will satisfy boy readers, and is appropriate for kids even as young as 10. Adults will also enjoy Upgrader, especially for the fact that it is such a quick read.

For $2.99, I hope you'll give Upgrader a chance. You definitely need to visit Terry or Ali and read the other posts along the tour to read about an interesting journey to publication.

AND you can win a $10 Barnes and Noble by stating the type of weapon you'd want to appear out of your skin in the comments. Don't worry, your skin will heal (mostly) each time you use it. I'll use random.org to select a winner after 11:59 pm EST on Friday, September 16.

Check out this book trailer

2011-09-07T07:00:00.000-04:00

I had a great post dedicated for today, but it needs more development. Instead, enjoy hump day by watching this one minute book trailer that is supremely awesome.

"But, of course, it's still important to actually write."

2011-09-05T04:00:00.000-04:00

The title of this post comes from Kris, who commented on my blog chain post. The post, which explored the changes in the publishing industry, namely self-publishing, received a lot of comments that made my day.

Kris's comment, however, put it all into perspective: no matter the journey you take or the one you think will be best for you, the very most important part is to write a damn good book. Whether or not you plan to get an agent, self-pub, or take over the world, those dreams are irrelevant if the work you put out sucks.

That doesn't sound very motivational, does it? Maybe it would help to know that I am writing this post to myself and that I find motivation is the strangest places. The same can be said about inspiration.

Here's the motivation: surround yourself with people who care and who know what the hell they are talking about. Use those people to the fullest and give back at every possible opportunity. I am already surrounded by writers who have raised me to levels I used to dream of. I could name the names, but it would take forever and in some cases, those connections are just between me and the author. I think that's how it should be. My journey.

At one point in time, not that long ago, I wanted to flaunt my journey. I wanted the most blog followers and the nicest looking blog. And hey, I kinda had both for about a month (circa March 2010), but it had nothing to do with my writing journey. I am pleasantly relieved to have gotten over that phase right away.

In the year and more since, I have grown leaps and bounds with my writing. I still cringe when other writers ask what I am working on or what I write (I usually respond honestly, "What don't I write"). I cringe even more when non-writers ask the same questions. I don't cringe on purpose, I do so because I have yet to try something else. I am a creature of habit.

Being habitually uncomfortable, I have yet to be comfortable with my writing. I have yet to accept that I have a large number of unfinished novels and picture books that are full of truly fantastic ideas, and that it's okay that they are incomplete. Here's the big one: I have yet to accept that fact that it is more than okay that I don't have perfect grammar and spelling skills, but that my writing is still phenomenal.

I can't straight out tell my crit partners that I think them liars. It's me, not them; I do not believe in my writing. But, again...that's okay because my writing believes in me.

But, of course, it's still important to actually write. To write for you, for me, and for those who I will one day meet.

Dream Crit Partner Apology

2011-09-04T13:10:00.001-04:00

So, I think I need to followup my dream crit partners post with an apology because the comments made me worried that I offended some of you.

I only meant for the exercise to be a lighthearted one that caused us to think about how we view successful authors. When I read an excellent book, I frequently imagine the author reading my work and receiving their two cents. Plus, I want that author to be my friend...I fall strongly on the extrovert side of the spectrum, so magnetic personalities (or writing voices in this case) draw me in fast and hard.

In truth, I am very satisfied with my crit partners, some of whom commented. I have received critiques that blew my mind with the breadth and depth to which they went. In fact, my crit partners frequently demonstrate the highest levels of Bloom's Taxonomy. Their invaluable input has not only improved my writing, but it has improved my critiques and my blog posts.

I may not have the blog following that I once had, but I feel more firmly planted on my platform than I ever have. I promise to never talk about dream crit partners again. I plan to wholly focus on my writing this fall and come back after the new year with some finished projects that I can share with you all here at my author platform.

Onward and upwards, my friends.

FALL

2011-09-02T10:42:00.002-04:00

Well, it's official: the fall semester has begun. I have The Principles of Speaking, Teaching Diverse Learners, Topics in Literature: Michigan Lit, and Bio. I am extremely excited about the first three, but ambivalent about the latter. I do enjoy a good Bio course, but this one is online.

As part of the Michigan Lit course, we are asked to create our own work of Michigan lit. Um, hello. I am freaking excited about that one. It'll be the first time I will be writing something other than an essay in college.

I was going to say more, but I need to shower and get to work. Later, gators.

My Dream Crit Partners

2011-08-31T09:37:00.002-04:00

It feels weird to be posting and to not be a part of a series or a chain. I thought I'd take this opportunity to give you a classic Jon post and list my dream critique partners.

When considering dream crit partners, I first take into consideration writing style. John Green and A.S. King top that list with their high levels of humor and deep moments of clarity. I'd love to have Cormac McCarthy and Sherman Alexie in my corner too, so I can finally break the rules in the right ways.

Personality is another draw for me, and Maggie Stiefvater is the queen of fun in YA. I'd also like to have Neil Gaiman and Lois Lowry hanging around, ya know, for when I need a hearty laugh and some help with some of that deeper meaning stuff.

What about success by association? I'd definitely want to be at J.K. Rowling's right hand. Of course, it's slightly more realistic to ask Suzanne Collins out on a date. Or perhaps James Dashner would let me act as a a character at a signing or two.

Finally, I need a well-grounded, down-to-earth kinda guy or gal to round out my crit group. Who better than Ned Vizzini or Don Calame? Oh, wait, I totally need Stephen Chobsky to get me to watch Rocky Horror. I need someone who can look me straight in the eye and tell me that I suck, then hand me a beer.

Can you tell that I see crit partner as a synonym for hangout buddy? I think my crit partners might agree with that.

Who are your dream crit partners and what are your parameters?

Orbiting Around the Changes in the Publishing World

2011-08-28T04:00:00.000-04:00

I know it's odd, me posting on a Sunday, but I have just joined a blog chain helmed by Michelle McLean and Kate Quinn. The chain gives each member a chance to answer a writing and/or career related question while reading our fellow members' thoughts. Over the last year, I have seen these posts around the blogosphere, and when my friend Christine Fonseca invited me to join, I said yes for the chance to learn and share on a deadline.

This month, the chain started with Sandra (see chain blogroll on sidebar for links) who asked the question

Have the recent changes in the publishing industry affected your writing plans/career? If so, how?

The quick answer is of course my plans have been affected! But the reality is that I am still a novice writer who is discovering what it means to have a strong writing voice and a lack of structure. I posted a few weeks ago on my five-year plan and that I am two years into it. The plan is to be published within five years (NOT by any means necessary) and to have a stronger sense of what having a writing career really means for me.

In the last two years, my perspective on publishing has changed dramatically. My first and only query letter is something I laugh at now. Matt saw it, it's comically bad. When I first learned about self-publishing, I pigeonholed those who take on that endeavor as impatient, immature brats. Did I mention I am still a novice writer?

You see, I thought you wrote a story, queried, and got a book deal. Hahaha. (Ow, laughing hurts my stomach right now.) Even now, the publishing process is a bit of a mystery for me because I have been focused on writing the best stories I can and I avoid posts that have to do with agents and their advice.

One single event has had the largest impact on my view of the publishing industry and, in turn, my own career.

Last March, when Anita Miller first told me her intentions to self-publish a book that had previously been agented by an all-star agent, my jaw dropped to the floor (it was covered in carpet lint and dog hair...totally gross). Anita and I had grown close as far as virtual partnerships go, and I was concerned for her and troubled by the seeming suddenness of her decision.

The truth is that Anita did her homework and made a decision to venture off the normal publishing track. Whether or not that decision has paid off is "yet to be determined," in her own words, but I can tell you it has been exciting to read, hail, and promote Anita's two middle grade e-books that she sells for ninety-nine freaking cents.

Anita's journey has been a most acidic catalyst in my own writing career as I watch new opportunities bubble up daily. I have a lot of thinking and decision-making to do as the last three years of my goal come to pass. The focus is not on meeting a fake deadline. The focus is to come to a place where I can clearly reflect on what I have learned and make an informed decision or two on where to go from there.

The changes in the publishing industry are not going to stop, no matter what each of us decides to do with our own writing. Embracing and heralding e-books and self-publishing works does not mean you or I have to choose that path.

What I tell myself every day is to be open-minded and to take the changes the universe hurls at me with stride and a sense of adventure.

Shaun posted ahead of me and the next link in this chain is Christine, who'll post her answer tomorrow. If you'd like to follow this chain from the beginning (it's so worth it!) head to Sandra's blog for the beginning.

Series Wrap-Up: Where Are the Gay Parents in Children's Literature?

