Paper Hangover

Friday Fives (40): I Wish I Had

2012-02-03T10:33:00.001-05:00

Welcome to our weekly Friday Fives!

What are the FIVE novels you wish you had written?

Post about it on your blog and then leave your link (and blog name) below so everyone can visit your blog today!

Next week: Who are your FIVE favorite literary sidekicks?

Where are they now? A Look back at our Author Interview Series...

2012-01-30T14:23:00.001-05:00

Paper Hangover has been going strong for a while now, with its followers growing weekly, I thought we should recap our Author Interview Series with some updates on what they are up to now.

We kicked off Paper Hangover with YA Highway Blogger, Travel Writer and Debut Author Kirsten Hubbard. LIKE MANDARIN was released March 8th, 2011, and Kirsten had some amazing reviews, a great marketing plan, and an amazing book. LIKE MANDARIN is followed by WANDERLOVE releasing March 13th, 2012.

Source: Goodreads.com

It all begins with a stupid question:

Are you a Global Vagabond?

No, but 18-year-old Bria Sandoval wants to be. In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, she signs up for a guided tour of Central America—the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists with fanny packs are hardly the key to self-rediscovery. When Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspokenly humanitarian sister Starling, she seizes the chance to ditch her group and join them off the beaten path.

Bria's a good girl trying to go bad. Rowan's a bad boy trying to stay good. As they travel across a panorama of Mayan villages, remote Belizean islands, and hostels plagued with jungle beasties, they discover what they've got in common: both seek to leave behind the old versions of themselves. And the secret to escaping the past, Rowan’s found, is to keep moving forward.

But Bria comes to realize she can't run forever, no matter what Rowan says. If she ever wants the courage to fall for someone worthwhile, she has to start looking back.

Add Wanderlove to your To Be Read List today!

Source: Goodreads

Last time we caught up with C.Lee McKenzie her YA Novel Princess of Las Pulgas was on the horizon. After a successful book release Ms McKenzie is back with a talented group of authors in a anthology titled, THE FIRST TIME.

25 YA authors writing about “Firsts”... first kisses, first loves, first zombie slayings, first realizations.

THE FIRST TIME is edited by New York Times Best Selling Author Jessica Verday, and includes short stories from Cyn Balog, Jackson Pierce, Carrie Ryan and many more.

Kelly Hashway filled out our next author interview, her Debut Picture Book MAY THE BEST DOG WIN was released April 2011. It went on to be repackaged into a Coloring Book.

Source: Goodreads

Kelly has some other news she recently signed a deal to publish her YA Novel TOUCH OF DEATH with Spencer Hill Press, releasing January 13th, 2013.
Jodi Marshall isn’t sure how she went from normal teenager to walking disaster. One minute she’s in her junior year of high school, spending time with her amazing boyfriend and her best friend. The next she’s being stalked by some guy no one seems to know.

After the stranger, Alex, reveals himself, Jodi learns he’s not a normal teenager and neither is she. With a kiss that kills and a touch that brings the dead back to life, Jodi discovers she’s part of a branch of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus. A branch of necromancers that are descendents of Medusa. A branch of necromancers with poisoned blood writhing in their veins.

Jodi’s deadly to the living and even more deadly to the deceased. She has to leave her old, normal life behind before she hurts the people she loves. As if that isn’t difficult enough, Jodi discovers she’s the chosen one who has to save the rest of her kind from perishing at the hands of Hades. If she can’t figure out how to control her power, history will repeat itself, and her race will become extinct.

All three books sound exciting, and the covers are amazing. Congratulations to Kirsten, C.Lee and Kelly on all their hard work!

Friday Fives (39): Contemporary YAs

2012-01-27T07:10:00.001-05:00

Welcome to our weekly Friday Fives!

What are your FIVE favorite contemporary YA novels?

Post about it on your blog and then leave your link (and blog name) below so everyone can visit your blog today!

Next week: What are the FIVE novels you wish you had written?

Friday Fives (38): Books to Look For

2012-01-20T07:15:00.002-05:00

Welcome to our weekly Friday Fives!

What are the FIVE books you're looking forward to in 2012?

Post about it on your blog and then leave your link (and blog name) below so everyone can visit your blog today!

If You Liked...

2012-01-18T10:21:00.000-05:00

Who’s up for a little historical fiction?

The bar is set high for publishable manuscripts in this genre. So you can almost be sure that when you pick up a historical novel it will be filled with a rich landscape and details galore. In this sense, historical fiction can rival the world building in the most high fantasy books. Decide for yourself if today’s selections are worthy of their place on the historical shelf.

