Writing is like breathing...it's just something I've got to do

This book is by far awesome. It totally wasn't what I expected it to be. If you want to read a great first novel read "Cut". It's about a young teenage girl who cuts herself and is unaware why she does it. So her parents send her to a rehab. I don't want to say much more because I'm afraid of giving away the entire book.

Mandy

Happy Monday to everyone!
I have a question...does anyone know of any good online writing courses for the Young Adult genre? I've already taken Lauren Barnholdts class but I feel like I need a more extensive class that goes in depth about every aspect of your book/story. I'd really appreciate your help!

Thanks A Bunch!
Mandy

I've been wondering for some time now if I'm the only writer out there who doesn't use an outline for my mss. I mean I get all into it by making detailed charecter sketches to the point where I draw each one out and I know point A (how I want the story to start off) and what the climax of the story is and I have a clear picture of point C (how I want the story to end). It's just my mind becomes fuzzy with the middle until I sit down and write. Does this make sense to anybody? If so is anybody else like this?

Happy Writing!
Mandy

Hello there!
Not too long ago I finished reading this book and I have to say I loved it. The voice of the charecter was fresh and realistic. Basically it's about a 20something woman who's trying to find her real self. I loved this book for many reasons: 1.It's set in my home state 2.The charecter just got out of college and still has no idea what's she going to do with her life so she lets her boyfriend decide for her. I like this because I know in my own personal life how women can be greatly influenced by thier men. If you want to read something different for a change pick this book up :-)

So what are you guys reading now?

Mandy

tonight I'm ultra pleased with myself. I just finished revising my two chapters for my writers group!!! this is a first for me :-) I always manage to revise them in time for our "official" deadline. But it feels good having gotten it done "early". Now for the rest of the week I'm going to concentrate on finishing my book.

And it feels good knowing that I'm going to make my goal...on December 27 my book will be done and I'll be ready to submit it :-)

Mandy

So I just got up from my well needed nap to find my $500 computer monitor scribbled on by blue and black marker!UGH to the extreme!!! Turns out my daughter did her little vandalizing when my husband went to the bathroom. Thank god I was subdued by the nap otherwise hell would have broken lose in this house! LOl.

I'm laughing now because this site I found told me exactly how to remove the horrifing stains. Get a load of this, what it said was to take hairspray and gently wipe away the marks. And behold my monitor is markless but I can still feel it's pain from the abuse. HA!

anyways, if one day your child or little niece or nephew does this to your laptop's monitor just remember to whip out you hairspray and rub away the pain. LOL!

so i guess every writer should carry a supply of hairspray in the house if they don't already. :-)

One Relieved Mommy,
Mandy

"...Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now." - Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

This is where I'm at in my life right now. As I said in my first post, I began writing at an early age yet shared it with only my aunt and mother. Both encouraged me to persue it while others shot me down.

Now I have found that inner strength to ignore all those dream crushers and do what I must to make this dream of mine come true. So I guess you can call this my dream journal.

Mandy

I think as writers we are all sensitive creatures. We have this intense feeling of rejection that lumes over our heads. I know I do. So that's why I'm starting to do something completely out of my comfort zone. I'm displaying all of the beliefs I have now about myself that could possibly hinder my dream of becoming a published author.

I invite fellow writers to do the same whether it's on my page or yours.

My Beliefs right now...
1)I feel I'm not talented enough to get published.
2)What makes me so special that I can get published?

What I want my beliefs to be:
1)I'm a talented writer.
2)I have the determination and motivation it takes to persue this dream of mine.
3)My books are special and are worthy of being published.

As of right now, at this very minute, I vow to myself to re-iterate to myself these three new beliefs three times a day and especially before I write.

I've read somewhere that when you say your new beliefs/affirmations out loud, it reprograms the "bad part"/negative side of the brain and your new beliefs become your reality?

Does this make any sense? And for those of you out there who are struggling with trying to persue a writer's dream I highly recommend you check out "Making your dreams come true" by Marcia Wieder. This woman is awesome and has been doing wonders with keeping me on track with my writing goals (aside from my online writer's group!)

Kay, that's it for now!

Mandy

Okay, I just feel so cheated it's making me sick to my stomach. I can't belive I just got ripped off by someone reputable. I will not go into names, I just need to vent and it doesn't help that I've got my period!!!UGH!!!
I paid good money for a service I expected more out of and now I'm feeling buyers remorse. It just goes to show you that one should only pay for professional services from professional organizations. A tough life's lesson learned!

Totally bummed,
Mandy

Nothing can stop me from becoming a published author. The more I write the more determined I become to see through my book. Each night when I'm done writing I know without a doubt the writers life is for me.

"How do I know this?" you ask. Because it's my life's purpose. I strongly believe I was put on this earth to make a difference in a teens life. This might sound cocky to you but to me it resonates within my soul that this is the truth.

God,has given me the intelligence to think of book concepts/ideas call them what you will.I call them messages from God. God has given me the intelligence to write my heart out. And that is what I'll do till the day I die.

And when I reach my dream cause I know it's within sight I vow to every aspiring writer out there to give them as much tips and help as I can cause that's what's been given to me.

Listen to me I'm writing as if I'm already published. A wise woman once told me that "to make your dream into a reality you must live your life as if you have already achieved your dream." And I'm doing just that. :-)

Mandy

Today was soo cool. For the first time ever Isabella and I got together with a bunch of other mom's and the best part about it was all of our girls where close in age.

It was such a blast!The kids got to socialize with one another and so did us deprived mommy's.

At first,Isabella didn't know what to do with herself.She must have been thinking "Um,Mommy who are these people?" But after awhile she started to warm up and slowly her personality started to shine through.

