On Critique

In my WIP my MC took some M&M's from her friend. The line should've read something like: "I happily popped the candy..."

I'd read at least a dozen times, never realizing that what it actually said was:

"I happily pooped the candy."

All I can say--is thank goodness I caught it, because my critique group would've had a field day with that!

On some of my loops there have been discussions about critique groups-do you need one--and if so what kind and how do you get it? What do you expect from them, how do you politely critique someone else's work, how do you handle the criticism... ?

First off--Do you need one--and if so what kind?

Apparently not everyone feels they need a critique group, and that's fine, but I do think a fresh set of eyes never hurt anyone. So for the purpose of this blog, my advice is--if you are asking if you need one, then the answer is probably yes. The people I know who don't use critique groups are already established, have a clear and confident voice, and quite frankly write way too fast for a group to be useful. They have short-fuse deadlines. So if that's you--what are you doing reading this blog--get back to work!

Okay--still here? So what kind of critique group do you need/want?

Well a lot of people do well with one-on-one critiques. This is a great plan if you and your CP are both in the same boat--you both have agents and are on subs, you both have a debut novel coming out, etc... Or if you're very lucky--your CP is a mentor--someone older/wiser/a NYT bestseller. Personally I think even if you have a critique group, you should also have one or more one-on-one people. These are invaluable and usually will be able to give you faster reads and such because you're going to do the same for them. This is your crunch-time person, your go-to-guy or gal--so this person has to be someone you trust and respect. Where do you get one? Well, time and patience and lots of emails. These are genuine friendships and therefore take more than a "hey, I've seen you on my loop--will you take a look at my wip?" They are developed.

The next level is the online group--personally I think these should be small--like 6 people or less. And the make up of the group can be more mixed--agented, pubbed, unpubbed but serious (JMO but anyone who is not serious about getting published shouldn't be in a critique group unless it is with other non-serious people--the reason being it takes time and effort to crit for people and quite frankly most of us have enough to read without adding material that someone is messing with for fun or hobby). This type of critique group serves as not only a great resource for line edits, big picture edits, & plot brainstorming, but also serves as a focus group--does more than one person think the same way? Maybe you should take the advice a little more seriously. Etc.. This is also an amazing source of support both personally and professionally.

How do you get one? Join YA writing groups (online or local)--post that you are looking, get to know people at conferences and express interest. There will be some trial and error as far as fit goes, so be prepared that it may not be a sisterhood-of-the-travelling-pants kind of thing.

Another similar group would be an in-person critique group. I've never had one of these, but would imagine it is very much the same as the online version--but with more coffee and probably more drama.

Speaking of drama...how do you politely critique someone else's work, how do you handle the criticism?

I think stating upfront exactly what you are expecting from a crit group will help with figuring out how you will be critting the work. Do you just want proofreading or do you want more?

Some people are extremely sensitive--and if you have someone like that in your group or if you are someone who is--maybe you aren't going to get the full benefit of the crit group. You will just end up sugar-coating everything and potentially sending a lamb out to the lions.

IMO-if in your crit group--the only comments are: LOL, This is great--love this! Hee hee--then maybe you don't have a crit group at all--maybe what you really have is a mutual admiration society. Which is fine--we all need those too. Personally, I have my mother for that.

Another pitfall is the ego-ridden critter--Are they re-writing everything? Word-smithing you? Preaching to the choir on the basics or otherwise sounding condescending? Not taking what they dish out?

On the other side of the coin--just because you get some harsh crits, don't immediately cry fowl. Unless the person is truly over-the-top or mean, expect that what you're getting is simple un-sweetened honesty. Sweetening and soft-selling criticism takes extra time--time we don't all have, so just because you don't get the soft-sell, don't assume the intent is to be harsh.

Also--just because it is soft-balled doesn't mean it doesn't need to be seriously considered. Everything that someone comments on needs to be critically evaluated by you the author and only then can you say--eh--they don't know what they're talking about.

