Doesn’t Show Signs of Stopping

“Sing me a song,” the woman across the table demanded. “Any song.”

I looked up from rearranging my BLT the way I like it: lettuce, then bacon, then tomato. LBT. It had to be like that. But my concentration was skewed now, my structural plans rudely interrupted.

“Excuse me?”

“A song,” she repeated in an irritated tone, as if I was the one interfering with her time. “Sing it. Anything. Just anything.”

I narrowed my eyes, a thick piece of tomato dangling from my cold fingertips. “Why?”

“I’ve got this terrible song stuck in my head, and it’s driving me crazy. I need something different.”

Setting down the tomato–it had to be touching the mayonnaise, but the bacon absolutely could not, that was not allowed–I exhaled through my nose. “I can’t sing.”

“Doesn’t matter, no one on the radio can either.”

I had a thing or two to say about that, but smartly chose to let that opinion rest. “What song?

The line of her mouth twisted into a curvy, downward bend. “Just said it doesn’t matter. Anything but this one.”

I thought about it. What should I sing? The obvious choice was to sing something that would flatter my voice, something that would best suit its range and ability. That wasn’t much to work with. Another choice would be to sing the first song that came to my head, yet this seemed equally impossible, for like most things, a great list of them projected across my mind like a film reel on fast forward. Desperate, I looked around for inspiration.

Well, here was a table–did any songs exist about tables? There was my lettuce, which was becoming disappointingly soggy. Moon Over Miami, maybe? I asked myself where that had come from. Right, that joke about “eggs over my hammy.” Ham, bacon. Bacon which was now congealing in its own luscious fat.

“You really can’t think of anything?” the woman huffed. “What do you do here, anyway?”

“I run diagnostics.”

“Hm. You’re obviously one of those left-brained people. You could use a bit more creativity in your life, you know. Left-brained people suffer from that.”

Who was she to say it like I had some sort of disease? I poked a tomato slice back into place and finally closed the sandwich back together, being extra precise. Half a piece of bacon stuck out, so I had to reopen it and start the process over.

“Really? Nothing?” she prompted again, checking her watch. It was probably past her lunch hour, and she had taken up a quarter of mine.

I didn’t feel like she should walk away with confirmed beliefs about left-brained diseases, so I resolutely lifted my chin and started to sing one of my favorites.

“A Christmas song?” she barked, more offended by the minute. “Who sings Christmas songs in April?”

Apparently I did. The weather wasn’t frightful, but her expression was. With much snorting and grumbling she gathered her things and left me to my soggy sandwich, though I knew she would be humming the song to herself for the rest of the day. It was impossible not to. And now that I had it on repeat in my mind, I conquered the sandwich with much more enthusiasm. Perhaps her interference had been useful after all.

“Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow . . .”

 

Pitch Wars!

Hello!

I’m really excited to be taking part in Pitch Wars this year! There’s such a great range of mentors/agents taking part this year, which is frankly Quite Intimidating, but also Really, Really Awesome. Thank you so much to the mentors for volunteering their time!

A list of random Tara tidbits:

– I’m a Northern California native who likes her burritos with extra guacamole

– I am half Indian, which means I can get Indian food whenever I want

– I am a Disney nut

– Cake is the best (that’s not really a tidbit, more of a fact of life)

– I can and will get into passionate debates about any and all of your fandoms

 

Okay, gifs aside, I’ve been (“seriously”) writing for over ten years now, and the amazing thing about writing is that every year you can see yourself improving. It’s such an ever-evolving beast. That being said, I’ve embarked on quite a few writing projects over the years, but for Pitch Wars I’m focusing on my most current project, which is:

*drumroll*

TIMEKEEPER – A young adult historical novel set in an alternate steampunk Victorian England, where clocks control time and clock mechanics (like my MC) are in charge of keeping them running.

I’m really, really, really passionate about diversity in books, especially young adult books, so I’m proud to say that my main character is gay. And may or may not fall in love with another boy. Who may or may not be entirely human. *cough*

A little about my work ethic:

When I tell people my daily schedule, they look at my like I’m nuts. I work full-time in a law firm, which can be pretty draining, and then I go home and spend maybe 3+ hours writing/editing. And when the weekend rolls around, I’ve been known to spend 5+ hours each day working on whatever project I’m currently slapping together.

I go out of my way to demand bully politely ask beta readers to give me feedback on my work. I am not a stranger to harsh critique (although I may need large quantities of chocolate afterwards). I believe honest, thoughtful critique is imperative to bringing your writing to the next level, so I never shirk away from it.

So, in other words, I’m in it to win it.

Thanks again to the mentors, and good luck to everyone! We are awesome!

For more great mentee bios, go here.

Follow me on Twitter: @EachStarAWorld

What Makes Us Girls

Maddie couldn’t complain about the world spinning; she had relinquished that right after her third fireball. The cinnamon still burned in her throat, hot and sweet. Clumsily she applied a liberal dose of lip gloss and ended up making her chin smell like strawberries.

 

Cassidy was in another world altogether. That one must have been spinning too, because she was swaying on her bare feet, holding her high heels by their straps in one hand. The other hand drifted through the air, tracing invisible words.