2011-08-26T12:23:00.002-04:00

As our series comes to a close, my interest in books about gay parents has not waned one bit - I will continue this search for years to come.

Last week, I visited the public library in one last attempt to uncover books that contained or focused on the existence of gay parents. I did not find any middle grade novels though, and without a reference list, I wouldn't have known what to search for at all. The availability is limited and it's not really labeled. I spent a good thirty minutes searching through every title from the list at Kris's blog and I found one book, as well as some other non-fiction works.

I had an odd revelation as I checked out my books. I flash-backed to 2002. I was working at that same library then and I was in 10th grade. After clandestinely looking at the cover of Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez for weeks, I finally decided to check it out. Of course, I had to mask my interest in the book and I checked out a book about surfing and football at the same time. The most ridiculous part is that I was checking the books out to myself and no one ever even saw me holding them. I was lying to myself, but opening a door at the same time. A closet door to be specific.

As I checked out the Sanchez book and its counterparts, my face burned. Months later, I checked out another Sanchez book, and the experience was much the same, but with less face burning. Soon after that, I checked out The Geography Club, by Brent Hartinger, because I thought the kid on the cover was cute. By that time, I was less mortified by the experience of checking out "gay" books.

Standing at the same counter last week, nearly ten years later, that flashback put a lot of my journey into perspective. I was chagrined when I realized how far I have come. I was checking out books that were deliberately about gay people, and I was not hiding them, I was flaunting them. I had no qualms about including the children's librarian in my discussion and no qualms about posting this series on my blog. I feel comfortable with myself - a rare moment in my life.

Essentially, that is the motivation behind this series: to recognize the existence of novels and picture books that contain gay parents - a direction toward which I am heading - and to call for more books that do the same. I know that I am not the only guy out there looking for books about gay parents for reference. I know that ten years ago I was not the only closeted gay kid learning about other like me through literature.

Thank you for joining Kris and me in this series. I never knew what I expected to find, but I am ambivalent about discovering something I have had all along.

Series: OUT OF THE SHADOWS, by Sue Hines

2011-08-24T09:59:00.003-04:00

Sue Hines' debut novel, Out of the Shadows, has several things going for and against it, and I included the novel in my series because of it's unique characters.

Ro, a wannabe-typical Australian teenager, has a lot to overcome: her mother was gay, her mother was killed by a drunk driver, and her guardian is her mother's partner - a woman she has hated in the past. The plot gets even more convoluted: Ro's best friend, Mark, goes gaga over a new student named Jodie, who has secretly fallen for Ro.

It was sometimes hard to keep track of the different characters - even with alternating POVs - because Hines herself has a very strong point of view that shone throw most characters' narratives. At times, I felt like too much was being thrown into this story, but I was always entertained and the book reads very quickly. By the end, reconciliations abound for Ro - some are too contrived and others short and sweet.

I would recommend Out of the Shadows to reluctant readers as well as writers who are interested in experimenting with their work. Overall, Out of the Shadows is a winner and still feels current despite being fifteen years old.

Series: MONDAY IS ONE DAY

2011-08-22T10:09:00.000-04:00

This spring, a must-have family story was published: Monday is One Day, written by Arthur A. Levine and illustrated by Julian Hector (one of my favorite illustrators).

Written for children whose parents go off to work, Monday is One Day does not focus on defining the term 'family', but instead, the book explores different types of families throughout the days of the week.

With basic colors and effectively simple text, Monday is One Day is pleasing picture book to read. The best of the book is its messages. First and foremost, the book is about family and spending time together "with a special thing to do."

Secondly, the picture book introduces us to several families that fall at different spots along the tradition-nontraditional spectrum, one of which is a two-dad family. The two-page spread is one of the most touching illustrations I have ever set my eyes on (and that's one of the reasons I love Julian Hector's work).

Of course, Arthur A. Levine has been a well-known name in the kidlit world for quite some time (U.S. Harry Potter) and Monday is One Day adds another wonderful story to his well-rounded repertoire.

When I finished Monday is One Day, I told Heather that she needed to go out and buy the book and giveaway copies on the street. If your library does not have this book, make sure they order it. Monday is One Day should be in every child's hands at some point in their childhood, just like Goodnight Moon was in mine.

Series: STITCHES, by David Small

2011-08-19T09:47:00.003-04:00

I used to be afraid of graphic novels and Stitches is only the second one I have read that is not about Nazi Germany.

Stitches plays like a film and I read the entire book within an hour, only to flip it back over at the end and sart again.

David Small outlines his childhood in Stitches through vignettes that exemplify what many would consider an awkward and perhaps unfortunate life. Most of Small's story is somber, and indeed, his illustrations portray that. His father did not understand him and his mother is featured in hundreds of slides with a grim look on her face.

As Small grows up, he starts to figure things out. He figures out how the lies of his childhood in the 1950's caused major, life-changing things to happen when he was a teen.

The moment from Stitches that makes the novel relevant to this series about gay parents is merely a few pages long and takes place when David was 15. He walks in on his mother and her best friend sleeping together.

Even though that moment is short and not as significant as most of the other moments in the book, I chose to highlight Stitches because the story proves how effed up and out of touch any parent can be, whether they are gay or straight. Just because David's mom was gay didn't mean she had anymore understanding or tolerance in her. In fact, it seems as though she had less than most, yet there is one three-inch by three-inch illustration that reconciles years of a tumultuous relationship.

That's a power graphic novels have, and David Small's novel is the most vivid graphic novel out there. Beyond its inclusion of a gay parental character, the book is beyond brilliant and clandestine in its approach. When one reads Stitches, the happiness is in the details.

You need to read Stitches, by David Small.

Series: JACK by A.M. Homes

2011-08-17T08:47:00.005-04:00

The series: Where in Children's Literature are the Gay Parents? continues today with my review of Jack, by A.M. Homes.

From the first page, Jack exudes teen - Jack is learning to parallel park in an old Volvo. He is not successful, but his dad reassures him that he will get better...with time. From the first few pages, I could tell Jack and his father have an awkward relationship that is loosely held together by love and blood.

When Jack's father takes him out on a lake in a row boat, Jack knows some news is about to drop and this makes things even more awkward. The problem is his parents are already divorced, so what the hell could top that in a take-your-kid-out-in-a-row-boat-and-break-some-news event? Well, his dad succeeds in raising the level of awkwardness by telling Jack that he is gay.

Jack's reaction is to run, except the two are in a row boat in the middle of a lake. As soon as the boat hits the dock, Jack takes off and runs away from his father, his life, and himself.

"I stayed in my room all night, trying to figure out how my father could be a queer. I mean, historically, queers are not fathers."

Of course, Jack is not about solely about Jack's father - Jack and his mother have their own issues.

"She was smiling down at me in a fake motherly way that looked like it'd been clipped from the pages of Family Circle."

As Jack's mother tries to force Jack into talking with her about his father, their relationship begins to falter even more. Soon, Jack feels left out...as though he is the only one who sees how devastating his dad's sexual orientation is. Things get worse when Jack's best friend, Max, leaks the story at school and Jack becomes known as the "fagbaby" and is even called a queer himself.

Oddly enough, it's the improving relationship Jack has with his mother's boyfriend and the unwanted attention at school that act as catalysts for opening Jack's mind. It's definitely not all unicorns and rainbows, but the book is filled with insightful, charismatic, and profound dialogues and Jack's self-improving mental monologues.

By the end of the book, Jack has worked hard to reconcile his relationships. While there is still work to be done. Jack has turned himself into an advocate for tolerance and understanding and left me, as the reader, wanting to be the same.

A few more things: a statement on the back of the book compares Jack to The Catcher in the Rye, which is one of my favorite books. I thought the comparison would turn out to be lofty, but instead, I was truly enthralled in A.M. Homes interpretation of a teenage boy. She is an extraordinary writer and gives Jack a unique voice. Also, Jack was published in 1989 and other than a few cultural references that place it in that time, the novel is absolutely relevant for today and feels as fresh as ever.

Lastly, kudos to A.M. Homes for writing a novel about a teenage boy who is going through a transformation and NOT about a boy who has a gay dad.

Thanks for reading! And please check out Kris's thoughts on Between Mom and Jo, by Julie Ann Peters.

Curious about this series? Read the intro post here.

Series: Where Are the Gay Parents in Children's Literature?