When I crit something for someone I'm going to point out everything that snags my attention--not because I think I'm so much more brilliant of a writer--but because--IT SNAGGED MY ATTENTION. When I crit, I'm not a writer, I'm a reader--I have no writing ego. I'm never trying to re-write someone else's work or change their voice. Yes, I may have a few writer's rules stuck in my head, but for the most part it is all about the read. And when I read a crit, I assume the comments are inspired by the same--so I don't take offense. I take it all very seriously--I expect that my CP's will not let me send dreck to my agent, just like my agent wouldn't let me send dreck to my editor.

And for all of those tender, thinned skinned writers out there--your harsh CP's have nothing on your agent or editor. Nothing.

Speaking of harsh crits--one thing I noticed that my agent does (and I'm not even sure if she is aware that she does this) is that she always praises the author and criticizes the work.

For instance:

"Your strengths are XYZ"

"The manuscript's weaknesses are XYZ"

I can't say I'm as good about following the rule, but I do think it is a great way to go.

Also be sure to check out my agent's blog: http://pubrants.blogspot.com/ on synopsis writing--some great tips!

Publishing Demystified

Obtained illegally from the very awesome Alyson Noel (whose book Evermore is coming out very very soon!!! SQUEE!)

It puts the lotion in the basket....

So I was emailing about my latest WIP with a super cool CP of mine, and she questioned a pop culture reference I had used. Now I figured it might go over some of my target audience's heads, but I'd expected she would have some idea what I was talking about--but, erm, no. So I explained and even though she'd seen Silence of the Lambs, she didn't recall the scene in question. SO, as I often do at times of trouble, I turned to YouTube for help. And since YouTube rarely disappoints, I found this little precious (guess what I'll be singing all day?):



The lyrics here: http://prettymad.net/lyrics/greenskeepers-lotion.lyrics.txt

Casting

Friday I'm going to be at NCTE with fellow 2K8ers, and we'll be giving a workshop to anywhere from 0-120 English teachers. I'm a little bit nervous. Public speaking is not something I'm good at. I'm not even all that good at private speaking... But I'm am excited about my topic which is basically ways to look at books through modern eyes. And while getting prepared for my workshop, I decided it would be easier to have a blog all set up with examples of these new ways fans are connecting to books or authors are connecting with fans. One of the entries was doing a casting call--so in the spirit of that I give you some ideas for characters in Undone:

Kristen Stewart as Kori: dark, troubled, guarded, tough.

Ellen Page as Serena: cynical & sarcastic on the outside, vulnerable & innocent on the inside.

Thomas Dekker as "Becks": solid & soulful, sweet but not so innocent.

Taylor Kitcsh as Shay: Sexy, dangerous, bad boy with a conscience (Shay takes his shirt off in Undone, too--just sayin')

Wasting time or research?

Look who found a new time suck!!

to my haters by brooketaylorbooks

Took a little practice to get used to finding images and moving them around--my next one will be a collage for my WIP MC! This one fits Kori from UNDONE pretty well. And yes--a few Edward images because November 21 is coming!!! (And sadly I will be at a fancy dinner as opposed to a cram-packed theater--but one I will tell y'all all about, because it's going to be very interesting!

Friday...I'm in Love!

Okay--maybe not love--but certainly curious...

No...not in the guy, but in his desk. It's a treadmill desk!

What do you think authors? No more "secretary spread"

And just look at her smile! That could be you writing your next best seller! Pacing will never be an issue for you!

No more evil kitty editors sitting on your lap, reading your manuscript and looking at you with disdain! You won't even have a lap! They will be powerless!!

Crap. There's just no stopping Evil Kitty Editors.

This Blog is Simple, Like my Brother-in-law Phil

Every year, English teachers from across the USA can submit their collections of actual analogies and metaphors found in high school essays. These excerpts are published each year to the amusement of teachers across the country. Here are last year's winners:

1. Her face was a perfect oval, like a circle that had its two sides gently compressed by a Thigh Master.

2. His thoughts tumbled in his head, making and breaking alliances like underpants in a dryer without Cling Free.

3. He spoke with wisdom that only comes from experience, like a guy who went blind because he looked at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it and now goes around the country speaking at high schools about the dangers of looking at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it.

4. She grew on him like she was a colony of e. coli, and he was room temperature Canadian beef.

5. She had a deep, throaty, genuine laugh, like that sound a dog makes just before it throws up.

6. Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever.

