There comes a point in the revision process where you can’t look at your document another minute because it all starts to blur together. I’ve found that the best way to pull the words out of the fog is to look at the manuscript a new way. Here are some ideas on how to read…
MMGM Review & Giveaway: PARTNERS IN CRIME by Kim Harrington
Today I have another of my Scholastic Warehouse Sale finds to share with you for MMGM–and to give away! Here’s the description for the first book in Kim Harrington’s Sleuth or Dare series, PARTNERS IN CRIME. When best friends Darcy and Norah have to create a fake business for a school assignment, they come up…
YA Series Recommendation: HEX HALL by Rachel Hawkins
You know how sometimes you start reading a book and you can tell from the first page that you’re going to not just like it but love it? That’s how I felt when I started reading HEX HALL by Rachel Hawkins. I was cracking up on page two and devoured the first book in an…
MMGM Series Recommendation: Real Mermaids Series by Helene Boudreau
Hey look! It’s only been two weeks and I have another MMGM! This one is thanks to my Disney World reading spree. I read the first book in the Real Mermaids series a few years ago, but my local library didn’t have the second book. I requested it, along with the subsequent installments, and finally…
How I Tackle Revisions: Crutch Words
So I’ve written about crutch words before. On my last manuscript, weeding out crutch words was my final step before querying agents. I decided to address them much earlier in the process this time, while I was waiting for feedback from my first round of readers. I realize that I’ll be making significant changes to…
MMGM Review & Giveaway: JUNIPER BERRY by M.P. Kozlowsky
I’m so excited to jump back into MMGM today. I’ve been on a bit of a YA kick lately, so it was great to return to middle grade. A few weeks ago I did a poll to see which of my Scholastic Warehouse Sale finds I should read and give away next. JUNIPER BERRY was…
How I Tackle Revisions: Let It Go
Like many of you, I have “Let It Go” on a constant loop these days, and I can’t always blame my three-year-old :). But as I was getting ready to write this post, I realized how apt the title is for the current step in my revisions. As I shared in my last post, the…
YA Review: THE UNBOUND by Victoria Schwab
I reviewed the first book in this series, THE ARCHIVED, after meeting Victoria Schwab at an event last year. I loved the book and so picked up the sequel as soon as it became available. I think I might have loved this one even more! If you haven’t read THE ARCHIVED and intend to, the…
When Is It Time to Finish Querying?
I touched on this topic once before, as part of a post on timing, and I want to emphasize the distinction between stopping and finishing. I think these are two different things. You can just stop because you’re discouraged or you can finish, leaving no stone unturned. Here are some things to consider if you’re…
YA Review: IGNITE ME by Tahereh Mafi
Eventually I’ll get back to middle grade, but there have been a string of YA books in series I’m already reading that have come out in the last few weeks, and I have another one today. I originally picked up SHATTER ME by Tahereh Mafi because of Twitter buzz. Although I didn’t fall in love…
How I Tackle Revisions: An Evolving Process
It’s been two months since I blogged about the first two steps in my revision process. Usually I would be at step four or five by now, but life has forced me to slooow down with this work-in-progress, and also to take another look at my process. Patience and flexibility are both a struggle for…
YA Review: CRESS by Marissa Meyer
Have you ever read a book where you’re anxious to get to the end and so want to read it as quickly as possible, but at the same time you want to linger? That’s how I felt about CRESS by Marissa Meyer. I think the temptation to linger was enhanced by the knowledge that there…
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