justine_currie | Recent Entries

Welcome! *waves* Glad to have you drop by. :)

Here you will find entries and discussions on writing, including the craft and the publishing industry. I also plan to post some original m/m fiction and some occasional other writing. Maybe some challenges, and definitely links to writing-related stuff. I won't be posting daily, but I figure I'll drop by about once a week to put something up here.

If you would like to friend me, I will happily friend you back. ♥

No age or other restrictions (where appropriate, material will be rated). All are welcome!

I know, I know ... I don't post forever and then BAM! A gazillion in a row. Click the link for the full article. Snippets below.

From INTERN - "it's not you, it's me": INTERN's guide to breaking up.

"It was with the godawful novel she’d been working on for over a year. In many respects, INTERN’s relationship with this novel was more tumultuous than any of her other relationships have been, and the parting of ways was definitely messier. INTERN just didn’t know how to leave."

She makes some really good points. The part that most resonates with me:

"Your novel wants commitment and you want to play the field.

You’ve been though one draft together. It was fun and all, but now you’re thinking you want to write a thriller, or maybe some poetry, or that screenplay you’ve been thinking about. Your novel, on the other hand, wants to settle down and make beautiful revisions together. [...] You’re not ready to commit to untold months of revising, querying, and revising some more. You like your novel, sure, but that doesn’t mean you want to spend your whole life together."

I just read this great article (link to the original provided) that, if you are struggling to get your writing right, is rather comforting.

From Janet Reid - If you're a writer, read this.

"For the first couple years you make stuff, and it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not.

But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you."

This particular statement is worth remembering: "It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions."

As I struggle to edit my MG novel, I find myself changing nearly every paragraph - sometimes every sentence. As I carry on, I wonder if I'll ever be satisfied enough with what I wrote to call it done. (Don't get me wrong, I like the story, but I'm at the nitpicky stage of re-editing). And today? I read this gem:

From Nathan Bransford: Separating Confidence From Self-Doubt

Self-doubt feeds the author. Without self-doubt, we don't strive to do our best --- to keep writing despite rejections and humiliations.

Love the concluding sentence: "Confidence will give you the strength to doubt yourself."

Enjoy!

From INTERN, The Top Ten Reasons You Should Rewrite That Scene.

A great checklist that provides things to look for that should trigger you to rewrite (or delete) that scene.

Wow! It's been a while since I posted here. Did you miss me? ;)

Today I thought I'd post something that clearly I need to work on myself.

From Pimp My Novel - The Ten Commandments of Blogging

4. Remember thy Schedule and keep it, wholly. You don't have to write a post every day, but keeping a regular schedule is a courtesy and a sort of unwritten contract between you and your readers; they'll know when to expect new content and will come to appreciate and respect you for that.

Key quote to keep in mind: "We all love reading blogs—we wouldn't be here if we didn't—but yours comes first. Write your own posts before you spend all afternoon reading someone else's."

Happy blogging!

Happy New Year. Yes, I'm back (no doubt you are all thrilled) from an extended Christmas/New Year break from blogging. Today, I have links to free things and a contest.

See Killer Fiction for links to three free eBooks: Trouble in Mudbug, Spying in High Heels, and 'Scuse Me While I Kill This Guy. Limited time offers.

Also! Same blog. There's a contest closing tomorrow to win daily prizes and a grand prize of a free Kindle. Yes, you read that right. A free Kindle.

See the sidebar on the blog for details on both.

Writers Digest offered a list of "Best Writing Articles of 2010" in their recent newsletter. Funny enough, this one was posted in 2008. Go figure. ;)

From Writers Digest - 17 Writing Secrets by Steven Goldsberry

1. Never save your best for last. Start with your best. Expend yourself immediately, then see what happens. The better you do at the beginning, the better you continue to do.

If you've spent much time reading about the craft, you've probably seen a lot of these "secrets" before. But it's a good compilation, and worth the read, even if only as a refresher.