7. He was as tall as a six-foot, three-inch tree.

8. The revelation that his marriage of 30 years had disintegrated because of his wife's infidelity came as a rude shock, like a surcharge at a formerly surcharge-free ATM machine.

9. The little boat gently drifted across the pond exactly the way a bowling ball wouldn't.

10. McBride fell 12 stories, hitting the pavement like a Hefty bag filled with vegetable soup.

11. From the attic came an unearthly howl. The whole scene had an eerie, surreal quality, like when you're on vacation in another city and Jeopardy comes on at 7:00 p.m. instead of 7:30

12. Her hair glistened in the rain like a nose hair after a sneeze.

13. The hailstones leaped from the pavement, just like maggots when you fry them in hot grease.

14. Long separated by cruel fate, the star-crossed lovers raced across the grassy field toward each other like two freight trains, one having left Cleveland at 6:36 p.m. traveling at 55 mph, the other from Topeka at 4:19 p.m. at a speed of 35 mph.

15. They lived in a typical suburban neighborhood with picket fences that resembled Nancy Kerrigan's teeth.

16. John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds who had also never met.

17. He fell for her like his heart was a mob informant, and she was the East River.

18. Even in his last years, Granddad had a mind like a steel trap,only one that had been left out so long, it had rusted shut.

19. Shots rang out, as shots are wont to do.

20. The plan was simple, like my brother-in-law Phil. But unlike Phil, this plan just might work.

21. The young fighter had a hungry look, the kind you get from not eating for a while.

22. He was as lame as a duck. Not the metaphorical lame duck, either,but a real duck that was actually lame, maybe from stepping on a landmine or something.

23. The ballerina rose gracefully en Pointe and extended one slender leg behind her, like a dog at a fire hydrant.

24. It was an American tradition, like fathers chasing kids around with power tools.

25. He was deeply in love. When she spoke, he thought he heard bells,as if she were a garbage truck backing up.

The Truth about Celeb Authors...

Nicole Richie is a reality star celebutante, famous for doing pretty much nothing (not that I'm judging!):
Lauren Conrad is a reality star celebutante, famous for doing pretty much nothing (again, soooo not judging!!):
Nicole dated Brody Jenner:

Lauren dated Brody Jenner
Nicole had a highly publicized break up with a blond BFF over an "inappropriate" tape:
Lauren had a highly publicized breakup with a blond BFF over an "inappropriate" tape:
Nicole wrote a "loosely inspired" book about her celebutante status:

Lauren, our favorite girl-next-door-if-we-lived-in-LaLa Land, apparently just signed a 3 book deal to write a series that is "loosely inspired" by her celebutante status:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080912/ap_on_en_tv/people_lauren_conrad

Being a writer myself--I notice the release date for the first LA Candy book is summer of 09--I hope that means she's already finished the first book! Wait--just did a Google and on her very own blog it has the following:

“I run ideas by Lo and I’ll ask for her opinion because I value my friends’ opinions,” says the budding author, who has completed the outline for the first book.

Ay Dios Mio! Only the outline, LC? Most authors with releases in the '09 have already been getting their line edits. Best get crackin'!

Thanks Mandy Writer for the tip off about the newest YA writer on the scene!

3 Things...in Undone

This is Beau Jo's Pizza in Idaho Springs, Colorado--this is where Serena goes on her date! The pizza is to die for.
This is the infamous Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado. This hotel was used in the movie The Shining, it is also haunted. I went there when I worked as a Wrangler at a guest ranch in Lyons.
This is Lodo, aka Lower Downtown Denver--and this is where the club is that Bleeder Valve performs at.

I love seeing the real world places that authors bring into their fictional worlds--so I'm tagging any authors who would like to post some of the places they've put in their books--let me know and I'll link ya up to the post! Thanks!!

3 Things....

3 Things... You will always find in one of my books:

1. A Horse

I buy a lot of books simply because they have a horse on the cover, but sometimes I find that I've been duped, because there isn't a horse anywhere inside. So, in every single book I will have a horse, somewhere, somehow. It's my small way of giving back all that has been taken...

2. A made up Slang Word

Yes, I secretly hope that my little made up word will catch on and go far in life....

