Writing On The Gooooooooooo!

 

When it's close to a vacation, do you find yourself picking up that laptop or finding the computer nearest you to get in a few extra words to your story? Or maybe your vacation is the perfect spot to motivate your creativity?

 

I write pretty much everywhere I go, vacation or not. Any time I plan on being away from home, I keep a small notebook and pen in my bag just in case. There's really no limit to places where you can write. Swimming pools, parks, skating rinks, etc. While some writers may prefer peace and quiet, I always do better with background noise.

 

Tips to keep in mind when writing away from home:

 

1. Be prepared. Sometimes we don't think to bring laptop, especially if you're not "thinking" you'll writing. You never know when creativity will strike, right? So keep a notebook in your car, napkins in your glovebox (been there!) and a few pens.

 

2. Voice recorders are your friends. And they can be just as useful. Most phones have one so they're prefect to use in a pinch. However, it may be harder to use this in a noisy area. And if you're comfortable with others listening to you. Oh, and these are especially handy when you're on a real live ghost hunt doing book research (and recorders are VERY common on these types of outings!)

 

3. Type your words out once you do get to a computer. I don't know how many times i've had to search for a missing Post It or I completely forget and then lose by accident.

 

What are some of the more unusual places you found yourself writing? Any tips to share?

 

By Rose Cooper

Trauma Queen by Barbara Dee: Book Review & Giveaway!

Publisher: Aladdin
Author: Barbara Dee
Pub Date: April 2011Age Rage: 9 - 12

Publisher Summary:
Every tween girl knows what it's like to have a mom who can be a little embarrasing at times. But for Marigold, it goes way beyond embarrassing. Marigold's single mom is a performance artist, meaning she stages dramatic, wacky performances to express her personal beliefs. Things like wrapping herself in saran wrap for a piece on plastic surgery, or inviting people over in the middle of the night to videotape her sleeping. In fact, Marigold's mom's performances caused such a ruckus in their last town that the two of them, along with Marigold's little sister, have just had to move. Now Marigold's starting a new school, missing her best friend like crazy, and trying to fit in all over again in the shadow of a mom who's famous for all the wrong reasons. As if that's not bad enough, Marigold's mom takes on a new job--teaching drama at Marigold's school! Now all the kids know instantly just how weird her mom is, and Marigold's worried she'll never be able to have a friendship that can survive her mother.

My Thoughts:
"I'm standing outside homeroom in yellow flannel monkey pajamas." This is the first sentence of the book, and no, the MC is not having one of those dreams where you forget to dress before leaving the house. As usual, this thirteen-year-old character, Marigold, finds herself in an embarrassing situation because of her mom.

Most of us know how difficult life can be as a teen. Like parents divorcing, moving aways from friends you've known your whole life, making new friends or  being the new kid in school. This story touches on all of that. And more. And no, it's not overwhelming or hard to believe. Barbara Dee found a way to make all of this work together in a funny, fresh, and lighthearted read, with very realistic characters.

I might not be a teen anymore (though I don't always act like it!) but I resonated with this character and so many times I found myself embarrassed for her! I couldn't wait to see how things turned out in the end and read this book in one sitting. And sacraficing sleep was well worth it!

I could go on and on about this book, about how I admire Barbara Dee's writing style, character depth, and voice. Or about the laugh out loud moments or when I almost teared up. But instead, I'll just give away a copy of Trauma Queen and let you read it for yourself.

Just follow Project Mayhem and leave a comment below to enter!




Check out these other great reads by Barbara Dee!

Are Writers Crazy??

By crazy I mean, do writers think on a whole different level than non-writers? I think absolutely! Who doesn’t evesdrop on conversations thinking it would make great material for their next book? Maybe a friend comes to you with a problem and instead of offering advice or a solution, you think about how you could use that in your book too. I think our minds are wired differently. We see things from a different perspective and sometimes it’s only other writers who can truly appreciate this.

An example. Last night me and the hubs went through the drive thru. The car in front of us, at the ordering menu opened up his car door. Without thinking and just observing, what is your immediate thought?

Me: Oh look, that guys is gonna rip off the menu or something.

Hubs: What are you talking about?

Me: I don’t know. He’s suspiciously doing something. Just wait for it.

Meanwhile, my mind is running through all these possible scenarios, some unrealistic, but I’m totally watching this guy with his car door wide open. I’m waiting for him to pounce. To do SOMETHING. Because I know there must be a movtive. Why else would he be doing this?

Hubs: Yeah, wait for it. He’s ordering.