2011-08-15T08:24:00.001-04:00

Earlier this summer, a few of my writing friends and I engaged in several #TwitterGames, in which we attempted to out-wit and encourage each other. One day's topic was #WritingCliches, especially in children's literature. Topic after topic was breached, and Kris Asselin and I went off on a particular tangent about parents in kidlit stories. I suggested #GayParents as a cliche, then clicked TWEET. Immediately, I realized gay parents are not a cliche. In fact, I could not think of one kidlit story with gay parents. And Kris put me in my place on the subject too :P

I quickly felt the urge to seek out titles that explored the existence of gay parents, seeing as I plan to be one someday as well as an English teacher who might want to showcase such a topic. Kris's friend supplied a list of titles*, which we used as a reference. I went straight to the website of my public library and searched for some of the titles. I became frustrated when none of the books on the list were at my library, except a few of the picture books. I received the books I reviewed through interlibrary loan which carried a one to two week wait and most of the books came from the east side of Michigan.

In the last month or so, we have been finding and reading a number of titles known for having gay parents. Some are meant to be recognized as such while others are more subtle. I chose to read Jack, by A.M. Homes, and Out of the Shadows, by Sue Hines. I am also highlighting the recently arrived picture book, titled Monday is One Day, written by Arthur Levine and illustrated by Julian Hector. I will add in a few other titles as they come across my desk via ILL. I can assure you that each book I read was touching and poignant in its own way and no two books were alike in nature or message. Together, this series has created a well-rounded impression within me and I look forward to sharing that with you.

AND I am not alone, Kris will be also be exploring other titles in the next two weeks and we invite you to join the discussion and let it be heard. You may take the banner above and let me know that you'd like to join via email and we will link to your blog on the day you're posting. Our schedule is to post Wed and Fri of this week and Mon, Wed, and Fri of next week.

*Visit Kris's blog for a growing list of titles recommended by reference and some great resources related to the topic. Kris is the queen of comprehensiveness!

And check out this awesome picture Heather took in celebration of gay parents! It totally brings me back to my early days of playing LIFE.

Where Are the Gay Parents in Children's Literature? Blog series begins Monday

2011-08-12T10:10:00.002-04:00

Kristine Asselin and I are hosting a blog series that explores the presence or lack there of gay parents in children's literature. The series begins Monday, August 15. Please come back and join in the conversation!

If you're interested in joining and have a book or two (or more) that you'd like to feature, you may email me at jonarntson AT gmail DOT com or send a Twitter message to @JonathonArntson.

Please feel free to download and save this banner if you'd like to spread the word.

And a Very Happy Hump Day to You

2011-08-10T08:20:00.002-04:00

AKA I have nothing to talk about. How are you doing? How are your virtual connections holding up in the summer months? What are your short-term and long-term goals. Share away!

A SCARY GOOD BOOK - Out Now!

2011-08-08T11:09:00.004-04:00

This spring, I organized a blog tour for Anita Laydon Miller and the release of her first children's e-book, Earthling Hero. That experience was one of the best I have had in my days of blogging, especially the part where I got to share the genius that is Anita with my other writing friends.

Well, my friends, that chance has come again. Instead of running a blog tour, I am participating in a mass posting.

Why? I am glad you asked: Anita's latest children's e-book is out!

What is it called? Well, it's scary and it's good and it's a book - it's called A Scary Good Book!

I cannot wait to read this $0.99 e-book for children, especially after Anita had the first chapter up at her blog a week ago. Her voice was strong and the premise is promising. Check out the blurb:

Twelve-year-old Hannah Stone tells everyone she’s “okay,” but that’s a total lie. Two years ago her dad was killed by a hit-and-run driver. The detective in charge of the case never found the driver, but he somehow managed to get Hannah’s mom to fall in love with him. The jerk. And speaking of love, Hannah’s developed a major crush on Ollie Ortega—he’s her best friend and the only one she can talk to—a crush on Ollie is so not a good idea.

Also not a good idea? Searching for a missing person with no help from the police. But that’s exactly what Hannah does when she finds messages in library books—underlined words that point her in the direction of someone who needs her.

And, suddenly, Hannah’s even further from okay. She breaks into a library, gets caught in a kidnapper’s web, and is stalked by her dad’s killer, all in an effort to save a life…but can she save herself, too?

Intrigued? You should be because this book will be a gem. I am reading it on the NOOK app on my phone, but A Scary Good Book can be read on any e-reader or computer. If you're still an e-book virgin, I suggest giving the experience a shot with one of Anita's books. They are fast-paced and you'll forget you're even reading on a computer.

Enjoy and thanks for helping support my friend Anita!

2011-08-05T08:49:00.003-04:00

TGIF! TGIF! TGIF! TGIF! TGIF! TGIF! TGIF! TGIF! TGIF! TGIF!

Um, so anyway. I posted What was supposed to be my Friday post on Wednesday because I was letting my finger move faster than my brain. So if you are so inclined: Friday's post (or I suppose you could just scroll down...).

Slight Changes, Big Things

2011-08-03T12:02:00.006-04:00

This post was meant for publishing on Friday, but I clicked PUBLISHED instead of SAVE. Please read onto the previous post: Two Down, Three to Go. You guys are super fans if you check out all the things I mentioned. I will leave this post up and link to it on Friday. Make sure you're here Monday for a HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT.

Over the last few weeks, my blog has been changing behind the scenes. Many of you have commented on the changing banner, but most of the tabs have changed as well. Oh, and I created a whole new blog to feature my graphic designs.

The Design Blog of Jonathon Arntson now showcases the designs that I spend unimaginable hours creating. The content that will fill this place explains why I have not completed a first draft of any of my novels.

Speaking of novels, check out the updated Works-in-Progress and The Second Person Experiment tabs above. Please, feel free to make comments and ask questions.

Two Down, Three to Go

2011-08-03T10:36:00.000-04:00

Two years ago I proclaimed myself a writer, quit my job, moved, and then lamented. Along with the lamenting, I created a long list of goals and the headliner of that tour was my goal to be published within five years.

I was thinking the other day, where should I be along that timeline? I am two fifths of the way...

In that same moment of pondering (which was of course in the shower), I realized I am content with where I am. I have a blog that attracts old and new fans alike, I am serving tables at a popular and successful restaurant where the tips are great, and I am 1/3 of the way to a bachelor's degree.

Of course, all of you will tell me I have a long list of accomplishments, but the reality is that I constantly feel like I am on the edge of doing something career-starting and life-changing. With that said, I do not lead a life of disappointments.

I remember writing a post about being an idea person, but not an executer. I'm okay with that.

So I learned several things over the past two years. I started out as a picture book author and quickly transitioned into a YA and MG writer because my PB's were too...sad and old sounding. So, I scrapped the PB dreams in the interim and focused on the stories of an owl who doesn't even try to fit in, two boys who fall in love with each other, and a girl who makes up stories about her neighbors for her own amusement.

As those stories progressed, they lost steam at different paces. Each project was replaced with a new one and the cycle repeated again and again.

And now here we are. I have not completed a book, let alone a first draft. I'm okay with that.

I am still learning what voice and tone are and why I seem to have perfected them already. I am still figuring out what a plot is. Even though I can remember my third grade teacher explaining climax and resolution twenty years ago, I have yet to understand what it really is.

My writing is full of rhetorical questions and rants, just as my life seems to be these days. But I am content with the unknown. It means I have places to go and things to discover.

Two years ago, the unknown was a hindrance. Today, the unknown is a blessing and a promise, and I'm okay with that.

Thank you for reading and for your continued support for the last year and a half - what a journey it has been. I cannot wait to share with you the successes of the next three years...I just have to go out and make them happen first.

Is This Real Life?

2011-08-01T11:06:00.000-04:00

We're getting the carpet cleaned throughout the house, so I have no option but to clean my room. If you saw the picture of my room in February, then you know how messy I am. My room is actually twice as bad as that photo and I work at 1:30...so we'll see if I can get it done.

Jonny out.

Oops...She Did it Again (Anita Laydon Miller's Sophomore E-Book)

2011-07-28T08:46:00.001-04:00

Anita Laydon miller is preparing her second novel for release within the next few weeks.

Do you remember the first time Anita e-pubbed?? Boy, alien twin, NORAD, adventure, garden of the gods, E.T. royalty?! Remember?!?!

This time, Anita is going girl and mystery. Check out the first chapter at her middle grade blog and I dare you to tell me that you don't want to read the rest of the book now.

Also, go back a few posts and join the conversation about reaching middle graders in today's world. We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Look at What I Did...

2011-07-27T16:04:00.002-04:00

I think this picture sucks, but it captures it enough. So, yup...I did it, I got another tattoo.

Thanks to my friend Britt (the one from the Katy Perry pics) for the absolute best birthday gift ever (which is in two weeks).

