It's been ages since I used this blog, and I don't really see the need for two...

So if you're only my friend on this one, I plan to friend you on my other blog. Friend me back, or not, that's fine;)

Jenn

Got this from david_de_beer:

1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle.

2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.

3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.

ok, so here we go:


IF SOMEONE SAYS ‘ARE YOU OKAY?’ YOU SAY?

He took my stapler (Snippet from Office Space)


HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?

Curious, Olive


WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?

Only Time, Enya


HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?

A Little Piece of Heaven, Avenged Sevenfold


WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?

One Day I'll Fly Away, Moulin Rouge


WHAT’S YOUR MOTTO?

Points of Authority, Linkin Park


WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?

Brackish, Kittie


WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?

Because You Live, Jesse McCartney


WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?

Long Ways, Urban Mystic


WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?

Traffic, DJ Tiesto


WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?

Alive, P.O.D. (LOL!)


WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?

Dance With Me, 112


WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?

Truly Madly Deeply, Savage Garden


WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?

Absurd (Whitewash Edit), Fluke


WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?

Du Hast, Rammstein


WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?

Going Under, Evanescence


WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?

Live Your Life, Tantric


WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?

A Song for Yukiko, Tricky, featuring John Suzuki & Yukiko Takahashi



PS - I only chested a few times, when the Griffin Technology iTrip channels popped up or duplicate artists did. Honest.

Jenn

Because I'm bored and awake...

Your result for The Ultra Ultimate Personality Test...

The Protector

You scored 24 Extroversion, 74 Intuition, 55 Emotional, and 36 Spontaneity!

Take The Ultra Ultimate Personality Test at HelloQuizzy

A friend of mine posted a link to this blog page that's changing the names on some famous books in humor.

I thought most of them were cute:)

Jenn

I found this online after following a link to a different post by the same person:

"there is a sweet spot in query word count between 250 and 350 words. Anything shorter than 250 usually (but not always) seems too short and anything longer than 350 usually (but not always) seems too long."

Flash fiction writers should be able to fully understand the length (and depth) of this size of a query.

I read more of his blog and found this:

"Tight, concise three sentence opening paragraph. Tells me the plot, genre, and leaves me wanting more."

The link above is to a query letter he pounced on right away. It's different than I'm used to, with a one-liner, one sentences asking a question, then one more link explaining the word count, genre, and basis of the book.

I followed a few more links and see that he, in particular, likes queries that have this format in there:

My XXX,000 word {type of} novel, TITLE, explores or follows {what}.

He also says this:

"A good flow is perhaps the most important aspect of any good query. Whenever I come across an awkward turn of phrase (like "I've written a 100,000 word historical fiction.") or extended passive voice ("the main character was betrayed and has decided to not be a sucker anymore"), or if there's a poor word choice where it's clear it's not a typo, 99% of the time I reach for the rejection button. Professional writers just don't make mistakes like this -- the sentences wouldn't look right to them."

He also wants the quest and the conflict clearly stated.

And this:

"Then in the third paragraph she brings it home by giving a nice sense of the themes. At this point I wouldn't even have needed the writerly qualifications in the fourth paragraph"

But I am concerned by his liking people who mention his blog. I research agents carefully, and will certainly read their blogs, but to me it sounds like fawning.

And since I'm already there and reading it, let me continue with the Query Letter Mad Lib:

First I'm going to need these things:

[Agent name], [genre], [personalized tidbit about agent], [title], [word count], [protagonist name], [description of protagonist], [setting], [complicating incident], [verb], [villain], [protagonist's quest], [protagonist's goal], [author's credits (optional)], [your name]

Again with the "personalized tidbit." Huh. I thought these were out of date?

He goes on to say:

"if you can't fill this mad lib out in two seconds and craft a pretty decent query letter, something might be wrong with your novel.

These are the ingredients that absolutely positively completely totally must be in your query -- if they are not, something is wrong."

Meanwhile, here are things to leave out of a query letter

I thought this stuff was useful, and you can follow all of the links to read everything for yourselves...

Jenn

A miscellaneous email from a friend took me to this place where you send 1st chapter or prologue as an attachment and he'll critique the first couple of pages.

Um, awesome!

But anyone know the ramifications of having your first chapter or prologue posted for the world to read?

I think I'd like to try this with all three of my current WIPs, one at a time, of course, starting with FH. Has anyone done it? If so, what were your impressions?

Meanwhile I'm busy reviewing, though my eyes are starting to get sore. I did four reviews today, but still have no idea what the current rankings are.

Oh wait! She posted them just in time!!

3 Brenta
5 Greg
0 Leah
7 Jennifer (AKA ME)
1 Mike
3 Eva
1 David
2 cathy
4 Jennifer
3 Cacy
9 L. David
8 Patty
5 Barbara
0 sheryl
1 Jessica
7 Ruthanne
1 Elizabeth
3 Stelios
1 John
2 Lindsay

So it's L. David, Patty, and then ME...