3. The expression "heaved a sigh"

One of my crit partners (*cough* *cough* Jordan *cough* *cough* Dane) had her characters heaving sighs right and left, I just find it funny.

Is there anything you always put in your novels or anything you notice that is funny that you want me to put in mine?

Check it out!

My cover story at Melissa Walker's blog:

http://www.melissacwalker.com/blog/2008/08/cover_stories_undone_by_brooke.html

All about how boring and stupid my cover ideas were--but in my defense, I had no idea their idea would be so perfect and brilliant! :-P

Catching Up & Contest!

I'm sorry to be such a cruddy blogger this month--but as you can probably tell from all the shameless linkage I've been doing--I've been busy! Here's a few more:

Interview and Review with In Bed with Books!

Also check out my guest blog at And Another Book Read to find out what is real and what is fake in Undone.

And Undone has already been spotted at one Borders!!! Squee!! Heading over to my local Borders right now!!!

Also, next week being my big launch week, I've decided to have a big giveaway--it will include a gorgy hardback edition of Undone, signed by me and will include a few other things, including a couple of my favorite books--full details on Monday, but the gist will be at some point between now and next Friday you will post my awesome book trailer on your blog or other networking site and leave me the link in the comments to be entered!

Amazing trailer:

MySpace and Video for Undone!

I finally did it... caved in and set up a MySpace account! I know, I'm on the tail end of it aren't I? Well, please come visit and friend me if you're on as well! Also, incentive to go check it out... my book video is only up there! So go look, comment, tell me what you think of it!

Brooke's MySpace

First Chance to Win UNDONE!

Have you been dying to read UNDONE? I know you wanna, LOL. Well here's your first chance to win an ARC of Undone--

Midnight Twillight's Book Blog Is holding a contest and all you have to do is comment! You could also read the great review she gave it :-)

Thanks everyone!!

On Revision

I never really though about it--but revision--is re-vision, or a new vision. And that is why it is different from just editing. And that is why it is so freaking hard and takes so long. So if all you are doing is changing some sentences around or proofing--you are NOT revising. Don't know how important that is, but sounds important. Huh?

Okay, so I don't know if anyone noticed that Domi wasn't on board with my latest version of Book 2. The image was blurred because the camera couldn't even keep up with him tearing (literally) through the pages with claws fully extended to scratch the ink right from the paper!

Well, he's not the only one who has been ripping apart my work. I've just gone searching for an old scene that I want to try again and realized that not only do I have about 10 old versions of this story, but my official cut out file is a whopping 121 pages. That's almost half a book of cut out scraps.

I've never had a problem with writer's block--clearly with 121 pages of scraps, I am writing. But I do think I have plotter's block. And the sticky plot point just happens to be right at the beginning. Bah!!!

Anyhow... I am confident it will resolve itself with brilliance very soon. In the meantime, another kind of revision. Change of address. With my mom moving so will my mailing addy. See, I'm lazy--I've kept my family home as my mailing addy even though I have my own house and own mail box. Like most things with me, it's complicated. See my mailbox is a country one--which means it is 1/4 mile from my house and on the wrong side of the street--so I always have to park my car, cross the street and get my mail. In other words a pain. My mom's old house was just a block away from my day job--so I was there daily, dropping off my dog and what not. It was just easier to get my mail there. Now I must change. I'm not happy about this. And I'm most certain the new house owners will not be happy to be the "Or Current Resident" for all my catalogs (which for some odd reason all abundant).

So today I started to go address changing at all these catalog places--and guess what--you can't change you addy on the website. ??!!?? It is almost like the catalog has no connection to its own website! In this day and age calling and speak to a human to change my address is ridiculous. If only lazy people were capable of uniting (too much effort) this issue could be resolved.

Newbie's First Interview

Please go check out my first interview for Lux Magazine's blog--I was nervous about it, but it turned out great! Let me just *cough*cough* share a little:

"Pure and unadulterated, Brooke Taylor’s debut novel Undone, is entertainment. It is without trend, without “market focus”, without imitation. This book wasn’t written to appease a publisher; it was written to appease you. The reader. Her voice isn’t that current upbeat, sarcastic “chick” voice that is so dominant right now. It’s her own voice. Unique. Refreshing. Wonderful. Melodic. Humorous, Heartbreaking."

