Tips & Tricks - Writing samples on your blog

Two wonderful bleeps recently shared with me that they'd been contacted by publishing professionals who'd read synopses or excerpts of their works on their blogs. (SQUEE for them!!!)

Then I over-read (like over-heard) a comment where an agent lamented that he'd like to read more of a writer's work, but it wasn't readily available on the writer's blog.

Naturally, I got to thinking... I didn't have writing excerpts here until two days ago, so I can't say whether it works for me. But it makes sense. Just because I can write a decent blog post doesn't mean I have the chops for a novel. Or even the bright idea for one.

So maybe this is more of a heads up. And maybe I'm the last person getting the memo...  (Am I?)

I'll keep this post short in the hopes that you might check out one (or all) of my new linkies to the right over there > > >

And while I still have everything crossed that I can possibly cross in the hopes that I'll hear back positive news from Dream Agent soon, I certainly won't turn away any interested parties.

Anybody else contacted through writing samples on their blog? I'm just curious. And I'd love to hear any feedback you might have on my new pages!

Hope your week is filled with things to be thankful for. Til Thursday~ <3

What's your major?

The other night JRM asked me who I wanted to be when I grew up as a novelist (i.e., when IT happened). And I couldn't answer. I mean, I've written almost four books now, and while they're all YA, the subject matter in some is very different from others. And I really like them all...

Then I got to thinking, J.J. Abrams gave us Felicity and then Alias and then L O S T ... all very different from target audience to subject matter. And while you'll get different things from his shows, I bet you can tell they're all his joints.

Although, I suppose you could argue that once L O S T became the huge hit that it did, he hasn't done much differently. (See: Star Trek, Fringe, Cloverfield.)

So I got to thinking. Is it possible as a novelist to just write the stories you love? Or do they have to be all the same genre?

In my case:

• Debut Novel, which I still hope eventually sees the light of day, is a YA romance-slash-mystery. (And the first in a series.)
• Brand New Novel is more of an edgy YA romcom.
• WIP1 is more of a coming of age YA. (First chapter's up on The Writing Show--woo!)
• WIP2 is YA romance-slash-SciFi.
• WIP3 is YA (light) historical romance.

I think I have a very distinct storytelling style, and at least they're all YA with romance... Just tell me now. Is this BAD?

What about my bleeps. What's your major? Do you stick to one genre when writing?

I suppose like most entertainers, once I figure out what the public wants from me, I'll probably just keep giving it to them over and over and over 'til I drop.

Unless I become a Grisham or a King and then I can write whatever the heck I want because I'm living on my own private island in the South Pacific...  (*a'hem,* what? Sorry, I dozed.)

In other news, I do apologize for being so slow making the bl'rounds these days. I'm at 45K words on WIP3--SQUEE! The end is in sight, and I'm feelin it!

In other other news, doing my interview today with Paula B. at The Writing Show. I'm hoping not to sound like a complete scatterbrain and will let you know when it's available for your listening enjoyment (and/or nonstop teasing fun!).

Until Monday, Love~ <3

Does cheating make you hungry?

You know. Because of the rhyme? Anyway, I've been in transit all weekend, so tomorrow you'll get the real Monday post. Today I'll cheat.

The lovely and talented Jessica Bell (aka, the Alliterative Allomorph) held a contest to raise money for The Writing Show, an online treasure trove of resources for writers.

Everyone donated, and Jess randomly pulled My Name from the hat! Woo! It was really more of a bag, but the point is... The first chapter of my WIP1 is up on The Writing Show site!

It really is. I mean it. Run over and see it by clicking here.

Only the first five pages have been through the amazing critiquers (critters) over at YALitChat, so I would appreciate any helpful critiques here or via email.

Support The Writing Show. And thanks for reading! Love~ <3