Me: Ordering? What do you mean? Just watch. Something is about to happen. I KNOW it.

Hubs: The only thing that’s happening is he’s ordering his food.

Me: Ya, right. With his car door wide open?

Hubs: (rolls eyes) His window is broke. It doesn’t roll down.

Me: Oh.

But in my mind, I had a whole story figured out for this guy. And the fast food menu. And maybe he had vengeance for one of the workers inside. But the boring reality of it was he was hungry, his window was broke.

Imagine the kind of world we would live in if everyone had boring brains. We need writers with overactive imaginations and dramatic thinking skills. So tell me, who’s with me? Who’s crazy too?

Winner of GOSSIP FROM THE GIRLS' ROOM!!

Thank you so much for all the wonderful comments and support for my debut book release of GOSSIP! I had a terrific and successful first book event (which I will be sharing on my blog shortly). Now, for the winner of the GOSSIP Giveway, congratulations to 

Theresa Milstein!!!

Thanks again to everyone who entered! Theresa, please send me your mailing address and I will have the book and  swag mailed right out to you!

xx,

Rose Cooper

HAPPY BOOK B-DAY, GOSSIP!!! GIVEAWAY!!

I'm writing this while I jump up and down. And screaming a bit. Yes, I can multi-task THAT well. But the reason behind all my excitement is because it's the release day of my book, Gossip From The Girls' Room, A Blogtastic! Novel. 

I am giving away one signed copy of GOSSIP! To enter, leave a comment and tell me your favorite funny book. Ever. Contest ends at midnight.

For chances to win more signed books and swag, join me on my blog at http://www.rose-cooper.com/!

Thank  you for all your support!!

xx,
Rose

Finding Your Niche

I used to think it was as easy as making the decision to write YA or MG. Maybe that’s why it took me six years until I landed an agent.

I used to read a book and love it so much, I would think, “that’s how I want to write. I want to write a heartbreaking tale that sucks readers in too.” I never wrote more than a few pages. The same thing happened when I tried to write a mystery, and so on. There were so many fabulous books out there and I wanted more than anything to write a fabulous book too.



I happily found (and embraced) my
niche & it will be released on 01-11-11.

 For some reason, every story I wrote turned out…funny. You know how they say write what you know? I took some pretty horrible situations from my life when I was a teen and based a story loosely on that. I thought for sure I would have a suspenseful, dramatic tale. And I was probably made to write YA, not MG afterall. After the first chapter I realized I did the one thing I didn’t want to do. I twisted the terrible situations into humourous, light hearted ones that the character learned from instead. No, it was all wrong. The character should be suffering, not laughing! Why were my fingers typing the opposite of what I was thinking?

More importantly, why was I fighting it?

I was pushing back the real voice that wanted to come out the entire time. And the voice was always younger than actual age I gave the character. It was as if I had my mind made up on who the character would be, not who the character should be. I did this many times, hardly noticing. Little by little, I let that side come out. Was it really funny or was it trying to destroy my good ideas? Was this the reason agents were signing me?

Then last year I had a great idea for story. I was more than excited about the concept. I was ecstatic! I had never in my life been so thrilled and I immediately began writing (by hand) and drawing little cartoons to go with it. Sure, I liked to draw when I was kid, but that was the extent of it. I finished the book in two weeks. I laughed the entire time writing it. It was so funny, to me anyways. But I couldn’t help wondering in the back of my mind, is it really funny or am I the only one who thinks so?

I immediately nabbed an agent with the first query, Rosemary Stimola, and about two months later Random House bought the book. And the best part, I’m an illustrator now too! I would’ve never in a million years have thought that door would’ve open for me as well. But here’s the thing. I love writing humor, I embrace it now. That’s what I do. But I love drawing illus with it. It makes the story much funnier. I’m working on a new project that has illus and it really adds to the humor. I found myself going backwards and saying, “but what if I can’t really write? What if I can only do MG books with text AND illus?”

Um, was J.K. Rowling complaining that she only wrote Harry Potter? Or Jeff Kinney complaining that he only Diary of Wimpy Kid, which BTW is only text and illus too?

It’s great to eventually branch out, push your boundries, and even writiing across genres at some point. But starting out, it’s best to find your footing, discover who you are and what your writing is. Find your niche and perfect it. Make it distinct and suitable to you. Whether it’s cutting-edge, warm and friendly, feminine, authoritive, or high-energy, find the best way to describe your writing style and own it.


To get info on more on Rose's upcoming books and to view her art and illustrations, visit her website at http://www.rose-cooper.com/.