And I'm not too far behind. And my latest review just missed her deadline, so technically, unless Patty just posted another one, I'm tied for second. Not bad.

And the best part is so far I've only review people I owe. I will *try* to review everyone I owe during this thing (although obviously those people - Patty, Crash, and Anna - I owe more than three to will continue to be reviewed as they post new stuff). Of course if you don't have anything posted, I can't review you. So... post!

Jenn

... are amazing! Ever need to buy me a gift? It's easy as pie, now:)

My mother got one at work and gave it to me. In two seconds I'm listening to new music I've been craving. Awesome.

This is the most fun I've had reviewing in ages...

Jenn

I know who one of the upcoming EC choices is! Hah! And I'm not telling who it is:)

I will admit that I'm jealous, though. How DO you get noticed for such a wonderful thing?

E? You did it once upon a time. Remember anything special about that chapter to get it chosen?

Is it luck? Having alot of reviews? Knowing people who know people?

Or is it really based on having a kick-ass post? I'm 50/50 for wanting that to be the answer. 50% for because it should be merit-based, and 50% against because that indicates nothing I've posted has been kick-ass.

Somebody enlighten me... I've been a member for what, ten years now? Something like that. I'm sick of being invisible.

::Jumps up and down waving hands in the air like an idiot, shouting "Pick me! Pick me!"::

Yes, I'm in a zany mood right now. Finishing something as monumental as a new book is super kick-ass exhilarating. I wanna throw a party or something:) Don't think that would work considering everyone who reads this blog lives in different states.

So instead I'm bouncing around like an idiot. Good thing the kids are in bed:)

Jenn

A friend of mine asked me how to network at a writing convention. I don't have the faintest idea but I'd better get one asap, huh?

I did a little bit a research and learned this much:

"You go to writing conferences and learn from panelists. Afterwards, you query the agents whom you met or saw and mention the conference in your first paragraph."

I realize a conference isn't the same as a convention, but they both have agents and panels, so I assume they're safe to lump together for this exercise.

So if I had to guess based on this, I should bring synopses, sample chapters, and maybe the whole book on CD(?) and go to the convention, not intending to propose anything, but instead to meet. Then you go home and query the people you met, mentioning meeting them at the convention.

Does that sound right? Anyone?

I'll keep looking, but the panel idea is a good one. All conventions have various panels and discussions held for audiences; I've been asked if I want to join a few panels at Archon 32 and decided to email the people at WFC to see if I could volunteer for them, too. I got a little email back saying they'd let me know. I figure as long as you have an opinion on something and don't mind answering questions, volunteering for a panel or two can't be bad, right?

Of course I'm an editor, as well as a published author, so maybe you need some sort of resume to be accepted on a panel. Who knows? For Archon I received an email saying they'd seen on my website that I was attending the convention, and asked if I'd like to help out. How did they find my website? Who knows. Anyways, they sent me a questionnaire about my interests and experience and said they'd get back to me if I fit on any of the panels. Still waiting...

Anyways, I'd love feedback on how to network at a convention. I don't want to look like an idiot carrying around a folder of synopses...

Jenn

I'm looking for a name for these beasts:

Dark as onyx from head to tail, with large pointed ears that could hear sounds up to five miles away and large jaws filled with brilliant white teeth, both animals were designed to hunt down and kill prey quickly and efficiently. With the souls of two gifted humans, they were intelligent, as well. They knew who their targets were, and would use their new forms to do what no other had yet succeeded at. As big as small horses, with fangs a finger length long, the snarling beasts continued their steady, slow approach. One animal snarled as if laughing. You could see the intelligence and hatred within their eyes. Lurching to its feet, one beast opened its massive jaws and took the top half of a guard’s body off.

I haven't come up with a name I like so any suggestions would be wonderful:)

Jenn

Getting my daughter's archaic computer to function properly is an ongoing nightmare. Her startup disk is full, so there's no room to install system updates. I had to delete most of the programs/files to make enough room, so cross your fingers it works. It takes about an hour for anything to download, so I told her I'd check back in after a while and see if it's working.

I have another old computer I need to try and get up and running. It has more space, but I need to install the most recent operating system. Unfortunately, I only have it on DVD and that ones doesn't have a DVD drive. I keep meaning to take it somewhere and let them get it up and running, or get a DVD drive for it.

Right now she just needs internet browsing capabilities (with parental controls, of course, because the internet isn't kid-friendly) and she'll have to deal with what we have.

I wish computers lasted longer before the became obsolete... Right now I don't have the time, the patience, or money.

Speaking of money, can you believe I had to write almost $230 worth of checks to the school this week? Between book rentals, lunch money, magazine subscription fees, gym clothing fees, pictures, and all the other little admin fees the school charges, I'm going to be broke for a month. That's not even taking into consideration the long list of school supplies we bought before classes started. Those were about $120. Bookbags, gym shoes, folders - they have to bring their own boxes of tissues even! When did public school get so expensive?

