Don't make me kill this Agave!!!

I'm very rarely disappointed when a friend sens me links to things on Craigslist....


http://austin.craigslist.org/grd/1050741149.html

Tasted Better The Day Before

One of my favorite pastimes is coming up with fake rock band names... Gunther Mader is definitely in my top five!

I've seen this or something like it before--but today's version from Rinda Elliot:

1 - Go to “wikipedia.” Hit “random”or click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:RandomThe first random wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2 - Go to “Random quotations”or click http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.

3 - Go to flickr and click on “explore the last seven days”or click http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7daysThird picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

4 - Use photoshop or similar to put it all together.

5 - Bow to technology as it fashions the images that form your reality.

Don't forget the Swag Bag Contest is going on right now: http://brooketaylorbooks.blogspot.com/2009/02/swag-bag-contest.html

Swag Bag Contest!

This past weekend my local RWA group hosted a teen reader panel and I put together some awesome swag bags with the help of several very cool authors AND I have 1 bag left! WhooHoo!

The bag has a signed copy of Undone plus book swag (stickers/magnets/bookmarks) from Alyson Noel, Keri Mikulski, Lisa Schroeder, and Tina Ferraro.

PLUS: As a thank you to these super ladies--I'll throw in 1 book of your choice by any of these authors:

Alyson Noel: Evermore, Cruel Summer, Faking 19, Saving Zoe, Laguna Cove, and more!

Keri Mikulski: Screwball

Lisa Schroeder: I Heart You, You Haunt Me ; Far From You

Tina Ferraro: Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress, How to Hook a Hottie, or The ABC's of Kissing Boys .

So in order to win this super cool prize--all you have to do is leave a comment on this post with the book (from these authors) that you would most like to find in your Swag Bag!

Deadline: Midnight March 1.

I'll try to get some photos of the actual bag and swag soon!

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!

Winners!!

First--I deleted the Stellas post--because I'm happy to announce they are a hoax (http://www.snopes.com/legal/lawsuits.asp) I was suspicious of them, especially the one where the crook was trapped in the garage, because everyone should know that if you just pull the little lever on the opener down the garage door will come off the chain and then it is really easy to lift it up. Quite handy when the power goes out and such.

Okay--so now onto the winners!

Books #1,2, 5 ( Daniel X, Model Pres, Models Cookies) Winner: AMY "Writebrained"

Books 3 & 4 (Haunting of Derek Stone/Deeper)Winner: Biblauragraphy

Winners please email brooke (at) brooketaylorbooks (dot) com with your mailing address. Thanks!

Is Edward a Gary Stu?

Often I find myself involved in conversations of the let's-analyze-Twilight variety. I do not initiate these discussions, mind you--they seek me out and find me vulnerable (much like bad boys). Perhaps it is because I'm a YA author, YA enthusiast, & young looking girl. Or maybe it is my Bite Me Edward Cullen (PLEASE!) bumper sticker. I don't know. But a few of these convos have revolved around the accusation that Bella is a "Mary Sue". And today there's been a little blogging about "Mary Sue"--enter Diana Peterfreund with a Mary Sue Litmus Test--so I thought I'd give it a whirl. But not with Bella--because I'm Just Not That Into Her. Enter: Edward!

Some of the highlights:

Does your (immortal) character appear to be much younger than she/he really is? Um, yeah--he was born in 1901 and still looks 17.
Does the character have an unusual eye color, or otherwise exceptional eyes? And are these eyes a color that does not occur in nature? Technically Topaz does occur in nature, but with all the changing of color... I'm giving this one a yes.
And will they have something to do with the plot? Yes
Does the character have eyes that somehow reflect hidden depths or experience or sorrow?

Reflects his feeding schedule
Does the character have unusual or exceptional hair, or does her/his hair get a disproportionate amount of description compared to that of the other characters? Yes-"His hair, which is always messy, retains the unusual bronze shade that he inherited in his human life from his biological mother."*
Was the character ever abducted? I consider what Carlisle did a form of abduction

Does the character consider her/his beauty/talent/skill/etc. a curse? No man likes to sparkle

Then we have more Gary Stu qualities, such as he "possesses superhuman beauty, strength, speed, endurance, and agility. His scent and voice are enormously seductive, so much so that he occasionally sends Bella into a pliant daze entirely by accident....He is the fastest of the Cullens, able to outrun any of them. Perhaps as a result of a talent for empathy in his human life, Edward can also read the mind of anyone within a few miles of himself...Edward also retains some of the traditional mindset and dated patterns of speech from his early-20th century human life."*

And all the other stuff that comes from living for so long and not sleeping--like traveling extensively, knowing many languages, being a virtuoso piano player--and there's the collecting of cars and music.

Plus many many more yeses.

So after doing my best to answer the questions (some I couldn't because I'm not Stephenie) the findings are thus: Edward scores a whopping 147 points and "71 points or more: Irredeemable-Sue. "

But it doesn't change the way I feel about him! (Which right there is a totally Mary Sue trait... sigh)

(*Source: Edward Cullen Wiki)

ARCs Giveaway!

A couple of quick things first-- Undone made the final cut for the ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers List! Whoo Hooo!!!

AND (thank you Librarily Blond) I now have a new fun blog to procrastinate with: http://failblog.org/

Okay--onto the giveaways. This is kind of a winter bookshelf cleanup giveaway of ARCs I grabbed up at NCTE but have not yet read because I'm just that overwhelmed with everything else. SO I'm giving them away--enter to win one, two, or all. Simply tell me which numbers you are interested in. The way it will work is this--I'll combine my LJ and Blogger comments and then do the random number thing--if your number is picked you win whatever books you listed. If there are still books left over the people who selected those books will then get a shot at the random number generator, etc... This way I may save a little on postage. Hope you understand. Now onto the books:

1. The Dangerous Days of Daniel X by James Patterson/Michael Ledwidge

2. The Model President by Brian Tacang (It's a MG--and Brian was a fashion designer, just thought I'd include that)

3. The Haunting of Derek Stone-City of the Dead and Bayou Dogs by Tony Abbott

4. Deeper by Roderick Gordon & Brian Williams (this is a sequel to a NYT bestselling book called Tunnels)

and the hardest to part with:

5. Models Don't Eat Chocolate Cookies by Erin Dionne

Okay--you have until Sunday (Feb 1st) midnight to post your choices! Good Luck!