Heheheh.

Current Mood: amused

As part of Naughty or Nice, the Dreamspinner Press Advent Calendar, now available is my contribution, A Reason to Come Home.

A Reason to Come Home by Justine Currie

Nathan Calder is a young businessman, successful in every way—according to him. According to his best friend, who fancies herself a matchmaker, he's letting the best years of his life pass by while he nurses a bruised heart. When his boss sends him to Chicago to work on a project with the handsome and shrewd Paul Madigan, Nathan catches a glimpse of what he's been missing and realizes just how lonely he's become. Will his trust issues prevent him from grabbing hold of a possible future with Paul? Or will love manage to sneak up on the elusive Nathan Calder and catch him just in time for Christmas?

I really enjoyed writing this, and I hope it shows. Thanks so much to Libby and Alex for looking it over and providing feedback and support. The story is all the better for your input. ♥

Current Mood: excited

Okay, I needed a brief reprieve from writing, so I went to my handy-dandy Google reader, and found THIS GEM! Note that I couldn't pick just a little bit of it, so I've quoted nearly the entire thing below. BUT! Click the link for the full post, and because Nathan has provided some very useful links that I did not include. Enjoy!

The Nine Circles of Writing Hell
by Nathan Bransford

First Circle - Limbo

Hello shiny idea for a novel! Should I write you? Should I not write you? Maybe I'll write a few pages and see how you go. Should I... oohhh Farmville.

Second Circle - Lust

Novel, you are so brilliant, you shine like a beautiful bright beacon, nay, like filigree sparkling in the darkest of unlit nights. Everything you do is wonderful, to change but one of your words would be a sin unto mankind. Whatever you want novel, whether it's second person stream of consciousness or an illogical plot twist or overwrought prose that makes people blush, you can have it, please take it, it's yours. I LOVE YOU, NOVEL.

Third Circle - Gluttony

No time to eat. No time to work. No time for breaks. No time to attend to essential hygiene. Twenty-six-hours straight. MUST. WRITE. NOVEL. I. WILL. NOT. BURN. OUT.

Okay, I'm starting to get burned out...

Fourth Circle - Greed

Dude, Stephenie Meyer wrote that vampire book in like six weeks or something and now she's a gagillionaire. How hard can it be?!

Fifth Circle - Anger

I hate agents, I hate query letters, I hate rejection letters, I hate editors, I hate published authors, I hate unpublished authors, I hate periods, I hate exclamation points, I hate semi-colons, I hate paper, I hate words, I hate the space between words, and most of all, I HATE THIS FREAKING NOVEL!!!

Sixth Circle - Heresy

You know what novel I don't like? THE GREAT GATSBY. I mean, what's the big deal?! Green lights and drunks and parties and blah blah blah? What a bunch of trash. I threw that book across the room. That Scott person needs to get a clue, I can't believe anyone published him. And DON'T GET ME STARTED on how much editing he needed.

Seventh Circle - Violence

Oh, you think you're reeeeallll clever, don't you, Manuscript. You think you're smart and witty and amazing and your characters are funny and you're going to make people cry. Well, how about I introduce you to my friend MR. SHREDDER!!! Mwa ha ha ha ha ha.....

Eighth Circle - Fraud

Oprah won't REALLY care if I make up this memoir...

Ninth Circle - Treachery

This novel doesn't need revisions. I don't need to write a good query letter. Who needs to take the time to research agents? This novel is gold, baby, gold!!

What could possibly go wrong?

Current Mood: amused

Courtesy of http://badger.dinorodeo.com/

Thought I'd pass this great news along.

Prize Is Created for Gay Literature for Young Readers

The American Library Association has added an award for gay and lesbian literature to its annual prizes for children’s books. The prizes, which include the prestigious John Newbery and Randolph Caldecott medals, will be announced on Jan. 10.

