Float Wisely: Writer's Block and Other Nonsense

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

We all get writer's block and blah, blah, blah. Even if you're not a writer, I'm sure you still get writer's block when you're composing a breakup email to your cheating boyfriend or attempting to write something sweet (and more emotional and memorable than what your little sister is going to write) in the Mother's Day card you bought twenty minutes before meeting your mom for brunch on her annual holiday. *shrugs* Writer's block can pop up anywhere.

The truth of the matter is this: We all get stuck. Whether we're writing or drawing or building or learning...sometimes we hit a wall and it breaks our nose and then we're bleeding all over the place and the last thing we want to do is charge the bricks again.

But we need to. And this is what I tell myself when I'm stuck. 

Don't try this at home. I'm being figurative.


I need to charge. Because the brick wall that just broke my nose is like Platform 9 3/4 from Harry Potter and I am never going to get to Hogwarts if I don't run full-speed into the wall. (Wow. I had no intention of throwing a HP reference into this post, but whatever. It applies.)




The ANEW Blog Tour!

Sunday, September 16, 2012
HEY-O!
It's blog tour time! This is my first official blog tour so I'm flipping excited! *jumps up and down and squeals* And guess what? Each blog in the tour will be hosting a giveaway of Anew! That means you'll have sixteen chances to win! Yay!


Check out the super awesome tour stops--starting TOMORROW!

Monday, September 17 - BookshelfBanter Giveaway, Review & Interview
Tuesday, September 18 - ReaderGirls Giveaway, Review & Guest Post "Why I Write Fantasy/Paranormal"
Wednesday, September 19 - In Between Reading and Writing Giveaway & Review
Wednesday, September 19 - SimpleBooks
Giveaway, Review & Interview
Thursday, September 20 - PapercutsYA
Giveaway & Guest Post "The Differences Between Sophie & Carter and Anew"
Thursday, September 20 - Book and a Latte
Giveaway & Excerpt
Friday, September 21 - Denim-Jacket Librarian Dishes
Guest Post "The Fountain of Youth, Avalon Style"
Saturday, September 22 - Moosubi Reviews
Giveaway & Interview
Sunday, September 23 - Captivated Reader
Review & Guest Post "Start With A Song, End With A Chapter"
Monday, September 24 - Hypable
Interview
Tuesday, September 25 - Starting the Next Chapter
Giveaway & Review
Wednesday, September 26 - Novel Thoughts Blog
Giveaway, Review & Character Interview
Thursday, September 27 - The Readiacs 
Review & Interview
Friday, September 28
- MundieMoms
Giveaway, Review & Interview
Saturday, September 29 - Head Stuck in a Book
Giveaway, Review & Guest Post "High School Head Rush"
Sunday, September 30 - LadyBug Storytime
Giveaway, Review & Guest Post "Dream Cast for Anew"


If you're a blogger and are interested in participating in a future Archers of Avalon blog tour, please contact Kelly with InkSlinger PR. kpsimmon@gmail.com

My Sister Doesn't Let Me Suck

Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Every writer needs to have someone in their life that can read their manuscript over and say,

"This sucks. Try again."

For me, that person is my little sister, Cameron. 

Top Five TV Moments on The CW

Wednesday, September 5, 2012
I'm a sucker for pretty much any show on The CW. That being said, I've compiled a list of my favorite moments from some beloved CW shows. (Both new and old.) Here are the top five:

1) Roswell - the one where Max comes back from the future to tell Liz she has to break his heart, otherwise the world will be destroyed.


This is one of my favorite episodes--not just scenes--of all shows, ever. Future Max is super hot and all badass, so that's fun, but mostly I loved this episode because it was so freaking heart-wrenching. Future Max has Liz break up with him so he can fall in love with the girl he's destined for? So sad! I totally cried like a thirteen year-old girl.


Book Two Is Hell

Monday, September 3, 2012
While I was writing book two in my Archers of Avalon series (Awry) there were several days that nearly killed me. And I mean this this literally. There were days when I just wouldn't eat because I was so stressed about the storyline. And nights where I would stare at my ceiling instead of sleep because I was so worried about how book two was going to be received by readers. I was sick to my stomach, peeps.

I call this writing period of mine "The Dark Months".

During these months of darkness, I wanted to blog about all my hatred of book two and let people know that I was failing miserably as a writer and, therefore, book two was probably going to suck.

But I didn't.

Mostly because, if I was going to sit down and force myself to write something, I was going to write about Tristan. ;)

But now, two months after the release of Awry, I think I'm ready to share my thoughts on writing book two in a series because I think (and maybe some authors would agree) that book two is a very different monster than book one.

Ready? *dramatic pause*