Dawn Kurtagich's Blog

New bits added to Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn Kurtagich) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:35:00 +0000

Hey beautiful people! Because of the scarcity of posts (see here for reason), I decided to at least beautify the blog a little!

Hope you like!

*Hugs*

The Why Behind my Lack of Blogposts!

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn Kurtagich) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 22:03:00 +0000

The reason I've been so tardy and absent of late!

So I may be a bit more silent than normal, but I hope to sign up to the April 2012 A-Z Challenge, as I missed the last one :)

*hugs!*

Big, Fat, Huge, GIGANTIC book!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn Kurtagich) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 10:04:00 +0000

Have you guys seen THIS???

It is a 10,000+ page book!!

"The binding measures 8 1/2 x 11 x 24 inches and is possibly

the thickest single volume book ever bound."

~Source~

The mind boggles.

Win a Manuscript Critique from top literary agents!

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn Kurtagich) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 01:44:00 +0000

Hey guys,

I thought I would let you all know about an awesome new essay contest for aspiring writers of YA/middle grade fiction from The Book Wish Foundation. You could win a manuscript critique from Laura Langlie, Meg Cabot's literary agent, Nancy Gallt, literary agent for Jeanne DuPrau and many more!

Here are the details:

Win a literary agent or acclaimed author's feedback on your unpublished manuscript for young adult or middle grade readers. This rare opportunity is being offered to the six winners of an essay contest recently announced by the literacy charity Book Wish Foundation. See http://bookwish.org/contest for full details.

You could win a manuscript critique from:

Laura Langlie, literary agent for Meg Cabot
Nancy Gallt, literary agent for Jeanne DuPrau
Brenda Bowen, literary agent and editor of Karen Hesse's Newbery Medal winner Out of the Dust
Ann M. Martin, winner of the Newbery Honor for A Corner of the Universe
Francisco X. Stork, winner of the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award for The Last Summer of the Death Warriors
Cynthia Voigt, winner of the Newbery Medal for Dicey's Song and the Newbery Honor for A Solitary Blue

All that separates you from this prize is a 500-word essay about a short story in Book Wish Foundation's new anthology, What You Wish For. Essays are due Feb. 1, 2012 and winners will be announced around Mar. 1, 2012. If you win, you will have six months to submit the first 50 pages of your manuscript for critique (which means you can enter the contest even if you haven't finished, or started, your manuscript). You can even enter multiple times, with essays about more than one of the contest stories, for a chance to win up to six critiques.

If you dream of being a published author, this is an opportunity you should not miss. To enter, follow the instructions at http://bookwish.org/contest.

Don't miss this opportunity, guys!

*HUGS*

Did You Set a Reading Goal for 2011?

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn Kurtagich) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 02:51:00 +0000

Did you set yourself a goal for this year about how many books you would read?

I did!

I told myself I would read 50 books this year. Last year I only managed 35.

And I'm on book number 49! Wahoo! So, provided I read two books before the end of the year, I am set :) (Check out my list of 2011 reads in the sidebar!)

What was your goal?

Hello World!

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn Kurtagich) — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 21:14:00 +0000

I am back after 16 days of silence. 16. *bows head in shame*

On the upside, 16 days equals 32 cups of coffee, at least a ton of chocolate, barrels of M&Ms and a bunch of typing. We love you Nano, we really do, but you keep us away from the more important parts of life, like sleeping, blogging, and eating. And you increase our waistlines with IVs of sugarified coffee and M&Ms.

And if not Nano, a terrible flu, my birthday, mom's birthday, University or work, then it's the weather. Because it is f-f-f-freeeeezing here these days—enough to justify curling up under a blanket and hibernating until March. And if not that, then I'm sure I'd make a pretty ice sculpture.

2012 is looming closer. How many 2012 calendars have a mayan theme?? *wink wink*

So, I was thinking about that movie Vanilla Sky—you know, Cameron Diaz drives that car off that bridge and Tom Cruise goes a little loopy?—and I realized that it would be kind of awesome to be cryogenically frozen and roll around my brain in a lucid dream fuzz. For one thing, I'm pretty sure I would be the most awesome person in Dawn Fuzz Land, and also, awesome people would be there with me, only I'd be able to control them and make them do whatever I so wished—so, you know. Win, win.