Current Mood: pleased

As you've probably managed to figure out by now, I am amused by such things as snark, wit and sarcasm. Not necessarily mutually exclusive terms.

Today's gem? Seriously, folks, I cracked up! This is from one of the "I need a good chuckle for the day" sites I frequent, Slush Pile Hell.

My book will sell more books then the bible and it will take man out of the "mud" that is ignorance, provoking an evolution in man that will in turn provoke a cataclysmic event….and that is the power long waited for. The question is "who" will be the publishing house that offers the right contract, and who will be the agent that humors me until the book is printed and sold world wide.

Click the link to read SPH's snarky response.

*still chuckling*

Current Mood: amused

From Getting Past the Gatekeeper - The "Rules" of Contemporary Romance -- from a major romance reviewer

After reading what I think amounts to at least two hundred trashy romance novels (note that not all romance novels are trashy, and not all trashiness is romantic) in the last two years, I am beginning to consider myself a reluctant expert on the subject.

I decided that the only way to maintain my sanity is to foist off what I've learned onto anyone who will listen. Writing a contemporary romance? Great. You should know the rules (some consciously adhered to, some not) before you break them.

Yes, these are tongue-in-cheek.

And yes, these are the rules I hope you will break. Please see my conclusion before you get your lingerie (specifically chosen for that rich, romantic vampire) in a twist.

Hee! These are all good, but I do think I like this one the best: "#2-- A career is something that happens while you're waiting for a rich man (or in some cases, a rich vampire) to sweep you off your feet. If there is ever a choice between pursuing your career, maintaining friendships and enjoying daylight versus becoming a blood-sucking immortal fiend of the night who forsakes all human contact and can't practice medicine anymore, a woman will always choose her man."

Yes. ALWAYS. *eyeroll* This one's worth the read. :D

Here's an article that might make you feel a bit better about the seemingly endless number of rules and guidelines for writing (you know, the ones that so many of the bestsellers break).

Writing Rules are Just Tools from Rachelle Gardner.

Current Mood: content

OMG, this is really happening! *\o/*

Dreamspinner Press's 2010 Advent Calendar Set - Naughty or Nice is now available for pre-ordering, so that you may have a "story delivered automatically to your bookshelf each day in December."

You may also purchase individual stories beginning December 1st. You can read blurbs for each story by clicking "Read an Excerpt" on the linked page. Below is mine:

A Reason to Come Home

By Justine Currie

Nathan Calder is a young businessman, successful in every way—according to him. According to his best friend, who fancies herself a matchmaker, he’s letting the best years of his life pass by while he nurses a bruised heart. When his boss sends him to Chicago to work on a project with the handsome and shrewd Paul Madigan, Nathan catches a glimpse of what he’s been missing and realizes just how lonely he’s become. Will his trust issues prevent him from grabbing hold of a possible future with Paul? Or will love manage to sneak up on the elusive Nathan Calder and catch him just in time for Christmas?

Current Mood: excited

Oh, those words seem to be appearing more and more lately. *cries*

From Tim Ferriss - How Authors Really Make Money: The Rebirth of Seth Godin and Death of Traditional Publishing

Print is dead!

This has become a popular headline, and a great way to get quoted, as Nicholas Negroponte has shown. Iconic author Seth Godin, after 12 bestsellers, just announced that he will no longer pursue traditional publishing, and the writing seems to be on the wall: the e-book is the future, plain and simple.

In a nutshell: Traditional publishing is not dead, and likely never will be. Or so it would seem, according to Tim Ferriss, author of The Four-Hour Work Week (an awesome read - I highly recommend it).

Current Mood: cautious

From Writer's Digest - The Ten Commandments of Fiction Writing

Most experts agree that when it comes to writing fiction, no rules are carved in stone. A writer is free to bend, twist, smash or shred any of the golden platitudes of writing that have been handed down by the well-paid, well-respected writers we all hope to become. Certain writing guidelines, however, are so self-evident few writers would dispute them. When these guidelines are broken, you don't need a burning bush to tell you your writing will suffer.