X Marks the Spot: How to Unplug

2011-07-25T10:40:00.002-04:00

Every one of us has proclaimed an unplug at some point in our blogging career. Whether it's for an hour, twenty-four hours, or a week, an unplug can be a great way to get back on task and accomplish something.

When I have done week long unplugs in the past, I end up posting. This is because my platform is too fun and I get too much enjoyment out of our virtual interactions. Ya know?

Why is it so hard to click the X in the corner and move onto another task? Why is it so easy to sit here for hours reading blogs, facebook posts, and tweets? Hm??

Think about the treasure behind that X. So many hours off the internet that can be spent writing, reading, and living.

Oh, but blogging is just so much fun! Ugh.

Somehow that close button is just as elusive as the X that marks a bountiful treasure. If you have the inkling to unplug, just do it and revel in the time you create for yourself. Make sure to meander around the skull-shaped cave opening.

Note: this is not me unplugging. I am only exploring the feelings behind the contemplation.

They Say Things Move Slowly in the Publishing World

2011-07-22T10:36:00.001-04:00

Are you signed up for the Publishers Weekly newsletters? I receive the Children's Bookshelf edition each week to stay abreast on book deals, e-book news, and whatever else is going on in the kidlit world.

This week's edition included an article titled YA Series Making Fast Tracks, which discusses the frequency with which sequels are published. Publishers are allowing less and less time between installments in hopes of keeping readers interested. Too long of a wait and you lose the readership, they say.

I hope you read the article because if you think about it, this demand affects us more than it affects the reader's experience. If your publisher required you to pump out books as fast as James Patterson (without the writer horde to write for you), how would you deal?

I think the notion that readers do not keep interest over the course of two years is a bit absurd. When I discovered the Percy Jackson series, the first three books had been published. I finished the third book just in time for the fourth's debut, and then I waited a year for book five. Of course the wait was difficult, I NEEDED to know what happened to Percy, Annabelle, and Grover, but life needed living and took up the time between my visits to Camp Half Blood.

Similar story with The Hunger Games. I read the first book shortly after it was published, just as the first wave of hype hit book lovers. When Catching Fire came out, I took the day off from work. As book three approached, I was beyond excited. I had pre-ordered my copy seven months ahead of time. Over the three years that it took for The Hunger Games trilogy to be published, my excitement never waned.

I think some publishers need a lesson in quality vs quantity.

Torn

2011-07-20T10:17:00.004-04:00

I'm torn between writing several posts that are at the front of my mind and working on a substantial paper for class. Of course I have to chose the latter, but the aforementioned posts will come about soon.

I appreciate you folks coming here and commenting. I am going back to the days when I responded to every comment in the comment section. And so I am giving the first commentor the opportunity to chose a topic. Ask or say anything you'd like and start the conversation! No pressure.

Also, I'll share the song that is playing right now...

Raise your hand if you were expecting the song to be from Tori Amos.

Hijacked! Kirkus's Review of The Dust of 100 Dogs

2011-07-18T07:00:00.027-04:00

In an effort to explore just how subjective book reviewing is, I am going to use a Kirkus review to contrast my views on an excellent book.

In 2009, Kirkus reviewed A.S. King's debut novel, The Dust of 100 Dogs. Below their review is in blue and my followup in (green).

Cursed by a strange man (strange does not do justice to the bizarre and pivotal character to whom the review refers) just after losing her one true love, Irish pirate Emer Morrissey must live 300 years in the bodies of various dogs before being reincarnated in 1972 as human Saffron Adams (I found the name Saffron to be completely arbitrary, especially since her mother is illiterate). Saffron retains all of Emer’s memories and is thought to be a genius for her great knowledge of history (and life/social skills!). As Saffron drags the reader through her uninspired life in a dysfunctional Pennsylvania family (where she is constantly suffocated by the hopes her underprivileged parents have placed on her future), she makes plans to travel to Jamaica and dig up the treasure that she buried there as Emer, 300 years ago. Later in the book (between the beginning and the 'later' Emer survives a Cromwellian battle in Ireland, is shipped off to Paris, and conquers the high seas of the Caribbean one European ship at a time), King introduces the creepy Fred (über creepy!), who has deviant sexual tendencies and carries on conversations with his mother in his head (among others)—and whose connection to Emer/Saffron isn’t revealed until the end (although the magnetism is apparent from the beginning). With its sloppy, uneven pacing, kitchen-sink plot (this implies that King threw in everything she could get her hands on, while I vehemently feel she was true to each separate time of Emer/Saffron's life with the abrupt changes) and boring characters, even the most loyal of pirate mateys will wish that Saffron and Fred would simply walk the plank (definitely true about the latter, and slightly true about the former until Saffron makes a change). The language is anachronistic during Emer’s story (I felt genuinely placed in 17th century Ireland and the Caribbean, although a few "slip-ups" seemed evident) and lacks spark when Saffron narrates (Saffron's narration feels realistic coming from a bored, pseudo-genius in Pennsylvania during the early Nineties). Despite Emer’s pirate adventures (the very best part of the book!), there is little excitement and the ending is anticlimactic (King is becoming known for her "anti-climactic" endings, she proves the real treasure was there all along). This is not buried treasure, just fool’s (<---that's me) gold. (Fantasy. YA (with elements of magical realism and lackluster lower middle class reality))

Perhaps this is nontraditional and a little brazen, but I found the exercise to be fun and helpful to my writing skills. The kirkus review is well-written after all, I just happen to disagree with most of its points. I reviewed King's followup, Please Ignore Vera Dietz (a Printz Honor book), a month ago. Both books contain mature writing and anarchic messages. King's next novel, Everybody Sees the Ants, comes out this fall - I very much look forward to writing that review.

Dissecting James Patterson's Latest Commercial

2011-07-15T12:04:00.003-04:00

Have you seen James Patterson's tandem commercial for Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life and Now You See Her? If not, watch below.

If you're like me, you appreciate the genius of the idea, but are slightly creeped out. I am not sure what creeps me out...I know that I am not impressed by the generic elementary-photo-day background behind James. I am impressed by the animated character, whose name I didn't catch during the few times I have seen the commercial.

The idea of the commercial is rather brilliant and I suspect many parents will buy Middle School for their children, especially for boys, as they head out to purchase Now You See Her. I am rather judgmental when it comes to the quality of Patterson's novels (Witch and Wizard anybody?) And I think what bothers me the most is that each kidlit story Patterson has published has had so much potential, but the stories were not allowed to grow and flourish. Witch and Wizard felt contained and clinical, not developed and deep. I lament what the novel could have been and I have yet to pick up the sequel.

I will give Middle School a shot, not because of the commercial, but because I know it will be a best seller and I want to have an informed opinion on the novel. I think it's obvious what my expectations are, but as always, I am remaining open-minded.

A Wonderful Story Found in Nightshade City by Hilary Wagner

2011-07-14T10:42:00.007-04:00

It took me a long time to get my hands on Hilary Wagner's Nightshade City, which bust onto the middle grade scene last fall. It's a shame, really, because so much of my own writing has improved since finishing the book last month. And my imagination has started spitting out so many ideas!

The novel, which starts out with a cryptic prologue, is full of nontraditional plot twists and schemes. Wagner is proficient in many areas of writing that make Nightshade City a joy to read. She has a flowery, yet purposeful way with words - never did I feel she spent too much or too little time on the details. Each character was well-developed and vivid. Likewise, the settings are magnificently described.

The eponymously named setting is one of the three places the novel takes place and is home to the rebel rats with whom the reader is sure to empathize. Nightshade City is created in response to the oppressive government of The Catacombs. The third setting is called Trillium or Topside, and this is where the humans live. Wagner gives the rats a believable point of view regarding our world. From the way she describes the lower layers of the human world, The Catacombs and Nightshade City could easily take place beneath the streets of London, Washington D.C., or Chicago.

Despite the dynamic settings, the best of the Nightshade City can be found in the characters. From the sinister military leader named Billycan, to the artfully adroit Mother Gallo, the non-child characters of this middle grade novel are exquisitely drawn in both word and pen. Between those two plot pillars, many characters stand for and against the old ways of the rats including several "teens" who play a vital role in the outcome of the plot.

We meet many rats who are caught in the middle and several more who are proponents for one way of life or the other. Wagner creatively taps the shoulder of each character as she moves along the story. This allows us to meet a large number of characters without ever getting confused. Also, the descriptions of the rats' coat colors, fur patterns, and body stench provide another way to keep track of each rat as well as getting a feel for how the they interact. Even earthworms make an appearance in the novel! The annelid species play an imperative role in the plot and the success of Wagner's endearing story.