The best part was when we all went to the indoor playground in the mall. It's too cute. The entire play area's theme is fruit. So when you walk into it, the first thing you notice is the bouncy spongey floor aside from the gigantic fruit and waffles the kids climb all over. Have no fear, every little thing the kids touch is padded and cushioned so there's no hard falls. Which is good cause for some reason Isabella loves to fall down. don't ask me why?

Anyways, when we first stepped into the play area, all the other kids took off like a couple of bandits...not mine.

For a long time, Isabella decided to just spectate all the other kids for while as she sat on the floor next to Mommy's feet. But with a little intervention from Mommy I escorted her over to one of the areas and slowly walked away when I felt she was comfortable. And before I knew it, she was all over the place having a blast.

She was having such a blast that she played herself to death. I knew it was time to go when I found her laying on top of the gigantic waffle trying to take a nap. LOL!!!

You gotta love kids!

Mandy

Do you ever feel silly when you're at either the check out line at the grocery store or the library and the person who's ringing your stuff up looks at you funny because you're buying CosmoGirl or Teen People? As if like they're thinking "is this girl slow or something?"

Or how about when you're at the library and again you just happen to be checking out a YA book and the nice old lady behind the counter gives you this warm smile as if saying "Ah,poor thing."

I don't know is it just all in my head? Have any of you guys experienced this kind of wierdom out in public?

Mandy

Okay,so last night I saw the pilot to the show Ugly Betty on ABC and I have to say it was so funny. I know I only saw one episode but I'm hooked already. Plus, it was directed or produced by Salma Hayek who just happens to be the spokeswoman for Avon. Has anyone seen the Superfull mascara commercials yet? They're hilarious. It shows her wrestling with a gigantic mascara! LOL.

I just wish I thought about writing a book with the Ugly Betty concept. If you think about it from a writers view point, it's an awesome idea. Oh, well I have all the faith in the world that the book I'm currently working on will be a big hit...after it's been picked apart by all my YA Group girls of course.

:-)

Mandy

If any of you ladies are looking to get your hands on any of the hottest Avon products or an Avon Representative then I'm your girl. Avon is having a bananza of sales these next three months and thier holiday line is out of this world HOT! Think Paris Hilton bling jewelry at a much affordable price. Inticed yet? Check out my website and I'll be glad to help you out!

Thanks
Mandy

Well, tonight I didn't get to write as much as I wanted to. For some reason today my brain is in sludge mode (my own way of saying having a creative block,i hate this term...I prefer brain sludge. don't ask me why, it's just my quirky writer personality.

On a good note, I now have a ban of fellow YA writers to swap my manuscript with...YAY! finaly people who know the ins and outs of our genre! Thank you Jesus!

That's it for now!
Mandy

One day, I will have an agent who I'm comfortable with and he/she will do everything and anything in thier power to make my books into a reality.
One day I will see my totally awesome books in print.
One day I will have a book contract with an advance attached to it from a great publishing company.
One day I will have to deal with the stress of meeting writing deadlines.
One day a girl will approach me and tell me how much I have impacted her life.
One day I will live this dream of mine.

In the great words of Walt Disney "All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them."

Hooray for me!Three nights in a row,I've met my writing goals!!!Which is a big thing for me. So I can proudly say I'm a professional writer,even though I don't have an agent yet. But with perserverance I will have one in the near future.

Now that I've been meeting my goals I keep picturing what my life will be like as a published author...one of my favorite things to do! I know I can be so silly. But hey if it's going to bring me closer to my dream than why not?!

Amanda

They say if somebody wants to achieve a dream of thiers they should constantly talk or write about it. Well I talk about it to just about anybody I can so now I'm going to write it out. So if you see a post with the title "My Dream" feel free to skip over it or read it. I'm sure it will differ in details but ultimately it will be the same. Okay here I go...

My dream is live the life of a published author. I my dream is to actually see "Angel Of Sin" come to life and become a best seller amongst the YA readers. My dream is "land" a liteary agent who will strive to get me the best deal possible on all of my projects. My dream is to have my firt book contract as a two book deal with an advance and a small esculater royalty scale. My dream is to see one or all of my books made into a movie. My dream is to make a positive impact on a teenage girls life. This is my dream and in the great words of Walt Disney "All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them."

In my heart and soul I deeply belive this.

Good Night
Mandy

I just got done working on my manuscript and I'm done for the night. The past couple of nights I've been averaging about 6 and a half pages which is really good for me!!!YAY!I'm super proud of myself because I'm on track with my writing goals.At the rate I'm going now,my manuscript should be ready for submission by the new year. Double yay! Even though I'm tired I can't help but feel happy.

Mandy

Hi Everybody,
I figured before I started to post entries I'd give a little prelude into my life.

Well, for starters I'm 25 years old and married to a wonderful guy (who I once hated during highschool and beyond...ha!ha!); we've been married for 2 1/2 years now. About two years ago I gave birth to my daughter Isabella Juliette.

As far as work goes...I'm a full time Mommy and a part time Avon Sales Rep. I love both jobs. Both of them are fullfilling in thier own ways and with each one I am making a wonderful impact on thier lives.

And when my baby is asleep I write YA literature which is my true passion. I've been writing since the age of 12 but for some reason I felt ashamed and embarassed of my writing. To this day I still don't know why. So through those akward teenage years I have written many stories but never did anything with. It was only after I gave birth to my daughter and a ton of encouraging words from my husband who told me to "GO for it".

Right now I'm working on my second book titled "Angel of Sin"."In a blink of an eye Angels life changes.A once quite 14 year old now finds herself living a life she never dreamed of...a desperate girl trying to survive the dark wolrd of the streets."

I guess that's it for now!

Mandy