April IWSG: Onward and Upwards

Wednesday 2nd April means it's time for April's Insecure Writer's Support Group! 

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! 

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time. 

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Our Twitter hashtag is #IWSG 

This month, I'm one of the IWSG co-hosts for the April 2 posting, along with Hart Johnson, Chemist Ken, Candilynn Fite, Terri Rochenski, Lilica Blake and of course Ninja Captain Alex! 

Make sure you head on over to each of the co-hosts' blogs and show them some love!

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I thought long and hard about my insecurity for April, and I'm happy to say, I just haven't got one ... I'm in a good place with my writing right now. 

I've managed to find a good balance between work and writing, which has allowed me to finish the first draft of my NA urban-fantasy, paranormal-romance The Order of the Ancile: Book One (I totes need an actual title!)

I'm now headed to revisions land, but I'm not as daunted by the prospect as I have been with previous projects.

The encouragement I got on my January IWSG post is still motivating me, along with the support of my hubby and beta readers. :)

So instead, I want to offer support and encouragement to those who are struggling this month, and I'll be trying to visit as many new blogs as possible.

If you've got something on your mind, please feel free to leave a comment or point me in the direction of your blog, and I'll come pay a visit, and bring some words of encouragement. 

I'll end this post with inspirational, motivational graphics.

Good luck to everyone in their writing endeavors this month! ^_^

Romantic Friday Writers: Challenge No 45

Today I saw that Candilynn Fite had taken part in Donna Hole and Denise Covey's Romantic Friday Writers Challenge, and decided to have a crack myself. Candilynn wrote an excellent poem about envy, you should check it out. 

Here's what Donna Hole and Denise Covey had to say about the Romantic Friday Writers Challenge.
  
Romantic Friday Writers: Challenge No 45- Oh How I Hate My Beautiful Friend!

Your story. Your poem. Your way. All we ask is that you keep it under 400 words and include a romantic element. 

Challenge open to all! Just write your story/poem, post to your blog, copy the DIRECT link, submit your link at the bottom of the linky.
Linky will close Sunday evening AEST time. Contact Denise at den.covey@gmail.com if you have any problems linking.
Read/comment on as many entries as you can over the weekend. Return on Wednesday for the Wrap Up post and mini critique on all entries.

Click here to sign up yourself.

Here's my offering, a 395 piece entitled Someone Notices Me.

Someone Notices Me

I haven’t always hated Brooke. When we were both scrawny kids with scrapes on our knees, and dirt on our clothes, she was my comrade, my sister in arms against the kids from across the street.

Now I wonder if she remembers those days at all.

My eyes linger on her as she bats her eyelashes, tosses her long blonde hair, and smiles her perfect smile; teeth pearly white behind glossy lips.

All eyes are on her. No one sees me, plain old Jessica. I might as well be invisible.

Brooke’s transformation from weedy kid with pigtails had been like the ugly duckling turning into a beautiful swan. Mine had been less kind.

Taller than average, with athletic legs and a flat chest, the only time I get attention is on the basketball court. At a party like this, I’m practically unseen.

The guys laugh, Brooke giggles, and I go on being ignored. I don’t even know why I’m at this stupid party. Brooke doesn’t need me here, and no one else would notice if I left, but something compels me to stay. I must be a masochist.

I feel a presence beside me, and turn to see Jake – star of the football team – sitting beside me with two red Dixie cups in his hands.

“Hey,” he greets with a grin. “I got you a Coke.”

“Thanks,” I say, taking the offering.

“I saw your basketball game last night, you were terrific.”

I wonder if this is some new attempt to get into Brooke’s pants, by befriending her dorky pal, but I smile and accept the compliment. “Thanks.”

“How long have you been playing?”

All my life, I’ve always loved basketball. “Just this year.” I never had the confidence to join the team before.

“Impressive, you’re more talented than some of the most experienced players on the team.”

My cheeks flush. No one has ever paid me this much attention before. I look at Jake, all muscles, dark hair and dimples, and catch him staring at me. He’s the only guy in the room not focusing on Brooke; I have his undivided attention as he gazes into my eyes.

His blue eyes sparkle as he takes my hand and asks, “Hey Jess, wanna go to the movies with me tomorrow?”

For the first time in my life, someone notices me. “Yeah, okay.”

NA Pitch Contest, July Follow My Lead Fiction Contest and Teaser Tuesday

You're all going to be sick of me by the end of the week, aren't you?

With the Buccaneer Blogfest happening, I wasn't going to blog today, but it seems I have too much to say! LOL

First, in case I haven't mentioned it enough, the New Adult Pitch Contest is happening RIGHT NOW! It's open until 23:59 on July 10th, 2012 OR if 100 pitches are received, whichever comes first. WINNERS of the pitch contest will be chosen by Heather Howland of Entangled Publishing and literary agent Sara Megibow. The prizes are an undetermined number of full (maybe partial) requests.

So, if you've got a NA novel and you haven't gotten your butt over to the contest do so NOW!

Talking of contests (you know I can't get enough of them), Candilynn Fite is hosting the Follow My Lead Fiction Contest. All you've got to do is write a 300 word flash fiction, using the image provided on Candilynn's site as a prompt. The prize on offer is Catherine Stine's Fireseed One.

Here's my entry:

You watch the fireworks, as I watch you. Everyone else is caught up in the excitement of a New Year dawning, but not you. Your long dark hair is untied as you quietly contemplate the future ahead of you. You're framed by the open window, as you perch on the sill, caught in the night breeze and unaware of those around you. For you, it doesn't matter if Natasha Phillips is kissing Ryan Brierly, or if Nathan Fellows is throwing up in the plant pot. All that matters to you is the dark night sky, illuminated by showers of green, red, and gold.

At the calls of "Happy New Year, " you turn your head as the light reflects in your bright blue eyes. You smile, an action that highlights your whole face, and repeat the greeting.

Your bare legs dangle inches above the floor, your glossy red toe nails just brushing the wooden boards. You're always barefoot, I don't think I've ever seen you with shoes on, even outside.

You accept a drink from Hayley, some florescent green concoction that's probably highly alcoholic. You purse your lips as you take a sip, your, usually undefined, Adam's apple bobbing as the cocktail makes it way down. Then you scrunch your face up, your nose wrinkling and your eyes closing, as I've seen them do when you eat a jalapeño.

You catch my eye, and smile again. "Happy New Year, Jason," you say brightly, noticing me for the first time all night, and never knowing how much you mean to me.

Hubby entered too, so go along and cheer him on. His entry is all kinds of awesome, and could be the start of a bigger story.

Finally, I've seen a few people taking part in Teaser Tuesdays, and wanted to join in, as I have a great series to share.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
  
  
  

I'm cheating a little, and rather than giving my current read, I wanted to give a teaser from the book I finished this weekend. Supernaturally the second book in the Paranormalcy trilogy by Kiersten White (the final book is released on 24^th July 2012).

The Paranormalcy trilogy are what paranormal romance novels should be like. Evie, the series' herione is sassy, funny, and endearing. The mythology is original and interesting. The plots are gripping. And the boys are hot!!

Here's a two sentence teaser:

"Oh, bleep. I was going to die. I was going to die a horrible, gruesome, painful death."

Okay, I'll be back tomorrow with day two of the Buccaneer Blogfest. Everyone have a lovely day.