The ending surprised me, not because of the outcome, but because of the sequence of events it took to get there. And I don't mean to say Nightshade City is anti-climactic, it's quite the opposite. I cannot describe it without giving anything away and if I have done my job correctly, you're already sold on Nightshade City. And the reassuring news is that a sequel, titled The White Assassin, comes out this fall. I am excited to see new stories begin and old ones wrap up.

Next week, I will be sharing an excerpt from Nightshade City to highlight Wagner's skills and to show the type of writing that connects with me most.

As always, I get nervous about posting reviews. Please give me feedback on what does and does not work.

Craptastic

2011-07-13T14:17:00.004-04:00

So...I joined Google+ just to do it and see what it's all about. I like it and the simplicity of the site is magnificent.

One bad thing though: I deleted the photos that were automatically posted there via my blog and Picasa. Doing so has removed the photos from my blog. I am very unhappy about this, but Google+ did tell me that would happen. I think I thought it was kidding...

I suppose I'll be restoring the photos over the next few weeks, but only the really good ones. This will be fun!

Yay.

Not.

Posts on Deck

2011-07-12T12:22:00.001-04:00

I've had several posts waiting in the wings because I have not had time to complete them. The list includes full reviews of Nightshade City and The Dust of 100 Dogs, both of which skyrocketed toward the top of my favorite books ever.

Other posts include pictures from my recent beach excursions and a video recording capturing the "barking" sound the sand makes when you walk on it (I cannot get the sound to work on the video, which defeats the purpose of the whole thing. Raise your hand if you want to see a ten second video of my swishing my hand through the sand. BORING.)

I have been sick, sick, sick, and I HATE it. I am never sick and I am not sure what is going on with my nose, throat, and sinuses, but I hope they sort themselves out soon. I even left work early which I haven't done in six years and I need to get back to the beach! Enough with the self-pity though because I have so much work to do.

Homework, writing, and volunteering are on the list. I need to find some discipline.

Speaking of discipline, Heather Kelly kicked off the Second Annual Tour de Writing! Check it out and challenge yourself to shoot for one of the jerseys. There are prizes to be had at the end of the month (I helped pick them out and trust me, you want in!)

So, stay tuned, I'll give some real updates and reviews in the next week.

Friday Five <---I thought I railed against these...

2011-07-08T10:59:00.001-04:00

1. I had a fun post planned in which I shared the barking sound the sand at the beach makes when you walk on it, but the video has no sound...

2. Work has been kicking my butt, but it has been a lot of fun! I am feeling less guilty about skipping my workouts and sleeping in.

3. I am on day two of three days off! Woohoo.

4. Beer.

5. I need a new phone and would love a white iPhone, but I am going to wait until the end of the summer and buy a phone with the money I have leftover after paying tuition for the fall. It's boring, but smart.

5.5 One of my favorite writing songs:

Katy Perry in concert!

2011-06-30T10:06:00.002-04:00

I was trying to think of a way to make Katy's performance from Tuesday night into a writing analogy, but whatever.

The show was so good and Katy is a blast. I think this is the best concert I have been to! My friend Britt brought me and we drove 3+ hours from West Michigan to The Palace of Auburn Hills (where the Pistons play).

Britt - me

"Teenage Dream"

"Peacock"

That guy's head was always in my way.

"E.T."

"Not Like the Movies"

"California Gurls"

(after photo below)

candy and heart shaped confetti!

(after)

Katy threw chocolate coins from the stage

It was so much fun! I can't wait for Katy's next tour.

Token Post

2011-06-27T10:58:00.001-04:00

Well, I have a lot to say, but so little time.

I am writing a research paper on locavorism. Here's my thesis, "With a determined mind and an adventurous spirit, West Michiganders can easily make the transition toward a rewarding and healthy lifestyle as a locavore." I am beginning to feel very passionate about my topic and I am excited to become an advocate for a win-win lifestyle. As you can tell from past posts, I have quite a bit of fervor for my town.

Work has been mind-bending. I pretty much work 2:30 or 4:30 to midnightish. My town is a tourist town and from Memorial Day to Labor Day each year we are inundated with folks from Chicago and Detroit by freeway and Wisconsin by ferry - there are a few thousand vacation homes here. The Fourth of July will probably be the craziest day of my life and I am terrified, BUT I will survive and probably walk away with enough money to make the scars worth it.

I am going to see Katy Perry in concert tomorrow! In general, I am not a fan of pop music, but Katy is so fun and cute. Almost every song she comes out with makes my life happier. I am going with one of my best friends and we are bound to have a great time!

What else? I'm so out of it.

How are you?

Another Virus Update

2011-06-21T12:47:00.001-04:00

I have received a few emails from you asking how I banished the virus. All I did was run Norton and it said it found 1 issue and repaired it. That was all. I am not sure if it had anything to do with the fact that the Norton I have is the most recent or what. Good luck! And please spread the word.

Here's my writing desk:

And here's my screen:

look at how long it's been since I opened WESTON's Word Doc. I've been using Google Docs for the new draft and haven't been referring to the old draft as an experiment.

UPDATES Virus Gone and 1,000 New Words

2011-06-18T09:58:00.001-04:00

Judging by the graph of pageviews, I think it's safe to say the virus is gone. My anti-virus software said it was a tracking something or other. I hope you have de-virused as well!

150 page views in one day = not normal. 20 in one day = normal.

Also, because of my "unpluggage", I have added 1,000 new words to various works. It doesn't seem like much when it's spread among four projects, but adding it up makes me feel pretty good about myself.

When I am not writing and researching, I am diligently working and reading more of the wonderful, wonderful, wonderful Nightshade City, by Hilary Wagner (<---she makes an awesome facebook friend)

Rutroh

2011-06-15T14:48:00.000-04:00

Hey guys, I have been getting massive page views by the hour that are linked to some of my followers' posts. I read at another writer's blog that she has a virus that is causing this. I am not sure how any of this is working, but I am running anti-virus software as I type this. Also, I am going to take a week off or so.

I've actually been planning this unplug. I am happy to report that this unplug is not the result of being overwhelmed. It is more a proactive step, since I have some major assignments coming up and lots and lots of research to do. And everyone should take time away from technology every once in a while.

Another reason for the unplug is because I'd like to spend more time on my two MG projects: SASQUATCH ELEANOR and WESTON GETS HIS WISE. I have been smacked in the head by several breakthroughs, but am I struggling to make them happen in text. We'll see what this week does for me.

Also, I am reading Nightshade City by Hilary Wagner. It is exquisitely written and the characters are described in rich, purposeful detail. I even like the bad guy. I'd ask what book you're enjoying...but I won't be here for a week to see your answers.

Taken By Surprise: PLEASE IGNORE VERA DIETZ

2011-06-13T07:59:00.001-04:00

It's been quite a while since I have worshiped a book. Part of that is because I am a writer and have forced the fanboy in me to take a backseat. I have never met A.S. King and I didn't even know PLEASE IGNORE VERA DIETZ existed until I saw a tweet about it and I picked it up from the library.

PLEASE IGNORE VERA DIETZ is an original story that follows Vera Dietz through her senior year in high school with many flashbacks and cameos from those around her (including her dead best friend). Never have I read a character's voice that was so honest, vulnerable, and upfront. We know every detail of how Vera is feeling, but not in an emotional annoying girly way. Vera does not want to face the music and King doesn't make her until near the end. But while Vera spends time trying to overcome the obvious obstacle in the book, she ends up growing in several other aspects of her life. Likewise, Charlie, the second main character, who may be dead but is mentioned on nearly every page in the book, has an extremely strong and fascinating voice.

With a short cast list where each character has his own (somewhat) strange agenda, PLEASE IGNORE VERA DIETZ has made it's way near the top of my favorites list. And the cover is one of the most compelling out there. Oh, and it's a Printz Honor...haha...my copy doesn't say that, now I know.

Photo from as-king.com

What book took you by surprise recently?

Down the Drain: Where My Ideas Go

2011-06-08T13:07:00.000-04:00

I'm smart and prolific (so you've all told me). But, what if you found out that most of my genius and brilliance goes to waste? It literally goes right down the drain. And that I have been okay with that.

You see, I do my best thinking in the shower. That shouldn't surprise anyone. The weird part is that I do not write down any of the ideas I contrive. I have been content with letting them circle and drop. I figured if they were that great, they'll come back like the spiders you wash down the drain that always return. Most time I regret this. Like the time I thought of the perfect title to my project titled The Second Person Experiment.