Another plus: Nano in the bag, being able to wear my awesome wardrobe creations in public—yes they are cool! I'm just biding my fashion time . . . .—rainbow hair, flying like peter pan, Dawn-tailored weather with a dash of cinnamon on the breeze, and no wasps!

But then I thought that the melting side of it—when they eventually free you—would smart a little. Like frostbite times a million. Plus the whole world would just kind of suck after the super awesomeness of Dawn Fuzz Land. I mean, I'd be walking around wondering why it didn't rain skittles, why kittens and puppy dogs weren't free, and I'd have broken all my teeth trying to bite into trees only to find that they were not, after all, made of taffy.

But at least I'd be able to see if Nano still existed after a couple of centuries.

I hope it does.

iPhone Versus Blackberry

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn Kurtagich) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 14:48:00 +0000

Got an iPhone for my birthday—YAY—so the blackberry is no more. Stumbled across this from here and had to share:

Also, I have now experienced the joys of the following:

So, yeah. Loving this thing! :D

A HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLOG!

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn Kurtagich) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 13:47:00 +0000

A big, huge happy birthday to my Mum!!! Love you so much <3<3<3

I'm glad I didn't scare you to death with all my youthful recklessness, like when I ate all the medicine in the medicine cabinet when I was 5, or when I ran across the motor way when I was 4 or so, or when I almost drowned when I was a tiny tot and again later (making you dive in fully dressed to rescue me!) :D

For always keeping your head and your heart, and for being the biggest nerd I know! Nerds are cool!

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn Kurtagich) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 11:02:00 +0000

So, I was watching Paulie the other day and I suddenly realized:

Because I don't have a talking, joking, biting, snarky parrot. Not even close.

So now, my Chrsitmas list looks like this:

Halloween Pictures plus Nanowrimo

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn Kurtagich) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 13:47:00 +0000

I snapped some pretty grainy halloween pics on my phone, and here they are!!

*drumroll*

I set up a spooky party in the living room, complete with spider webs, jack O'lanterns (they ran out of pumpkins so I used Butternut squash and peppers), tomb and ghost candles, LED light-up balloons (green, orange and flashing white), scary cupcakes, nibbles, spiders, bats and more!

creeeeeepy!

I was a creepy clown thing with a big, evil grin! >:D

With a flash! BOO!

Hope you all had a fantastic Halloween!!! I have a pretty busy week coming up with assignments due, Nanowrimo beginning (buddy up with me: WritaholicDK) and a long weekend away for birthday frolicks. So have fun!

*HUGS*

A Letter to this Year

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn Kurtagich) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:52:00 +0000

Dear Year,

With my birthday fast approaching, and 2012 just around the corner, I can finally say what I need to say to you.

I'm sorry to say that I won't be sad to see you go. I don't suppose it's your fault that things went sour, nor is it your fault that we didn't always get along, but you were the vessel for the things that happened, and I'll be glad when it is all just a memory.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be strong, but please—don't do that again.

You played your part very well, challenged me in ways I have never been challenged, broken me down so that I thought I'd never get up again, and yet here I stand. And you are almost gone.

You ate up precious time, time I won't ever get back, so that even though so much has happened and I have been irrevocably changed, I wonder how. How I blinked and ended up here, on the other side. But I forgive you, because I know it really isn't your fault.

I'm sorry for hating you when things got hard, and even though our relationship has been troubled, I can say farewell with an open heart, knowing you brought me something I needed. Something that taught me a lot about myself. You did that.

You brought me the unexpected, surprised me (though I think you need some practice), and took me to the darkest parts of myself (places I am—still—too afraid to explore too closely). You are like a game of Jumanji. So thank you for the adventure.

Now I can move forward with these things—the long, hard months you gave me—under my belt, and know I am stronger for it.

So thank you.

Be nice to the next girl you stumble upon, and please, be gentle.

Sincerely,

A friend

Boo!! Halloween baby!

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn Kurtagich) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 09:29:00 +0000

Jeremy Bates started this awesome blogfest, so hop on over and say hi!

I love Halloween. I love all things scary—books, films, themes, the haunted house rides at fairs—HALLOWEEEEN!!!

Bwahahahahaha!! :D

First, a piccie.

Last Halloween was AWESOME. I went to a dress up party at a friend's house and I was ELPHABA!!! I mean, come on. HOW COOL IS ELPHIE???

