Category: Uncategorized

Oooh, getting this post in a bit late in the day, but here’s my “greatest, dumbest, weirdest…just whatever kind of writing question you have” question for the Gearin’ Up to Get an Agent Blog O Rama (see widget in sidebar): I still get a bit perplexed by the difference between Fantasy and Magical Realism. I believe… Continue reading Gearin’ Up to Get an Agent–Week 1

Wow, I just found this site: POTTERMORE which is an online Harry Potter “experience” due out in October for everyone (and some gaining entry beforehand). With the last movie coming up, I was becoming a bit wistful. The Harry Potter saga can’t be finished, I thought. And then, in a random suggestion by twitter, I found… Continue reading Pottermore Excitement

Check out this trailor for Pixar’s new movie “BRAVE”, due out in 2012. Boy-oh-boy, is this right up my alley. ;-))

Mister Deep Blue Sea is quite analogous to where my writing takes me. I don’t know if it’s the same for other writers, but the more I write, the deeper the waters become. I tread the shallows for awhile, drawing from the most memorable experiences/feelings, and then once I’ve swam those till my fingers are… Continue reading Mister Deep Blue Sea…of Writing

Rachel A. Dillon, writing buddy and author/illustrator Extraordinaire, wrote and illustrated her first book Through Endangered Eyes, published in 2009, and is working on her second book Through Desert Eyes, due for release in 2012. For a full interview with Rachel, hosted by another writing buddy Extraordinaire, head on over to Angelic Muse.

Us writing gals took a field trip to Ione, Ca. and toured one of the oldest reform schools in America. Built in 1894, Preston Castle housed boys as young as 12 (these ‘wards’ were taken from the Folsom and San Quentin prison systems) and some orphans as young as 7. The place was highly self… Continue reading Preston Castle, Spooky Field Trip!

So, are you working on more than one manuscript at a time, or do you focus on one until it’s “finished” (at least the first full draft)? For me, a little juggling is okay. As ideas spark, I muse about their possibilities for a story and jot them down for future reference. Or when I… Continue reading Juggling Manuscripts

Wonderful Donald Maass interview here. My new mantra: Make your novel bigger, deeper, and more powerful. The Breakout Novelist expounds on his other 2 books and workbook. I’ve gained extraordinary insights from all of his books, his day-long Fire in Fiction seminar, and his week-long Breakout Novel workshop. Don Maass is not only a successful… Continue reading The Breakout Novelist–Donald Maass Interview

I was lucky enough this past week to explore the beautiful region of southern Utah. I’d seen parts of it before, but not nearly to the extent of this trip. Words cannot express the beauty and awe-inspiring sights with every turn of the road and/or trail. If you haven’t done so, put it on your… Continue reading Imagination

I volunteered for the first time at the SCBWI Conference on Saturday, and was oh-so glad I did! A looong day beginning at 4:30am and ending after 9:00pm, but well worth it with the helpful workshops, fun with my crit. buds, and dinner afterward with fellow volunteers and fantabulous conference faculty. I sat right beside… Continue reading SCBWI CA/North Central Spring Spirit Conference

So, my friend and fellow writer Angelica R. Jackson was kind enough to offer her video skills to film my video pitch. I honestly don’t know how actors manage their nerves and then get through a zillion takes of the same material without tearing their hair out. After numerous attempts, I finally got it right…only… Continue reading Video Pitch…Take 50! And remember the "Dom, Dom, Dom Rule"

Submitting the first 250 words of my completed manuscript to the Show Me The Voice Blogest/Contest I can either submit as-is, or take comments from fellow bloggers and revise before I submit final version. Any opinions? Name: Christina MercerTitle: Arrow of the MistGenre: Young Adult Fantasy (traditional) Chapter 1 A pair of horses charged toward… Continue reading Show Me The Voice Blogfest/Contest

Another fabulous blog for pitching your work. In fact, one of my crit partners, Nancy Herman, landed her agent posting to this blog ;-D The current contest required a “twitter sized” pitch (short!!) Mine is: Lia must decipher an elixir and defeat the demon who poisoned her da via enchanted tree roots, before she’s convinced… Continue reading Operation Awesome

I’m really enjoying a fellow Donald Maass Workshop attendee’s blog Pitch University. During the blog’s most recent Pitch Fest, one of my crit. partners, Angelica R. Jackson, got a full mss request from the participating agent!! :-)) Currently, Ms. Lorin Oberweger of Free Expressions (and coordinator for the Donald Maass workshops) is teaching an Expert… Continue reading Pitch University

This is for all those “late birds” like me, just getting an electronic reading device… I love and adore my “library” of paper books. They provide the perfect ambience for writing and relaxation, and I will forever hoard them like treasures (as well as all my adorable book marks I’ve collected over the years). But… Continue reading Kindle Kraze

Had a little fun with YouTube today :-D. Check out these tips from a handful of well known writers: Stephen King Neil Gaiman Phillipa Gregory Stephenie Meyer Nicholas Sparks

It’s here again, the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest! Mark your calenders to submit in the Adult or Young Adult categories on January 24th, 2011. (Is it really going to be 2011 already?!?)Winners will land a publishing contract with Penguin :-D, so polish, polish, polish up those manuscripts!!

Writing Forward posted some great journal prompts to show gratitude. Find their site here: Writing Forward I chose the prompt: Appreciating little things like a sunset or a delicious meal is important to me. Some of the little things that I appreciate are… Joking around with my kidsSnuggling with hubbyLaughing with friendsA hot mug of… Continue reading Journaling Thanks

My novel writing to date is YA Fantasy–High/Traditional Fantasy to be exact, and I love, love, love this genre. After attending a conference in October where the “What’s trendy in YA Fiction” was discussed (need I say vampires?)in addition to a recent rejection I recieved from an agent who had requested a partial, I started… Continue reading Not Gonna Let Trends Get Me Down!

I found this easy breakdown of Fantasy Genre’s on Squidoo.com under Fantasy Books: Subgenres of Fantasy The fantasy fiction is divided into many branches.Fantasy is very popular nowadays, so it’s no wonder it has many subgenres. They are hard to define clearly, so most are just a matter of agreement. You can find most prominent… Continue reading Fantasy Genres