The title I came up with exemplified the attitude of the main character and inspired me to think of an ending. Somewhere between washing my face and scrubbing the bottom of my feet I loofah'd away the perfect title and subsequent plot point. Habitually, I have washed starting with my hair and ending with my feet for as long as I can remember. It struck me just last week that if I had implemented into my cleansing ritual a time to reflect upon my brilliant ideas that many of them would still be with me. And thus began the new ritual.

In the last week, I have had many breakthrough ideas. The odd thing is I remember them! I even thought about a story that has not seen the light of day in over a year. The story of an owl who doesn't fit into the mold of restrained and studious aristocracy that his family expects of him. It takes a war and becoming a hero, but in the end...

Just a teaser cover

Winner of POSSESSION

2011-06-06T15:55:00.000-04:00

Kris Asselin (yes, one of the winners of the question contest!) was selected at random to win a signed copy of Possession, by Elana Johnson. The book is officially released tomorrow, but has already been spotting in bookstores across the US!

Congrats Kris and happy book birthday tomorrow Elana!!!

Bad Timing

2011-06-03T13:44:00.001-04:00

I tend to think of my best posts on a Friday afternoon. I write them, feel super good, and then post. But no one reads blogs from 1:00pm Friday to 6:00am Monday. So, my brilliance goes unread.

Posts on deck are Down the Drain: Where My Ideas Go and This Staircase Reminds Me of the 30,000 Words I Need to Write by the End of June.

The staircase:

Which view do you prefer? From the bottom of the staircase or looking down from the top?

The photos are from the state park down the road.

Elana Johnson answers our questions about Possession and more

2011-06-01T06:00:00.098-04:00

Elana is my hero, and we are Elana's hero

I've watched Elana's career as a writer for a year and a half now. It's been inspiring, educational, and encouraging. It is obvious that blogging writers owe a lot to Elana. She has been transparent and tactful in a field that can be very emotional. Her advice posts cover everything from how to become a successful blogger to how to get a hold of oneself the day of a major conference or presentation. She may be all writer, but she is first and foremost all good.

Indeed, anyone reading this blog is indebted to Elana. She has helped me through some of my unique issues and this blog thrives in part from her belief in me as a writer and a friend.

In March, Theresa Milstein and I partnered in the Three Questions. Two Blogs. One Elana Contest. We had lots of fun, no doubt. Theresa and I both received amazing questions and I gave away my ARC (which was really really really hard to do, but I HAD to share Possession).

And share I did - I sent my ARC over Lake Michigan to my neighbors, Christy and Erica. I am not done sharing. One commenter from this post will be picked to win a signed copy of Possession! Contest details below.

She's a maniac, maniac!

In the month of May, Elana stopped by nine blogs! (See the complete list on my sidebar or at Elana's blog). That is some crazy blog touring! Good work, Elana!

And now, I am reconciling the other half of the March contest - three questions answered by Elana in a vlog! The first question was submitted by Kelly Polark and was too cute to ignore. The second question comes from Kristine Asselin and pertains marketing. The last question is a cheap one, from myself, but I know a lot of you are wondering. Especially those who have read the last page of Possession. (And trust me, I am not the only one chanting, "sequel! sequel! sequel!")

Elana answers our questions!

Thanks to Elana for including me in her Possession debut tour! It has been such a pleasure to be on the ride.

One signed hard cover copy of Possession giveaway details:
Leave a comment before the clock ticks midnight on Saturday, June 4
One entry per blogger and you must be a follower of my blog AND Elana's blog

Lastly, Elana will stop by to answer brief questions in the comments. I am following the twitter revolution and capping the questions at 140 characters. Use your best judgement. And yeah, I'll be tweeting your questions!

Go Kristen! And Variousness

2011-05-28T11:57:00.004-04:00

Kristen:

My friend and crit partner, Kristen Yard, writes the most chilling and awkward stories. Her brain works in ways mine is not even capable of and sometimes that leads to me giving a really bad crit. But, when she explains the scenario to me, it's like, "Duh, how did I not get that...?"

My skills as a crit partner and as a writer have grown in such unexpected ways by being friends with Kristen, a partnership that is sure to last for years. I, and anyone who wants to write creepy, have a lot to learn from her. Here's proof: SHADES OF GREY, by Kristen Yard.

And she's purdy.

Variousness:

I am going to see The Hangover 2 tomorrow. So. Excited.

I started a Tumblr...even though I cannot figure anything out to save my life. I want to add my twitter feed, but have no idea how. I am not even sure why I started an account other than the fact that all the other cool kids are doing it and their pages are so nice and streamlined. Tahereh's is extraordinarily funny and Ali's is adorable and informational.

I think my biggest reservation with Tumblr is that I have no idea how to connect with the audience I don't yet have. Ali 'liked' one of the few posts I have on there and I JUST figured out how to 'like' something (click the heart for those who were wondering).

I can't afford to spend too much time trying to figure out Tumblr. Kelly and I are going for a TKO with our manuscript and so far she's been pulling all the punches. Looks like it's my turn to jump in the ring, "At the ready!"

Deadlines and Other Motivators

2011-05-26T12:23:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, I arbitrarily chose #WritingMotivators as the #TwitterGame for the day. Then I realized my subconscious was in charge at that time because what a perfect topic it turned out to be.

Without giving time specifics, Kelly and I need to bust out this novel. She's moving soon (*prayers*) and I am back in classes in a week. Oh, and we have wannabe betas sending us funny emails as inspiration. (Part of me wants to delay The End just so I can see what extremes our friends are willing to go through to motivate us. What a strange food chain that would be.)

Okay, I totally copped out about with the non-specific time deadline. The end of June is our deadline. Yup, I said it. And guess what, next Friday we'll be drafting our first query AND sharing it with a few folks. EEK. But it's all in the interest of pushing ourselves to the limit and busting out an amazing novel. Shebang!

Oh, and you were all WAY too supportive of that Newbery talk last week. Why didn't anyone put me in my place? Gosh. You made me think we might actually be entering that territory. Okay, fine...we totally are. We aren't writing to the award, but it's kind of an interesting way to think.

SASQUATCH ELEANOR is beautiful so far and the potential we have as writers is staggering. And that is a mighty epiphany for me because I am focusing less on the expectations others have of our novel and more on the the responsibility we have to the 12 year old Kellys and Jons of today. Whoa. Heavy.

Thanks for reading guys!

Oh, and I put my iTunes on shuffle for the first time in years and holy moley I have diverse taste in music, but each song perfectly compliments its predecessor.

On Trends per Mandy Hubbard

2011-05-19T10:37:00.000-04:00

Author/Agent, Mandy Hubbard, posted a comprehensive list on trends. She complied feedback from editors via 37 meetings and broke it down for us.

I'm not going to lie: I skipped straight to the MG section to see what editors want in that area. I was freaking out over what I read. I thought, am I reading this correctly? Only 10% of one agent's submissions are MG?! They want "Magical realism, humor, big hooks, distinctive voices."?!?! Hubbard goes onto use the words inventive and standout.

You see, what I am doing is comparing the premise Kelly and I developed for our collaboration project and I am so confident in our project that it keeps me awake at night. Magical realism: Sasquatch. Humor: summer camp. Big hooks: our MC is compassionate, but full of original foibles. Distinctive voices: she dreams in Harry Potter and talks to snails.

Three nights ago, I asked myself, "How does it work when a coauthored book wins a Newbery? Do they conference call or will one of us know before the other? They should call me first, I'm in the eastern time zone."

My brain goes all irrational!

Back to Hubbard's post, did you read it? I went back and finished the whole post. What are your thoughts on trends? Think outside of the easy targets (vampires, zombies) and tell me some trends you dig and others you avoid. I know most writers say they don't write in line with trends - I have said so myself - but it's impossible to have an online presence and not notice which trends are up and coming and which are declining.

An Inadvertent Hiatus

2011-05-13T14:12:00.000-04:00

Since my computer has crashed and I am sending it in for repairs, I will only be able to use a computer when one from around the house is available. I am taking this time to focus on getting ready for school and writing. Therefore, I will be infrequently blogging and rarely tweeting.

In just a few weeks, several exciting things are taking place, all of which revolve around Elana Johnson and the June 7 release of Possession! She has a tour going on right now - make sure you go check out the awesome posts listed at her blog. Thankfully, I signed up for the last post.

Check ya later.

Update from the day of suck

2011-05-12T11:40:00.000-04:00

Yeah, yesterday equaled suck, but today is going alright. The loved one is home, thank you for the thoughts of hope and kindness.

Twitter: I randomly picked writer J.F. Jenkins from my Twitter followers as the winner of a token of appreciation in the form of chocolate. I picked out something really cute for her from chocolate.com.

