Flashes of Inspiration

Last night I was lying in bed thinking about my newest work in progress. I haven't really been stuck, but did get off track a bit with it. I spent all day yesterday trying to figure out where I needed to go before I hit the part where all seems lost. You know, every happy-ever-after story has that toward the end. My how-is-the-main-character-going-to-get-out-of-this? happened way too soon. 


I realized I still had to fill in more story. But I didn't want it to just be scenes that were random. It needed to show the development of the characters. By the time we get to the all-seems-lost part, I want it to be gut wrenching. I want you to be so invested in the main character that you feel for him. Even if you didn't like him in the beginning. And his love interest? Yeah, I want you to be so worried about her that you'll keep turning pages.

So back to last night. I've crawled into bed, snuggled down into the covers, flipped my long hair where it's not bugging me, when all of a sudden, BAM! I'm wide awake thinking about a scene. So I grab my pen and notebook and start writing, in long hand, because hubby is sleeping and I don't want to wake him with the clickitty-click of my laptop. (He can sleep through my pen scratching, but not the keyboard. Go figure). After over 800 words, I know I've got a pretty good roughed out scene.

I turn off the light, snuggle back down...you get the picture, when I get hit with an idea for a whole new story. I really do not have enough lifetimes to write everything going on in my head.

Elevator Pitch Contest with YAtopia

Bree Ogden, of "YAtopia, the Teen Lit Haven" is offering a pitch contest for your current finished manuscript. Here is what she's looking for:

ANY children's/middle grade/YA/graphic novel genres.

You can visit YAtopia by clicking here to enter.

I'm entering my story Mystic's Tale for consideration.

Good luck to all entrants!

Review of Awakening Avery

Awakening Avery, written by Laurie Lewis is a clean romance I thoroughly enjoyed This is not your typical romance, first of all our protagonist is not in her twenties—she’s in her forties and suffering from depression. Avery has lost her husband to a heart attack leaving this widow with a married daughter, a son who has recently come home from a mission, and another getting ready to leave on one. To heal Avery heal, her oldest son coaxes her to spend the summer in Florida on a beautiful island. She ends up trading time in her condo in Baltimore for a beach home on Anna Maria Island, where her family often spent summers. The widower, whose home Avery is in, has two daughters who have not found their independence and resent Avery, whom they view as an intruder. This sweet LDS romance has lots of sub plots and romances occurring. I loved watching the changes of heart in all the characters, who are both well rounded and dynamic. You’ll cry, you laugh, and you’ll come away with a feeling of hope and smile. Thanks Laurie, for a sweet tale of romance, faith and testimony.