This is my best ever pumpkin lantern—from Halloween 2009:

And I was a witch that year :)

Favorite monster movie? Let me define: Creature film. Mmmm. . . I loved Ginger Snaps. (Teen gets bitten by werewolf and begins to change into one. Good jumpy moments, lots of sex appeal).

Also really loved Pandorum. Sci-fi monster-horror at its best.

Another fantastic one: Splice. Genetic manipulation = scary monster-human storyline at its best :)

Favorite ghost movies? Paranormal Activity (Can we have a HELL YEAH for PA3??)

And also House on Haunted Hill.

Best "Devil" film? Prince of Darkness. This one is an oldie. I saw it when I was a tiny tot on TV and again a few years ago. It has a wonderful, tense, eerie atmosphere.

Best Sci-fi horror film? Hands down: Event Horizon. This film is pretty scary.

Grossest film I've ever heard of? The Human Centipede.

Best scary book I've ever read (hands down): House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski. This novel is SCARY. In a very subtle, psychological way. It is an ergodic novel, meaning that the way the text is laid out on the page plays a part in how the story is experienced. See my previous post about this amazing book here.

Happy haunting, y'all!

Dark, Edgy YA

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn Kurtagich) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 12:07:00 +0000

Inspired by Stina Lindblatt, guest blogging over at Sarah's blog, I am going to discuss dark, edgy YA fiction, its purpose, aims, place and what it means for me, personally.

I, for one, have a special place in my heart for darker YA. I read it when I was teen, not too long ago, and I still read it now. For those unfamiliar with this sub-genre, dark and edgy YA deals with difficult topics, from abuse, sex, drugs, crime, bullying, rape, and all other "darker" subject matters.

Some people believe that it isn't the place of YA to explore these issues, and I think you all know how strongly I disagree with that point of view. From my perspective, and from my experience, darker YA gave me a chance to explore issues I, friends or family members were experiencing. Similar emotions, similar situations—all outside of myself. As I commented on Sarah's blog,

"I write dark YA and I read it too. I did as a teen as well (Not too long ago). There is something cathartic about it, about feeling like there is a story in the world that exists separate and outside of yourself, but which tackles issues you maybe dealing with (or a friend may be dealing with) in a safe space. It is a way to experience and work through those emotions in a world where you are in control. You turn the pages. You make the journey. And the nice thing about YA is that the endings, although not always the most rainbow friendly, are cathartic and healing."

There is something healing about knowing that there exists a story, completely separate from you, that deals with things you might be dealing with. That is connected to you in that way alone. And more: you are experiencing it in a safe place. With yourself. In your mind.

As I said in the comment, you, the reader, have control of the pace of your exploration, whether you even finish at all. And what's more: YA novels tend to have fitting endings. Not always sunny side up and all better, but cathartic. Healing. The truth is that teens are facing some of these issues. Scary, I know. But books like those of Ellen Hopkins, Laurie Halse Anderson and Courtney Summers serve a vital purpose in helping those teens going through it. It's not always easy to talk to another person, let alone adult, about this stuff.

And for the teens not going through these dark issues? Well, again, they can explore them in the safe confines of the page. Hopefully the more darker consequences will educate them and help them make wiser choices.

Teens aren't stupid. Teens aren't fragile. They are strong.

What do you guys think? Do you like dark, edgy YA? Read it? Love it? Hate it?

*Hugs!*

On Empowerment

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn Kurtagich) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 11:53:00 +0000

Or, stomping that bitch, "doubt" right down.

We all know how it goes, don't we? We write a book.

You finish the book and you love it. You love it enough to tear it apart with your red pen and then stitch it back together. You love it enough to polish it, write smaller versions of it (which we call Synopses), and even smaller versions yet (pitches), and you think it is the best book in the whole entire world!

You let other people read it. Beta readers. Critique partners. During this whole process, you have hope that THIS is the book that will do it for you. THIS is the book that will attract an agent or get a book deal THIS IS IT. The feedback comes in, and that bright, ripe bit of hope—like a beautiful piece of fruit—is bumped. A little bruise appears.

