Predictability

One of my worst fears as a writer is being predictable. I don't want a reader to guess, smirk and/or roll their eyes, and say 5 minutes later:

"I knew you were going to do that."

"You're boring."

"Mighty un-clever!"

Where does unpredictability come from? Usually from my secondary characters. They whisper things in my ear like: "You know that scene 150 pages back? I could pop in, pull on her pig-tails a little - see what happens. Whatdoyasay?" (insert hearty wink here)

Seriously though, what do you say? Well, I said it honestly sounds kinda fun. Let's stir things up a bit - let's suddenly appear out of nowhere and show 2% of kindness when 98% of the time we're schemy and evil. Let's die. Let's not die and wear fuschia to someone else's funeral.

After I thought this was a cool idea, I realized how difficult it was and decided to write this blog post. I definitely don't want to shy away from making my story better just because it'll be hard and I wanted to come on here and tell you just that. Because I just learned that letting that character go cause a ruckus meant I had over a dozen other scenes to change. So, I've had to be really careful with continuity issues AND with being unpredictable, yet believable.

I definitely don't want a reader to go:

Huh. That doesn't make sense.

Huh. That was out of character.

Huh. THAT WAS REALLY DUMB!

So ... there's a fine line and I'm trying to see it. (peers) Can you see it?

On congratulating Jodi and woo-ing

Write every single day. Write for ten years. Write more than a million words. Don't give up.

One of my bestest e-friends, Jodi Meadows, has just nabbed the agent of her dreams. Honestly, this couldn't have happened to a more deserving and talented writer. I'm incredibly thrilled for her and I really, really can't wait for all of you to read ERIN INCARNATE. I am so in love with this unique world and the characters that she's created. Just you wait - you're gonna be blown away by the genius that is her premise.

To me, Jodi embodies the mature writer so it was pure joy "watching" her write EI. I am very lucky she's so open to sharing her craft and I feel like I've learned a lot. *snugs* and CONGRATULATIONS, Jodi!

In other news, I am charging through the final chapters of FRIENDS WITH DEATH. I have noticed that once I cross a certain threshold on a manuscript, my mind starts to wander and these random, glorious, shiny ideas pop out of nowhere and try to woo me away from my work in progress. Does that happen to you? If so, how do you tell them to STOP! WAIT! TAKE A NUMBER!

I have to admit, I succumbed for a day or two and jotted down the exciting first lines and bits of ideas and conversation, but no more! Until the words "The End" grace FRIENDS WITH DEATH's pretty, white face, I will not begin a new story. Nope. Nuh uh. No.

Please feel free to berate me on my own blog if you suspect I'm working on anything else.

GIANT LINGER GIVEAWAY!!

SHIVER was, hands-down, my favorite book last year. I adore Maggie Stiefvater's lyrical prose and admired how real Sam and Grace's relationship was even though he's a wolf and she's a human. The twist on the werewolf mythology was refreshing and kept me guessing as well.

I'm beyond fangirl-squee that SHIVER is going to be made into a movie and am celebrating this awesome news by trying my pants off to win a copy of LINGER.

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love -- the light and the dark, the warm and the cold -- in a way you will never forget.

Comes out in stores everywhere July 20th. Pre-order here.

Enter to win an advanced review copies of LINGER, Sisters Red, The Dead-Tossed Waves, and The Replacement on Maggie's blog.