*blushes*

Okay--please go forth and check out the whole interview and scroll around to catch some other great authors interviews--Jordan Dane, CJ Lyons, Heather Graham, Kim Harrison (there's even an entry on Lipizzaner Stallions which is off topic but way cool):

http://luxmagz.com/lux_blog/

And here:

http://bethanyhensel.blogspot.com/2008/05/so-thrill-me-brooke-taylor.html

Thanks Bethany, for a great interview and for being such a wonderful advocate for books and their authors!

Marketing and Me

When I thought about what the day to day life of being an author would entail I imagined sleeping in, putzing about in my PJ's with my laptop at the ready and characters yammering on my head... etc... I really didn't think too hard about marketing and publicity. I sort of thought I could maybe get away with being like that author (played by Jack Nicholson) in As Good As it Gets. Basically a recluse with a bad attitude, expensive apartment, and a cute dog (that I'd never put down the trash chute!). Not so. Last night I had a long conversation about publicity with Bella Stander of Book Promotion 101. It was in turns... painful and enlightening. And then when I went on her blog today I saw the following video (by Dennis Cass, author of HEAD CASE: How I Almost Lost My Mind Trying to Understand My Brain) and had to laugh out loud (LOL). All I can say is at least I'm not the only one.

A Thin Line Between Love and Hate

So I've been hard at work on Book #2. And really banging my head on how to tell the story. What POV, How many POV's, how to handle past events, etc... and every day I either am soooo in love with this project or I HATE!!! it with a fiery passion.

I'm pretty sure I felt the same way with UNDONE, so I'm not going to try not to panic. BTW--today I'm in LOVE LOVE LOVE with it... apparently my love is as fleeting as a soap star's, though.

Jordan Woolley, AKA "Nick" on As The World Turns

I LOVE him for being so gorgeous and I hate him for leaving me after only 67 short episodes. Yes, it has been like 2 years (which is 14 in Soap Years) since he left, but I'm not over it.

Not be a long shot.

Super Cool Stuff

Check it out--Flamingnet Young Adult Book Reviews has made UNDONE a Top Choice Book. I even get a little button and everything--go ahead and click it... I'll wait :O)

Super cool, right?!?!

So this weekend I checked out Cradle of Rock (MTV) off my DVR list, and was pleasantly surprised. I'd set it to record, but I thought it was one of those bio type shows--like E! True Hollywood or something. But it's like American Idol for the kids of rock stars. They all did okay, but I didn't agree with the judges on anyone, LOL. And I would've like it better if they didn't have a cheesy Karaoke backdrop and instead did something more like what Rock Star (INXS, Supernova) did. Anyway, my fave is Olivia Newton-John's daughter Chloe Lattanzi. I think she has the most unique look and sound. Granted she needs some work--I kept expecting her voice to go one way and it went the other, which was jarring--but everyone else just kind of had that cover song feel. She was an original.

Best Milestone EVER!!!!

As a writer there are many milestones that we celebrate—first completed manuscript, first agent rejection (Yes this really is celebrated, how sick is that? LOL), first agent request for more pages, first request for a Full(!!!!), and the biggies like The Call, the typeset pages, the cover art, the arcs, the reviews… but today I’ve hit THE BEST MILESTONE EVER!!!!

My first fan email!!!!!!!

Big shout out to Jenna!!

I’d known Walker had done an amazing job of getting ARCs out and I’ve seen a few bookseller reviews already on the net, but I really didn’t expect to get reader feedback so soon, especially from a teen reader. After all, UNDONE won’t be on shelves until July 22nd. Thing is, Jenna belongs to this really super cool book club at her middle school called The Bookies and they read ARCs and review them and then their teacher sends the reviews to the publisher. How freaking awesome, right? And Jenna’s review was really impressive (and not just because she liked the book—but because of the things she commented on and the things she took away from reading it). So kudos to the teachers involved in this project as well.

As my first official fan, Jenna will be receiving the very first (sorry Mom) signed copy of UNDONE when it comes out, and a signed ARC of my next book (*cough**cough* which I need to finish).