You revise some more. Maybe you even re-write the entire thing. You spend weeks doing this—maybe even months. After another round of revisions, you query the list of agents you have compiled. Hope burns bright. You wait. And wait. Sometimes there are responses. Sometimes none. Rejections come in without any hint as to what is wrong. Sometimes they do have hints—maybe some have more than hints. The doubts creep in.

Doubt tells you that you are a nothing. Doubt tells you that you don't know what you are doing. Doubt tells you that you will never make it, never be brave enough, creative enough, savvy enough. Good enough. You get close with an agent you love. You revise your work for agent, and send it back. You come so close. And then it's another rejection.

The bruises mount up. You feel soul-sore. But you wipe off the blood, put on your smile, and send out another query. Write another book. Do everything you can.

And then it happens, and all the hurt, the bruises, the rejections, the waiting—all of it seem so small. Because you finally found that one agent who believes in your work, and in you. Who loves it and understands it, and who wants it to do well. An agent who encourages your energy, tells you that you can make it, and who believes it too. Another advocate for your work.

The bruises that once softened Hope feel like they have faded away entirely. You feel like a whole person, with no wounds. No battle scars. No injuries.

You work on your book some more, love it some more, and finally it is ready to go into the wider world and to be seen by editors. Hope flames brighter. The little round, beautiful fruit seems to shine with sweet, sweet possibilities.

Some rejections come in. The bruises reappear, and where you thought they had healed, you see that they'd really only faded. Bruises upon bruises. Do you give up? Hag your head and walk away? Believe it when Doubt tells you that you are not in the same league as those other authors, who have book deals and who have signings and three book deals? Do you believe it when Doubt kicks you and laughs and says, "Who the hell were you kidding, kid?"

Or do you brush it off, tell the bitch you won't be defeated, and soldier on? Of course you do. But the little niggle of doubt remains. You can't quite shake it.

BUT THEN.

THEN.

An editor loves it. Understands it. Wants it. Hope burns bright again. YOU MADE IT.

Want to know why? Because you didn't let hope die. You protected that little piece of fruit and kept it safe, and you told the bitch that is Doubt to shove it.

Doubt is a bitch, and can go straight to hell.

Don't act based on your fear. Don't act based on doubt. Act on faith, on love, on hope. These are the things that will see you through the dark times. And some of those times can feel so dark you wonder if you will ever find the way out, if your tiny spec of light is enough to lead you through the labyrinth.

It. Is. It has to be. You have that within you. You can choose who you are and how you react (or act) every moment of every day.

Rock on, peeps. You are amazing, creative, wonderful people and I am so lucky to have met you, whether virtually or IRL. No one wears their heart on their sleeves like us.

Our Hope is strong. Maybe my analogy is flawed. Maybe Hope isn't the fruit we protect. Maybe it's the armor we put on every day of our lives.

Cats Could Rule the World

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn Kurtagich) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 09:06:00 +0000

First, some appropriate tunage.

They would make excellent paparazzi. No one would ever suspect that face!

SPIES. Who could decipher their purrupish code? Oh, wait! Someone has!

Not to mention the way they can disappear from sight!

And we all know that kitties have unbeatable bendy skills—not to mention those nails. Oh, those bloody nails.

Tiny genius! Maybe we could time one of them doing a rubix cube. OR CUPS!!!

The next sports stacking champion? Me thinks so! You gotta start them young.

Narcoleptic kitty.

Beauty queen or drama queen. Either works for me.

Could a kitty make a better writer than a human? I'm thinking: Yes. All that little ball of fluff need do is send a picture in with his query letter and he'll be golden.

EDITOR KITTY!

A dog. Yes, cats can be dogs. Proof positive:

(Weird, huh? I mean, you think you know a cat . . .)

And finally, dictator kitty. Oh yes, she haz the skillz, and is nefarious enough to enforce them! Plus, if she gets caught, she can just turn those big, watery eyes on the human and give her best "it wasn't me" look, like when she pukes a hairball all over the carpet.

But before you put on your kitty dictator hat, make sure you get your strength with an appropriate diet.

And if the authorities get to you, don't forget to surrender in the cutest manner possible!

Put some smile into your coffee today, and be a cat!

Pay it Forward Blogfest

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn Kurtagich) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:15:00 +0000

Hey guys!

Well, here we are, the Pay it forward blogfest, hosted by the amazing Alex J. Cavanaugh!