A good thing to keep in mind: "Rejection still stings. But it doesn't hurt as long as it used to because I have so many projects to pursue. I no longer mope around and curse the short-sightedness of a universe that fails to recognize my genius. I just work on the next project."

So what do you think? Are there any "commandments" or cardinal rules you work by that are not included?

Current Mood: contemplative

First, OMG, Dreamspinner Press accepted my short story and *\o/* will be publishing it in their Advent Calendar in December. Yay!

A big thanks to those who looked it over before I submitted it ♥.

Second, here's a link to what American Book Review feels are the 100 Best First Lines from Novels. You be the judge. (There were at least a couple that lost me and had me nearly drifting off before the end.) Most are good, though. I think the key for me is 'Does it compel me to continue, with an almost need to know what comes next?'

Is there a first line in a book that you would consider to be one of the best? I will admit I don't tend to remember first lines once I get into a book, and I'm not sure I'd say it was the best, but I do like how the Harry Potter series started: "Mr and Mrs Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much." ~ JK Rowling

In an effort to read at least one novel per month, I managed to compile a rather eclectic mix of things to read (including mystery, conspiracy, fantasy, dystopian, YA, mid-grade, classic, and m/m romance). I did say eclectic. What can I say? I like to read. *\o/*

Here's a short-list of recent reads (novels) that I've really enjoyed:

First, some individual books:

Next, Prey, The Terminal Man, and State of Fear by Michael Crichton (loved all four)
Worst Case by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
Double Cross, Cross Country, and I, Alex Cross by James Patterson
Nineteen Eighty Four by George Orwell
Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Vlad: the last confession by CC Humphreys
State of Mind by Libby Drew (currently waiting for Great Restorations to arrive!)

I also recently started the following series:

A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton (finished six)
The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher (finished two)
Magical Kingdom For Sale by Terry Brooks (about to start book two)
The Alchemist by Michael Dylan Scott (OMG, just finished book one today!)

I have read some other novels, but these were my faves (so far).
This doesn't include non-fiction or short stories (of which I've read quite a bit lately as well).

So, any recent reads of yours you would recommend? As you can see from the above list, I don't limit myself to one genre, though I do tend to lean towards murder/mystery and fantasy.

Current Mood: accomplished

For those days you really need a good laugh. Or just for an everyday giggle. Click on the links below for a chuckle. :D

Cyanide & Happiness
Oh, so very wrong. In comic form. Seriously. Consider yourself warned. *g*

Hyperbole and a Half
Cracks me up every time.

Slush Pile Hell
"One grumpy literary agent, a sea of query fails, and other publishing nonsense." OMG, this stuff is gold!

XKCD
"A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language." Geeky humour at its best.

Current Mood: amused

From Nathan Bransford - How to Write a Novel

If you try and hold the entire novel in your head all at once and attempt to imagine it in its entirety and all of its various ins and outs, your brain will suddenly become so heavy that you will topple over backwards and pass out.

I love that he walks you through the process, linking to posts he's done in the past on specific topics. Oh, and a random link to a Bachelorette article. This one's definitely something to bookmark, even if you don't agree with everything he says.

Current Mood: tired

Title: Restrained
Author:

justine_currie
Betas: Thanks to the lovely

treacle_tartlet and

libby_drew!
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: ~1,150
Summary: Josh Walker finds himself the victim of a prank, tied to a chair for several hours in a deserted room, when the last person he would want to show up—gorgeous pain in the ass, Derek Marshall—arrives on the scene.
Author's Notes: Written for

marguerite_26's One Plot, Many Pairings Challenge, Round 2:

Character A finds Character B bound and 'helpless'; plot and/or porn ensues.

( Josh Walker pulled at the leather belts holding him in place... )

Current Mood: accomplished

Below the cut is a list of my current works in progress and their respective word counts, in order of priority.