Computer: My computer is officially in trouble. There's one possible fix, but I may lose most of my work. Um, not crying over it...I want to, but I am not going to. Thankfully, my current projects are on Google Docs.

Life: I am heading back to the state park today, not for a run, but for a casual stroll. I'll be collecting my thoughts and figuring out how I can finally get ahead after 25 years of playing catch up.

"What do you do when you see Madonna walking down the street?" #childhoodmemories

Twitter Loves Me?

2011-05-11T10:56:00.002-04:00

Why, it sure does!

Mon

5pm I rejoin Twitter. Heather was there to greet me, flowers in hand. I roll my eyes.

9pm I have 10 or so followers. I remembered why I liked Twitter.

12am I am at 25 followers and I logged off.

Tuesday

11am I log back onto find I had 48 followers, I tweet "Anyone think I can reach 100 followers within 24 hours? Six hours to go." Some wish me luck, others call me crazy. Kris calls me cocky and I LOL.

noon I make it to 50...uh, not the start I was looking for.

1pm 60 I offer up chocolate to one luck follower if I make to 100 by 5.

2pm 65

3pm 66 #100followersby5pmest

4pm 70

4:15 73 "45 mins to go! And I need 27 followers! Who wants #chocolate?? Spread the word. #100followersby5pmest"

4:30 88

4:45 88

4:50 88

4:55 88

5:00 91 "Okay, Twitter, here's the dealio. 9 away an it's just past 5. I'll give you an extension. #100followersbySIXpmest"

5:05 I leave my house for dinner with my sister and my nieces 6th grade band concert.

10:00pm I get home to find my computer has crashed in the time I was gone. I restart it.

midnight TWO hours later.................and it is still not working. It logs on after about twenty minutes, but will only load one thing at a time. Gmail wins and Twitter loses. I fall asleep waiting for the "repair wizard" or whatever to run.

8:00am My phone is ringing, I answer it, a loved one is in the hospital. I pace around the house, make coffee, and pet the doggies for comfort. And my computer still will not start I text Heather, she comforts me more.

9:20 I call my bro-in-law for help with the comp. Thick, black clouds roll in.

10:50, right now It's been raining, lightning, and thundering. That would be awesome, if it weren't such a bizarre day. Things will be fine. Yes they will be.

Today's twitter game is #ItTakesSoLong, so join in and help make my day more fun!

Oh and I MADE it past 100, so I will randomly choose a winner later today on Twitter!

It's True

2011-05-09T17:02:00.000-04:00

I am back on Twitter.

Searching for Saturday

2011-05-07T14:46:00.002-04:00

Do you get bored like I do? Well, that's because we are lazy. I went looking for some local beauty.

I have posted beautiful pictures of my area plenty of times, but they never get old...

If I'd had a Nikkon, you'd be able to see Ludington's lighthouse and some of the town through the haze.

So go and see what you can find within ten miles of your house.

May 5

2011-05-05T08:42:00.001-04:00

image credit

Happy Cinco de Mayo.

Happy last day of the semester to me.

Happy I really need a big tall beer.

photo credit

Yup. That'll do.

Replace the light urine-looking beer with a smooth dark beer.

All right. Good day.

AA is for...oh wait, we're done with that, check this out though!

2011-05-02T10:58:00.000-04:00

Anita and Kelly are having a dance off! I am not sure who's going to win, but choosing between my favorite author and one of my writing partners is scary stuff. Check out both of their blogs for their rules and some fly dance moves!!

Z is for Catching Some zzZZzz's

2011-04-30T07:00:00.001-04:00

Happy last day of April! I did it - I blogged everyday (excluding Sundays) for the whole month. Whew.

Thank you to those who came by several times. I am sorry my posts were not riveting and relied heavily on the use of music videos. I think the Anita Miller posts were pretty extraordinary.

Finals week is here and I'll be studying and getting ready for multiple presentations. By Thursday night, I'll be ready for one mighty nap. We should collectively nap. Like when they have the global turn out the lights for an hour thing. Let's all take a nap for an hour. Or just lay down and chill out, reflect, and .

Oh, and my inbox is at 995 emails; it's time for spring cleaning, methinks.

Y is for ...Yes?

2011-04-29T09:46:00.001-04:00

Anita is "finishing" up her Earthling Hero tour today at Project Middle Grade Mayhem!

A friend recently told me I am a scaredy-cat and I need to start saying yes to more things. And I have a ridiculous example. Yesterday the cafe on campus was closed because it's the end of the semester. In place of the cafe, the student council has a cookout of hot dogs, hamburgers, and BBQ(<---shamefully, I don't even know what that is*). One of my classmates saw me walking and she's like, "Take some food!"

This was in the lounge, by the way, so there were like fifty other students around, half of whom stopped and looked between me and the yeller. I froze...I looked around at the food, which was taking up four folding tables (it was a lot of food) and I just froze up. I was not connecting the dots in my head hot dog + bun + ketchup = blah. And so I said, "I gotta go," which was technically true because I was an hour and a half away from taking an exam I had yet to study for and the textbook was at my house.

I start walking toward the door, in this giant room, and she asks me why I am not taking anything. I had the perfect reason: it was pouring rain outside and I am one of those who park their car in the furthest corner of the parking lot. How could I possibly take two made up hot dogs across half a mile, when I already had a backpack, a half empty thermos of coffee, and my nerves? Yeah, no.

Then, I got home, and I rreeaallyy wanted one of those freaking hot dogs.

I need to learn to say yes.

* My Southern friends are rolling their eyes at this

X is for The xx "Islands"

2011-04-28T07:00:00.003-04:00

I win the X post - look at how many there are in the video!

And I just had to include my favorite The xx song.

W is for I Wonder

2011-04-27T09:55:00.001-04:00

fallor ergo sum

V is for Vicarious

2011-04-26T09:52:00.000-04:00

I have said this before: I need to start living my own life and stop piggy-backing of others. Operation: Inhibition Annihilation (O:IA) is a major part of that. In an effort to give myself some life skills, I am going to take on tasks that I hope will give me some independence, confidence, and self-reference. I have no idea what these things will be, but let's count becoming a server as the first of many self-imposed ego boosters.

Please, feel free to share stories of when you overcame a fear of doing something or worked hard for something and persisted until it paid off. Also, I'll take suggestions.

To clarify, I am not talking about sky-diving here (although I so want to do that, but it's way too expensive). And I am not talking about joining the military either (which I did want to do, long story).

Does this post make any sense? I am realizing it is quite vague. I am interested in seeing how you interpret it.

And just because - music from one of my writing playlists:

"Honor Amongst Thieves" These United States

U is for Understanding

2011-04-25T08:56:00.000-04:00

Last summer, I debuted a smorgasbord of new blogs that I thought captured my varied interests. It turns out it is impossible to run multiple blogs without a co-captain. The blog I miss the most is Know Diversity because I think it captured my spirit as a writer for children and teens.

In Know Diversity's short life of three months, I discussed a few books that I felt pushed diversity and tolerance - two things that are important to me. I had a guest post from my good friend Dena, who gave an in-depth review of Look Me in the Eye by John Elder Robison. I miss that blog, I do. But, like an idiot, I deleted the blog and its contents. Why I thought I'd still have access to the material after hitting delete is beyond me.

And so, today, I am starting work on the rekindling of Know Diversity, as a page here at Jon's Life. I need to recommit myself to personal growth and the constant will for understanding (and trust me, that is greatly needed when observing a room of thirty high school sophomores). I'll also be working on more blog banners, you guys liked the bold ones, which incidentally take the longest, so I'll have to create a balance between easy and difficult.

I won't bore you with the details of my schoolwork to-do list, but I can tell you that the semester ends in two weeks! Oh, and Operation: Inhibition Annihilation is going well*. I have a few issues while serving tables that I need to work out, like speaking more loudly and clearly, becoming more familiar with the menu, and listening for details. And I need to take away plates when guests are finished eating and before they order their free ice cream...I keep forgetting that!

* I'll post a picture of my uniform for Anita soon - I keep forgetting to have someone take one.

It's all about balance, right? Yeah, it's always about balance.

T is for Theme

2011-04-23T10:43:00.000-04:00

I am sorry if you thought this was going to be some awesome post about themes in writing, but it's not. I'll do that another day.

Anywho, I am asking for your input. I have been changing my banner every 7-10 days because I think it's fun to do. Plus, I had made up several banners in one creative spree, but have none on-deck. I am a total novice when it comes to graphic design, but I like a challenge. And so I ask you: gimme some themes and ideas for banners.