So, there are so many wonderful bloggers out there (including Alex, who is awesome), and I would love to be able to list them all. Unfortunately, this blog fest would get too giant to handle if I did that . . . so, without further ado, here are my three choice bloggers:

1. Victoria Caswell over at Hairnets and Hopes

2. L.C Frost over at [sic]

3. LisaAnn over at Kicked, Cornered, Bitten and Chased

Vic always has wonderful posts and I really enjoy reading them. In particular, she recently dissected the romantic elements of the TV show Roswell, demonstrating how torturing your characters (as she puts it "the moment before the kiss") can be the most gripping, juicy part of a story. She also takes my view, that any medium in fiction is a useful one.

I love L.C's posts. She is funny, yo. She is positive, has a great sense of humor, and all her posts have a sense of fun. She's on a tin hiatus at the moment, enjoying the summer :)

LisaAnn is just SO NICE. She has the most beautiful pictures on her blog and her job sounds like the nicest job in the world. Go check her out, guys, because—seriously—the niceness and kindness of this girl just jumps off the page. <3

I can't wait to see who you guys chose as your three bloggers! Remember to visit their pages and comment/follow if you like what you see.

Love and hugs,

New Vlog: This or That Tag

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn Kurtagich) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:37:00 +0000

New Vlog: How to Procrastinate

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn Kurtagich) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 12:45:00 +0000

The Insecure Writers Support Group

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn Kurtagich) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 11:58:00 +0000

The awesome Alex J. Cavanaugh hosts a monthly blogfest called The Insecure Writers Support Group. From Alex's own page:

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time.

Connecting: This page will list those who are participating. It also allows for comments if you have an immediate need. This where we can help one another. Check this page whenever you visit – if you can help a fellow writer, hop over to their blog and offer assistance. Be watching for updates!

I thought I would talk about the fears and uncertainties that I, and many other writers, faced before I signed with my agent, the amazing Weronika Janczuk. Those moments, you know the ones, where you sit at your computer and just wonder if you're kidding yourself. When you wonder if you're good enough. If you'll make it.

Writing is a craft, and it can be bettered with skill, practice and discipline. While I searched for my agent, I was continually learning, writing, improving. I worked like a MOFO, all the time. I made mistakes—like querying too early—and I have the rejections to prove it. Deserved rejections. Rejections that showed me what I still had to learn.

When I finally queried Weronika on my novel, DEADSONG, I had a good pitch, a well-written query letter and a good manuscript. She was the only agent I queried, because I knew that she and I would work well together. I had been aware of Weronika before she even became an agent. But without the work and effort I put into honing my skills, Weronika and I would never have connected.

So, you see, there is hope, because there is you. You have the power to learn from your mistakes. You have the power to perfect your query. You have the power to write the best book that is in you, and then make it even better.

Don't give up. You can be your own worst enemy, but you ARE your own greatest ally.

Good luck to all of you who are seeking representation!

And if you're interested in signing up to the Insecure Writers Support Group, you can do so here. I look forward to seeing your posts, you awesome, awesome people.

*hugs*

Sign up: Blogfest :)

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn Kurtagich) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 12:10:00 +0000

Hey guys,

Don't forget to sign up for Alex J. Cavanaugh's Insecure Writers Support Group blogfest, posting on the 4th of October :)

Have a great Saturday!

Candy Makes Me Happy

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn Kurtagich) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 22:52:00 +0000

When I was a kid, I was completely obsessed with candy. I mean, obsessed. All I thought about was candy. I didn't get a lot of it (thank goodness) but I always craved it. Not so much because of the taste (more often than not I was disappointed when I got the actual sweets), but for the colors.

*Note* This is not me :)

Is it me? Is it all kids? But I remember being completely obsessed with the colors of candy. The dyes, the wrappers—also the shapes and lettering. Seeing them all lined up in neat little rows or in idiosyncratic displays . . . ah, the mesmerization!

*Wouldn't you want to LIVE here??*

There was something magical about the way these stores laid out their candy, like treasures. Almost like a treasure trove. And Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory??? Who didn't love that one! I think one day I am going to have to travel the world looking for the most delicious candystores. Yummm!