Jenn

So today was Bree's first full day of school, and Dom's first day of school ever. It's also the first and only time they'll be in the same school together. They get out of school at different times, so we got to talk to Dom about his first day. He got a sticker today for reading a word in a book for the teacher, and he saw his big sister during lunchtime. She even gave him a kiss:) They're both getting so big, it's kinda sad and scary.

But it was so quiet here without them, and I like quiet:)

Baby boy is taking a nap, so after Bree got home I sent her and Dom out to play. Let them run off some energy before dinner...

Meanwhile I'm doing some heavy-duty writing, as well as working on a timeline for the book so I know exactly what happens on which day. That helps with the streamlining, too.

Overall a great day.

Jenn

So I decided to try another one of these things, and this one isn't as depressing:

The Blogalyser reveals...

Your blog/web page text has an overall readability index of 13.

This suggests that your writing style is conventional
(to communicate well you should aim for a figure between 10 and 20).Your blog has 11 sentences per entry, which suggests your general message is distinguished by complexity
(writing for the web should be concise).

CHARACTER MATRIX

male		female
self		world
past		future

Your text shows characteristics which are 55% male and 45% female
(for more information see the Gender Genie).
Looking at pronoun indicators, you write mainly about yourself, then the world in general and finally your social circle. Also, your writing focuses primarily on the present, next the past and lastly the future.
</small>
Find out what your blogging style is like!

I guess conventional isn't bad, but it sounds so... unoriginal. Herd-like.

Jenn

An OWW Summer Crit Marathon!

The Summer Crit Marathon will last for one week, beginning on Monday, August 26th and continuing through Sunday, September 1st.

You may join at any time, but you must sign up to be counted. The "official" date/time assigned to the critique will be US EDT (GMT -4). Watch the OWW discussion list for more details and updates.

Perfect timing! I have a bunch of reviews to return and here's my extra incentive!

Let the games begin!

Jenn

Well, my story "Aliens Abducted by Michael Jackson" wasn't a winner of the spam contest... poohey!

Here's the winners:

It was a tough contest to judge — in the end we received some 175 entries, inspired by spam titles ranging from the innocuous “Angelina Jolie splits from Brad Pitt” to the unforgettable “Parsimonious Wang.” When all is said and done, though, the spam must be filtered — and three winners were finally left sitting there in our prize-winning inbox:

Third place: “Mexico Delivered At Your Door,” by Kristine Duffey

Second place: “Boy Eats Fried Rat, Pictures,” by Eric Grissom

First place: “Let Yourself Look Spiny,” by Richard Howard

Congratulations to the winners! You’ll be reading their stories here at WeirdTalesMagazine.com shortly — and there’s also a list of honorable mentions to come.

Maybe I was an honorable mention... we'll have to wait and see...

Jenn

So I read through some reviews of my chapters on OWW and one thing jumped out at me. One person (you know who you are) said "there was no question, so there can't be a reply." That got me thinking.

Here's the dialogue:

"Good evening," Baccer greeted him.

"Yes it is," Ryant replied. "How is the portal coming?"

Now, I always thought a reply is a follow up, not necessarily an answer to a question. If someone says it's hot, I can reply that it's been hot for weeks. Right?

Well, the dictionary is a bit ambiguous. It says:

To reply is to make answer in words or writing; answer; respond: to reply to a question.

I'm not arguing the review, I'm just curious if I've always misunderstood the meaning of reply or if it does work here.

Jenn

Well editing tonight chopped about 16,000 words! Geez! Alot more than I thought. I have about two chapters to change pov in, a couple new transitions to write, and then it's just the ending... assuming the answer to my previous post is to leave the snippet povs as is.

The kids are being angels and hubby was called in to work tonight, so I might just have this thing thrown together tonight:) My mother is stopping by tomorrow to stay the night, so whatever I get done by dinner time is about all that will get done for a few days. Wish me luck!

Jenn

Other than the protagonist, the antagonist, and the love interest, I prefer books that have few POVs. But what do people think about snippet povs? You know, those one or two scenes from a random pov, that helps thicken the plot, or give a different perspective on one of the main characters. I have quite a few of them right now in First Heir, and I need to know if I should slash and burn them, or if having a few snippet povs isn't something to worry about...

Jenn

All in less three hours, I've written TWO 500 word contest entries, done a review on oww AND made dinner, as well as dished out some dessert. I'm on a roll, baby!

My latest entry? "You deserve to be a giant!"

Gotta love spam email, huh?

It's also posted on oww until tomorrow night. My first one lassoed a nice review already, which is super-exciting.

I shall see about writing some more tonight, but right now I have a fussy 1 year old who is apparently done with his dinner. Or should I say, the dog is done eating his dinner up off the floor from where baby boy threw it:)

Jenn

So, I just posted something to OWW that makes me crack up with how stupid it is:)

If you're on OWW member and have some time before tomorrow night (Sunday) I'd love for you to check it out. It's just under 500 words...

It's titled: "Aliens Abducted By Michael Jackson"

Yep. I'm still laughing...

Jenn