Here are the retired banners:

(For Saint Patty's Day)

S is for Sanguine

2011-04-22T08:52:00.002-04:00

That is all.

R is for R&R

2011-04-21T06:00:00.000-04:00

I have always thought R&R meant rest and relaxation, but I recently discovered it's a military term that actually means Rest and Recuperation. I love the power of words. Relaxation is banal while recuperation is more vivid and implies the recuperator is on the mend from some drawn out battle. (Thank you, servicemembers, for your hard work and sacrifice!)

According to Wiki, R&R can also mean:

rescue and resuscitation

read and review (as in book bloggers...who knew?)

recent and relevant

resettlement and rehabilitation (when would you ever use that?)

Other than the last one, I think the phrase "we can all use a little R&R" is absolutely true in any of these cases.

Speaking of rescue and resuscitation, your comments on my plea for a butt-kicking are sinking in and I have mapped some things out in my mind. And now to get those thoughts onto Google Docs...

Q is for Quota

2011-04-20T08:45:00.002-04:00

Anita and Natalie are hanging out today at Literary Rambles. Go, now, and it's okay if you don't come back here.

And Paul is spotlighting debut author Timothy Power, whose MG book looks like an instant classic. (Paul is giving away a copy.)

I assigned myself the task of writing half a mg novel with my friend Kelly, you all know that. Well, I need to stop looking at it as pulling in my half of the words and start looking at the finish line. Kelly seems convinced that SE will be my first published book. I like that idea and it feels like a great place to jump into the arena of pub'd authors. Here's my main problem: how do you measure that? How do I set obtainable goals when I am not even sure what I am doing. How do I reach my phantom quota?

You know that toy that every tourist trap shop has where no matter how you hold it, it slides through your hands? Yeah, it's hard to describe. Anyway, that is SASQUATCH ELEANOR for me. I have a hold on it one second and the next it's on the floor writhing. And perhaps I am blinded by the grandeur of this book being good enough to jump start my career. Of course, that's an incentive isn't it? And the book could jump start Kelly's career too. Wow, this book has got to get rolling.

I said it before and a few of you gave light-hearted jests, but I am looking for some hardcore crit partner heckling and/or threatening. Are you there for me? Kelly would be much appreciative of your ~~jeering~~cheering me along. (Even if she might deny that.)

Let me give you prompts. What would you like to see in a mythological character who is actually very real? What type of attributes are exciting and believable in a thirteen year old girl who makes friends with an unlikely being? When you are willing to fight for something, how far will you go?

P is for Potatoes, Peanut Butter, and Pork

2011-04-19T09:23:00.000-04:00

After a string of paltry self-reflective posts, it is clear I need to move on. I believe the best way to move on is to talk about food. I have a lot of favorite foods and even more least favorite foods. Today, I'd like to celebrate the foods I love that start with the letter P.

Potatoes:
baked, boiled, fried, mashed, salad, scalloped, twice-baked, twice-baked mashed

Peanut butter:
ANYTHING Reese's, in and on ice cream, J-E-L-L-O Peanut Butter Squares, on Oreos, pb cheesecake, Peanut Butter M&M's, straight from from the jar

Pizza:
Pan crust with pepperoni, ground beef (NOT sausage), extra green olives, and extra black olives. And I like the edges blackened. If one cm² of that pizza is soggy, I will not touch it. Occasionally, I'll order a supreme.

Pork:
Easter's this week. Need I say more?

Did I leave out any variations? Do you have a favorite food that starts with the letter P? Chances are it's one of my least favorites.

O is for Once Upon a Time

2011-04-18T09:55:00.000-04:00

Hey there!

Anita is stopping by Carol's for the day with some words to live by!

Once upon a time, in a land called West Michigan, there was a kid named Jon. He didn't have typical dreams in life. His dreams were not as palpable as everyone else's seemed to be: doctor, engineer, architect, consultant (still trying to figure out what that is), etc. Rather, his dreams were elusive and impossible to capture. Jon was too afraid (and perhaps too stubborn) to go after them for his dreams had a life of their own.

They still do. It's a fun game, really; chasing my dreams around is my favorite way to waste time. Think Peter Pan and his shadow (minus the flying). As my dreams become more apparent and less like apparitions I feel more lifted and more...powerful - as weird as that may sound. There's less looking these days and more living - another side effect of being so stubborn.

The Jon of ten years ago is still very much alive, he's fed regularly. He is losing power, however, and perhaps the go-getter Jon will have the upper-hand soon.

FYI: Operation: Inhibition Annihilation goes into full implementation tonight AKA I start my new job as a server. Give up or live up, right?

Oh, and I have spent about twelve hours observing a teacher at a local high school. It's been very enlightening.

Thanks for stopping by!

N is for New Beginnings (or not)

2011-04-16T10:14:00.004-04:00

Wouldn't that make a nice post? N is for New Beginnings... But you see, I have rebooted myself too many times, there are no new beginnings left. But that's okay because I finally realized there's no need for new beginnings in my life. I need new courses, plans, and directions, for sure.

Instead, let's try a new motto, a new direction, and the same old me? Well, I tried that. Yes, I did. It didn't totally pan out, but pieces of that mindset linger in my mind today. And so I am taking those little bits and putting them back together to rekindle the motto:

I am not going through the same rigmarole that I went through last September, but the idea is that I am choosing to live up to my expectations of myself, rather than give up altogether. Last year the theme song was "Shut Up and Let Me Go" from The Ting Tings. And the new theme song is...

"Play it Loud" The Black Eyed Peas

(links to YouTube video)

On I go, playing it loud and living up!

M is for Meet Me Halfway

2011-04-15T07:51:00.001-04:00

Anita and Heather are chatting (and there's a fun video involved)!

Me: Ugh, I am over school and zero mullah.

Myself: Ugh, I am over crappy jobs and zero mullah.

Me: Yeah, well you don't have to work on homework over forty hours a week.

Myself: Yeah, well you don't have to wait on annoying customers, mop, and stock milk twenty hours a week.

Me: I thought you quit...

Myself: Oh, I did. I start as a waiter on Monday.

Me: Sweet.

Myself: Yeah, I know.

Me: Whatta ya say?

Myself: Meet me half way?

I: Finally.

L is for Loser

2011-04-14T06:00:00.001-04:00

Oh.

Um.

Yeah.

No time to rack my brain for smart-sounding content, enjoy this video instead:

K is for Kelly

2011-04-13T07:52:00.000-04:00

Two birds, one stone.

Kelly is hosting Anita on her Earthling Heroes tour today!

Kelly is a cool chick.

Kelly and I are writing a book together.

If you'd like me to do my part and get the first draft finished, email me - I need a talking to.

And trust me, you want us to finish it:

J is for Jonathon

2011-04-12T06:00:00.000-04:00

I is for iTunes Most Played

2011-04-11T08:37:00.001-04:00

Anita is at Darby Karchut's blog today!

Most of you know how much I love music. I checked the top played songs in my iTunes library to see what they say about me. Honestly, the top two are only there because they were on my Study! playlist last summer and last fall. The third is on there because it's a newfound favorite.

Most played songs

#1 "Swansea" Bombay Bicycle Club

#2 "Twenty Two" Wakey!Wakey!

#3 "Mall and Misery" Broken Bells

Most played albums

#1 Abbey Road the Beatles

#2 Castaways and Cutouts The Decemberists

#3 Third Eye Blind Third Eye Blind

More telling are the top albums, which I chose based on the number of plays of the songs within the album. Abbey Road is a duh. I am a Beatles fan through and through. Castaways and Cutouts is the first The Decemberists album I owned and it is still my favorite of theirs. Third Eye Blind had one of the best albums of the nineties and when I write, their music placates to my nostalgia.

It's funny how I thought listing three songs could say something about me. Right under those front-runners is list of songs with over a hundred plays. They are eclectic, indie, and soothing - with the occasional happy dance song ("Time to Pretend" MGMT). Now all I want to do is lay around and listen to music all day!

H is for Heather

2011-04-09T06:00:00.000-04:00

Heather Kelly is my writing partner. She's a big part of the reason I am so freaking busy all the time. That is to say, she's a big part of the reason I will be a successful writer one day.

We are collaborating on several fiction and writing advice projects, and we work so well together that we collectively meddle in other people's writing lives (you know who you are and we love you!)

I really don't think I could find a more perfect writing partner. Thank you, Heather. If there's one weakness you have, it's not kicking my butt enough.

* Hey WIBIJ fans and those who are curious cats: we'll be back with a big announcement in the next few weeks!! I hope you're ready for some fun this summer...