My favorite candies were pop rocks, push pops; those swirly suckers. Just remembering them makes me feel young at heart. My hubby and I even went into out local sweet store to buy blue sherbet in the shape of a toilet (Actually kind of gross, as a concept . . .) and lollies in the shape of thumbs (sucking thumbs . . . clever, huh?) He loves those insanely hot fireballs (ouch).

I used to buy those little egg sweets and bite off the yolk, and the little red ones shapes like lips. We'd lick the back of them and stick them on our mouths, convinced we looked beautiful. What sweets did you go for as kids? And now?

Do you guys still get a kick out of candy?

<3<3<3

How to Pwn Your Edits

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn Kurtagich) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:01:00 +0000

For a first/second/third/whatever-number edit (where YOU are making all the edits before submitting/querying):

First, get coffee. This may seem like a trivial step, but trust me: It. Is. Vital. **Note: If you are not a coffee drinker, you will still need coffee. Tea is no good here (and I am a big fan of tea) because it is a diuretic and will cause unnecessary interruptions.**

Second, PRINT out your manuscript. We all hate to waste paper, but in this case it is justified. A lot of the time your eye will skim over the words on the screen and you will miss vital things.

Third, read your manuscript and make notes of the things that need changing/rearranging/cutting/fixing.

Fourth, open your Word/Scrivener/Whatever else and make the changes.

Fifth, read the manuscript again, repeat process several times.

For a First Edit when receiving an Edit letter/Line edit MS from your agent/editor:

First, don't panic. The pages of your manuscript may look like bleeding spaghetti squiggles, but there is a logic to it and you CAN do it. But this is not a time for you to have your neurotic, writer hat on, it's a time for you to have your tough-as-nails, don't-love-your-manuscript hat on.

Second, if you don't have your tough-as-nails, don't-love-your-manuscript hat on, then **PUT DOWN THE MANUSCRIPT AND BACK AWAY** This will save the edit MS from being torn, thrown across the room, burned, chewed, soaked and ruined with tears and drool, etc.

Third, read through the edits (and try to make sense of the squiggles). If you have not received an edit letter/summary sheet, then make a note of all the MAJOR changes in the novel. **Note: this does NOT include line edits, grammar, tenses, etc. It includes theme issues, rearranging issues, big deletions, pacing, consistency, continuity, brevity, etc**

Fourth, forget the things you just made a note of. Stick them in a drawer, or something.

Fifth, make all the line edit-type changes (inserting commas, deleting em dashes, getting rid of repeat words etc). When this is done, you will (hopefully) have a shiny, error-free manuscript.

Which means bugger all, because now you have to deal with those huge, ginormous changes, right? Well, yeah. But DON'T PANIC.

Sixth, take each big thing and deal with it one at a time. This will mostly likely mean you having to make the change and weave it through the course of the entire manuscript, and then start again with the next big thing. Sometimes you can do a number of these at the same time, but don't try to do them all. You'll only get lost in all the changes and make mistakes that will need to be corrected later.

Seventh, take a breath. Drink some coffee.

Eighth, continue. Once this is done, DO NOT ASSUME YOU ARE FINISHED. Read through the edit letter again and make sure you have gone through everything and made all the needed changes. Take your time.

Ninth, have a final read-through.

Tenth, have someone else have a final read through.

If they respond with feedback, be prepared to do the same again (if necessary).

Once you are done, you will see that the bloody spaghetti squiggles are actually legible writing that make perfect sense.

Good luck!

***Some general notes: Don't be afraid to make use of lists. Don't be afraid to color code everything. Don't be afraid to disregard certain edits until later (but don't forget about them). Always assume it's going to take a lot longer than you originally planned).***

What's on your "Can't Wait For" pile?

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn Kurtagich) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 11:51:00 +0000

For me, it has got to be:

*Please note that some of these are forthcoming, and some are already out, but not yet in my possession.*

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

We know you are here, our brothers and sisters . . .Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if

they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.

Burn a Pure and Breathe the Ash . . .
There are those who escaped the apocalypse unmarked. Pures. They are tucked safely inside the Dome that protects their healthy, superior bodies. Yet Partridge, whose father is one of the most influential men in the Dome, feels isolated and lonely. Different. He thinks about loss-maybe just because his family is broken; his father is emotionally distant; his brother killed himself; and his mother never made it inside their shelter. Or maybe it's his claustrophobia: his feeling that this Dome has become a swaddling of intensely rigid order. So when a slipped phrase suggests his mother might still be alive, Partridge risks his life to leave the Dome to find her.