Writing Process Blog Tour

So! There’s this thing going around called the Writing Process Blog Tour, and I am now part of it! This is a great opportunity to connect and share your writing process with other writers. Also, I get to promote people, so it’s win-win.

 

 This blog post sponsored by Chelsey D. Monroe, who is a Pretty Cool Person I met at the San Francisco Writers Conference this past February. Go follow her blog (linked above), or her twitter: @chelseydmonroe. You won’t regret it!

 

What am I working on?

Although I have a few things in the pipeworks, my focus at the moment is a YA steampunk trilogy. It’s set in an alternate Victorian England where clock towers have to regulate the fabric of time everywhere. My main character is a clock mechanic who ends up falling in love with the spirit of one of the clock towers. Shenanigans ensue.

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I write in different categories, but my main squeeze is fantasy. I set my stories in other worlds with some magical element, but inspired by our own world’s history. I think two things make my work different than most of what I’ve encountered: 1) diversity, and 2) tone. I’m not afraid to have a gay main character or one of different colored skin; in fact, I prefer it. Also, I grew up reading fantasy and the classics/contemporary books simultaneously, so that influenced my style to be more literary fantasy than sword and sorcery fantasy.

I also seem quite keen to write about death. Couldn’t tell you why.

Why do I write what I do?

People always tell you to write for a reason. “Write for yourself. Write for others. Write for money and fame. Write the stories you want to read.”

But so many factors go into it. People understand one another through stories. Cultures are linked through stories. Morals are defended and humanity is documented through stories. It’s my way to escape the terrors and uncertainties of this world to focus on the terrors and uncertainties of other worlds. I can showcase different people and all their diverse, strange habits. And, to be honest, it’s just fun. I am a word nerd. If I’m not writing or reading, I’m usually very bored.

How does my writing process work?

Hell if I know. It depends on each book. Usually I come to the computer armed with a notebook and a plethora of Post-It Notes, and sometimes I have to do hard core research before writing a certain story. One thing that does help across the board is making a quick, vague outline, and then filling in the details as I actually write the story. Other than that, I park my ass in the chair and type as hard and fast as I can until I have a book. (“Hey, look, I made a bridge. In like, what, 10 seconds? 11 tops.” – Atlantis)

Now that you know a little more about me (maybe), let me introduce three more authors who are talented, witty, and awesome alumni of Hollins University, who will be posting next week:

 

 Olivia Berrier is often clueless and always shoeless. She left behind many footprints at Hollins University in Virginia, where she studied Creative Writing and Mathematics. After college, her bare feet have carried her through many experiences, but her life remains anchored by writing. Olivia writes fantasy fiction, sometimes with a mathematical inclination, and has been dropping stories like breadcrumbs across the Internet since 2007.

 Kathryn is an aspiring writer and editor currently working at Barnes & Noble while she finishes up the draft of what will likely be her debut novel, a teen or new adult high fantasy. She fuels her writing with black tea and reminds herself why she writes by reading copious amounts of escapist fantasy.

 Megan Stolz is a writer, California girl, returned Peace Corps volunteer, and frequenter of coffee shops. She has a B.A. from Hollins University and an M.F.A. from the University of Baltimore. She currently lives in Virginia with her husband, two cats, and a well-stocked wine fridge. She RTs a lot @megan_stolz.

The Liebster Award

So, the Often Clueless, Always Shoeless wonder that is Olivia nominated me for the Liebster Blog Award! Thanks, Ols!

For those who don’t know, the nominees have to follow the rules above and spread the word, finding new blogs in the process. I think it’s a brilliant way to communicate with other blogs, so I’m excited to be a part of it!

How Characters Think (and How to Think Like Them)

Sometimes, we react in ways that seem unlikely, but actually prove who we are as characters. Take, for example, the ballad of “My Father and the Infomercial King.”

For those who don’t know, Billy Mays was an infomercial Olympian who repeatedly appeared on television to shout at you. You would be calmly watching a rerun of your favorite sitcom when all of a sudden, bam, his bearded face was there to scream about the latest cleaning product.

Elephant

I can’t remember the last time I was on a carousel. But walking through Pier 39, you can’t help but notice the monolithic thing: two stories of twirling, colorful animals from zebras to sea lions. There are benches, too, for the less-whimsical riders.

I was staring at the nearby wine shop when the trio of children demanded to ride the carousel. Oh god.

Pre-Conference Jitters (Or: A Type A’s Guide to Preparing for a Writing Conference)

If you’re anything like me, you’ve been debating about whether or not to go to a writing conference—and if you’re completely ready for one. Well, I finally bit the bullet and signed up for the San Francisco Writer’s Conference this year. “Shy demeanor be damned,” I thought as I hit the “apply” button. “I’ll make it work.”

The Problem with the Present

I don’t normally do this. In fact, as I stand on the corner of the busy intersection, I am appalled by my decision. I think about butterflies, the one wing flapping theory. Everything sounds like wings—the cars zooming by, the air disturbed by passing people, my own labored breathing.

Connecting with Characters

“What’s your favorite part about writing?”

Simple—my characters. Who doesn’t enjoy relating to fictional people? They show us truths and flaws about ourselves we may not have previously understood. When you write your own characters, you shouldn’t just describe an interesting person, but allow the reader to see why they’re interesting in the first place.