( As updated September 30, 2010 )

Current Mood: accomplished

How to Ensure 75% of Agents Will Request Your Material, by Marcus Sakey

Here's the key to writing queries: You're not actually selling the book.

I want to repeat that: You are not selling the book. In fact, you could write a highly successful query for a book that does not exist.

All you’re doing is seducing the agent. You want to get them interested enough that they ask to see your manuscript. That's it. It's like online dating. If you can write a charming e-mail, you might get a date; if you get a date, who knows where it could lead. But try to put all your history and baggage in that first message and you won't get any play. Instead, demonstrate that you're worth someone's time. That you are interesting, sincere, and respectful.

In a nutshell: "So instead of trying to convey the beautiful bleeding soul that is your novel, just show an agent you know how to tell a story. That’s what makes them willing to read your manuscript."

I know I've recommended this site before, but I went there to catch up today, and this gem stood out:

Today is your opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a promising young author’s career. Today is your chance to be the one who lights the wick on the bottle rocket that will carry my name into the upper echelon and today is your chance to grab a ticket on that ride.

No, after reading this, I think that today is the day to take my drinking to a whole new level.

*snorts*

Need a good laugh? Go. Now. Enjoy! Slush Pile Hell

OH! Another golden entry:

July 30th - The Worst Self-Help Book ... Ever (contest winner & the rest of the top 25). *wipes tears*

Current Mood: amused

From Ally Carter - The Crazies

The Crazies are a hard thing to define, but most of us have had them—the what if this book sucks, what if this book tanks, what if my career is over, what if my career never really starts anxiety that comes with this business.

Bottom line: Don't let the crazies get to you, and surround yourself with people that can help you fight them off. Pretty good advice. :)

From Rachelle Gardner - The Revision Letter.

Some of you may wonder, what exactly does that letter address? Simply put, it addresses whatever your particular book needs to make it the best it can be. But to be a little more specific, here is a rundown of SOME of the things your editor may look at.

A good thing to keep in mind as you feel crushed by all the proposed changes: "Sometimes people ask how it could be that an agent or editor would believe in a project enough to take it on, yet request so many editorial changes. The answer is twofold. First, we specialize in seeing potential - reading between the lines, as it were. Second, we might love a manuscript, but we almost always know some ways to make it even better. It's just what we do."

Maybe that'll lessen the blow. Probably not, but one can always hope. :)

From Slate.com - What Took You So Long? The quiet hell of 10 years of novel writing.

There is surely a word—in German, most likely—that means the state of active non-accomplishment. Not just the failure to reach a specific goal, but ongoing, daily failure with no end in sight. Stunted ambition. Disappointed potential. Frustrated and sad and lonely and hopeless and sick to death of one's self.

The part that most resonated with me:

"Writing is hard—writers say this all the time, and I think probably only other writers believe it. But it's not nearly as hard, in my experience, as not writing."

Yeah. This.

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justine_currie

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Justine's Writing Journal

Recent Entries

Information Post: Welcome To My Journal

Breaking up is hard to do ...

Struggling to get things right?

Writing and Self-Doubt

Editing!

The Ten Commandments of Blogging

Free eBooks and a Contest

17 Writing Secrets

As seen EVERYWHERE!

A Reason to Come Home is available now

The Nine Circles of Writing Hell

Write FASTER!!!

Stonewall Children’s and Young Adult Literature Award

OMG! So much win for this post!

Rules of Contemporary Romance

Frustrated by all the rules of writing?

Advent Calendar

Print is Dead!

The Ten Commandments of Fiction Writing

News and the Top 100 First Lines

Recent Reads

Links to Make You Laugh

How to Write a Novel

Restrained, Josh/Derek (original), PG-13

Works in Progress

Writing Queries

Oh, Slush Pile Hell, How I Love Thee!

Dealing With the Crazies

Revisions

To Write or Not to Write

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