When Pressia meets Partridge, their worlds shatter all over again.

Kyle Straker volunteered to be hypnotized at the annual community talent show, expecting the same old lame amateur acts. But when he wakes up, his world will never be the same. Televisions and computers no longer work, but a strange language streams across their screens. Everyone’s behaving oddly. It’s as if Kyle doesn’t exist.

Is this nightmare a result of the hypnosis? Will Kyle wake up with a snap of fingers to roars of laughter? Or is this something much more sinister?

A mysterious island.

An abandoned orphanage.

A strange collection of very curious photographs.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography,Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

What are you guys dying to get your hands on, and why?

What is your next book?

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn Kurtagich) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 09:32:00 +0000

I'm going to pick up on the brilliant Alexandra Sokoloff's blog post today, where she poses the question: "Do you know what your next book is?"

It's a question I'm interested in because I'm sure we're all different. While you guys are writing and/or editing your manuscripts, do you know what your next book is going to be?

The simple answer for me used to be "No. It'll come when it comes." That changed some years ago. Now I'd have to say, "Yeah, I know what the next 4 books are going to be."

How about you guys?

And for those of you who do know where you are going/what you will be doing over the next four years—do you feel creatively stifled, or do you feel safe?

It's an interesting question, and one that we'll all be pondering as November approaches . . .

Happy writing, guys!

*hugs*

Books I've Read Recently

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn Kurtagich) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 19:30:00 +0000

Saw Medeia Sharif's blog entry about recent books she had read and loved it! (Check out her blog, it's awesome). Here are a few of the books I've recently read.

Hope you guys see something you like!

Having learned a lesson about thwarting the will of the gods, Imriel and Sidonie publicly confess their affair, only to see the country boil over in turmoil. Younger generations, infatuated by their heart-twisting, star-cross romance, defend the couple. Many

others can not forget the betrayals of Imriel's mother,

Melisande, who plunged their country into a bloody war that cost the lives of their fathers, brothers, and sons.

To quell the unrest, Ysandre, the queen, sets her decree. She will not divide the lovers, yet neither will she acknowledge them. If they marry, Sidonie will be disinherited, losing her claim on the throne. There's only one way they can truly be together.

Imriel must perform an act of faith: search the world for his infamous mother and bring her back to Terre d'Ange to be executed for treason.

Facing a terrible choice, Imriel and Sidonie prepare ruefully for another long separation. But when a dark foreign force casts a shadow over Terre d'Ange and all the surrounding countries, their world is turned upside down, alliances of the unlikeliest kind are made, and Imriel and Sidonie learn that the god Elua always puts hearts together apurpose.

An unnamed fifteen-year-old begins keeping a diary. With a sensitive, observant style, she records her thoughts and concerns about issues such as crushes, weight loss, sexuality, social acceptance, and difficulty relating to her parents.

Carly: She was sweet. Smart. Self-destructive. She knew th

e secrets of Brighton Day School’s most privileged students. Secrets that got her killed.

Neily: Dumped by Carly for a notorious bad boy, Neily didn’t answer the phone call she made before she died. If he had, maybe he could have helped her. Now he can’t get the image of her lifeless body out of his mind.

Audrey: She’s the reason Carly got tangled up with Brighton’s fast crowd in the first place, and now she regrets it—especially since she’s convinced the police have put the wrong person in jail. Audrey thinks the murderer is someone at Brighton, and she wants Neily to help her find out who it is.

As reluctant allies Neily and Audrey dig into their shared past with Carly, her involvement with Brighton’s dark goings-on comes to light. But figuring out how Carly and her killer fit into the twisted drama will force Audrey and Neily to face hard truths about themselves and the girl they couldn’t save.

Scholarly eighteen-year-old Paula and her merchant father journey from Transylvania to Istanbul to buy an ancient pagan artifact rumored to be charmed, but others, including a handsome Portuguese pirate and an envoy from the magical Wildwood, want to acquire the item as well.

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn’t think she’s the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She’s also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her “the Duff,” she throws her Coke in his face.

But things aren’t so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn’t such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she’s falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.

I love getting awesome book recommendations, so please do blog about your own recent reads and link me in the comments :)