If you liked…

The queen's own fool: a novel of Mary Queen of Scots by Jane Yolen

Called La Jardiniere, a resourceful and clever jester to the queen's court, Nicola was a most unlikely person to end up "fool" and friend to Mary, Queen of Scots. But Nicola isn't an ordinary comedian clowning before the court; her sharp tongue is rare amongst the fawning nobles. As fate takes Mary from France to Scotland, and into confrontations with rebellious lords and devious advisors, Nicola remains deep in the queen's inner circle. But when the Scots start to turn on Queen Mary, Nicola struggles to find something-anything-that she, just a fool, can do to save her friend.

Then you might like…

The Lacemaker and the Princess by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

In 1788, eleven-year-old Isabelle, living with her lacemaker grandmother and mother near the palace of Versailles, becomes close friends with Marie Antoinette's daughter, Princess Therese, and finds their relationship complicated not only by their different social class but by the growing political unrest and resentment of the French people.

Sphinx’s Princess by Esther M. Friesner

Although she is a dutiful daughter, Nefertiti's dancing abilities, remarkable beauty, and intelligence garner attention near and far, so much so that her family is summoned to the Egyptian royal court, where Nefertiti becomes a pawn in the power play of her scheming aunt, Queen Tiye.

Nine days a queen: the short life and reign of Lady Jane Grey by Ann Rinaldi

I had freckles.

I had sandy hair.

I was too short.

Would my feet even touch the ground if I sat on the throne?

Lady Jane Grey, who at sixteen was Queen of England for nine days before being executed, recounts her life story from the age of nine.

A Contest You Don't Want to Miss!

2012-01-17T09:41:00.000-05:00

Over on my blog, I'm hosting a contest for a chance to win a spot on the ARC Tour for my wonderful friend Susan Dennard's debut novel, SOMETHING STRANGE AND DEADLY!

There’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…

Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper—

The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.

And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother.

Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.

Susan is a reader, writer, lover of animals, and eater of cookies. She used to be a marine biologist, but now she writes novels. And not novels about fish either, but novels about kick-butt heroines and swoon-worthy rogues (she really likes swoon-worthy rogues). She lives in Germany with her French husband and Irish setter, and you can learn more about her crazy thoughts and crippling cookie-addiction on twitter, facebook, or Goodreads. Her debut, Something Strange and Deadly, will be available from HarperCollins in July of 2012, and you will never believe how happy this makes her!

How does an ARC Tour work? Easy. I'm choosing FIVE winners, lining them up, and we ship the book from one person to the next. So, it’s shipped to you, you ship it to the next in line, etc. After you read it, all I ask is that you take a minute to tell someone about it. Blog it, Tweet it, put it on your Goodreads list, or just exclaim about it to everyone who comes within a three-foot-radius of you. That’s what I do! ;) (The only people seeing your address will be me and the person shipping the book to you, so it won’t be broadcast into the stratosphere.)

So, you want a chance to enter to win? Head over to my blog!

Friday Fives (37): Writing Places

2012-01-13T05:00:00.000-05:00

Due to personal reasons, I couldn't get last week's Friday Fives up. I really apologize for that!

Welcome to our weekly Friday Fives!

What are your FIVE favorite writing places?

Post about it on your blog and then leave your link (and blog name) below so everyone can visit your blog today!

Next week: What are the FIVE novels you're looking forward to in 2012? :)

If You Liked...

2012-01-04T10:53:00.000-05:00

This week’s selections are in a genre I am unfamiliar with. I hope to use this list as a starting point in familiarizing myself with this popular theme, as you might also do. In case you haven’t peaked ahead at the list, I’m talking about zombies. My only experience with the walking dead is the movie Zombieland, which I loved! So I’m excited about this genre and looking forward to getting better acquainted with it. Enjoy!

If you liked…

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

Then you might like…

Generation Dead by Dan Waters

Phoebe Kendall is just your typical Goth girl with a crush. She’s strong and silent…and dead.

All over the country, a strange phenomenon is occurring. Some teenagers who die aren't staying dead. But when they come back to life, they are no longer the same. Feared and misunderstood, they are doing their best to blend into a society that doesn’t want them.

When Phoebe falls for Tommy Williams, the leader of the dead kids, no one can believe it; not her best friend, Margi, and especially not her neighbor, Adam, the star of the football team. Adam has feelings for Phoebe that run much deeper than just friendship; he would do anything for her. But what if protecting Tommy is the one thing that would make her happy?

Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick

An electromagnetic pulse flashes across the sky, destroying every electronic device, wiping out every computerized system, and killing billions.

Alex hiked into the woods to say good-bye to her dead parents and her personal demons. Now desperate to find out what happened after the pulse crushes her to the ground, Alex meets up with Tom—a young soldier—and Ellie, a girl whose grandfather was killed by the EMP. For this improvised family and the others who are spared, it’s now a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human.

The Enemy by Charles Higson

They'll chase you. They'll rip you open. They'll feed on you...When the sickness came, every parent, policeman, politician - every adult - fell ill. The lucky ones died. The others are crazed, confused and hungry. Only children under fourteen remain, and they're fighting to survive. Now there are rumours of a safe place to hide. And so a gang of children begin their quest across London, where all through the city - down alleyways, in deserted houses, underground - the grown-ups lie in wait. But can they make it there - alive?

Zombie Blondes by Brian James

From the moment Hannah Sanders arrived in town, she felt there was something wrong. A lot of houses were for sale, and the town seemed infected by an unearthly quiet. And then, on Hannah’s first day of classes, she ran into a group of cheerleaders—the most popular girls in school.

The odd thing was that they were nearly identical in appearance: blonde, beautiful, and deathly pale. But Hannah wants desperately to fit in—regardless of what her friend Lukas is telling her: if she doesn’t watch her back, she’s going to be blonde and popular and dead—just like all the other zombies in this town. . . .

Friday Fives (36): 2011 Favorite Books

2011-12-30T10:42:00.004-05:00

Welcome to our weekly Friday Fives!

What are your FIVE favorite books in 2011?

Post about it on your blog and then leave your link (and blog name) below so everyone can visit your blog today!

Next week: What are your FIVE New Year's resolutions (writing/reading/or otherwise)? :)

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-23T09:28:00.003-05:00

In lieu of a Friday Fives this week, we at Paper Hangover would like to wish each and every single one of you a

Happy Holidays!!!

We hope that you'll have a wonderful time with friends and family.

Keep warm and be safe!

P.S. For next week's prompt, please check the sidebar. :)

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-22T09:32:00.003-05:00

Happy Holidays everyone! Michael and Lauren are taking the holiday off. We will be back after the holiday with more page critiques.

If you would like to submit a page from your story for us to look at, you may read our guidelines and fill out the Writing 101: Page Critique Form. You may also read the previous submission.

Have a great holiday, everyone!

And now a holiday themed video:

Dawn Rae Miller and LARKSTORM Giveaway!

2011-12-19T07:00:00.022-05:00

Today on Paper Hangover we're talking with author Dawn Rae Miller about her debut YA novel LARKSTORM. Here is the summary:

In the years following the destructive Long Winter, when half the world’s population perished, the State remains locked in battle against the Sensitives: humans born with extra abilities.
As one of the last descendants of the State’s Founders, seventeen-year-old Lark Greene knows her place: study hard and be a model citizen so she can follow in her family’s footsteps. Her life’s been set since birth, and she’s looking forward to graduating and settling down with Beck, the boy she’s loved longer than she can remember.
However, after Beck is accused of being Sensitive and organizing an attack against Lark, he disappears. Heartbroken and convinced the State made a mistake, Lark sets out to find him and clear his name.
But what she discovers is more dangerous and frightening than Sensitives: she must kill the boy she loves, unless he kills her first.

I finished the book in just one night and I have to warn you--once you start reading, you will not want to stop. The plot, the characters, the romance, the twists and turns you won't see coming--it's all that good!

Dawn, how did you come up with LARKSTORM: the story, the world, the incredible characters?
I came up with the character of Lark, Beck, Callum and Annalise first. Lark and Beck came to me simultaneously, which seems fitting. I couldn’t write one without the other. As for the world, I live in San Francisco near the Presidio where the school is set. 100 years ago, it was nothing but bare hills and I thought it would be interesting if it reverted back to that. But what caused it?

The main framework of the story came easily once I had the characters, but the details changed constantly – I have 23 drafts of LS! – until I arrived at what is in print.

Oh wow, 23 drafts! Do you write using an outline? Or do you "pants" it?
For LS, I pantsed most of it during the first draft stage, but I quickly realized I needed an outline to keep everything straight. I’m now a dedicated synopsis user. It helps me figure out where the story is going and see the big picture.

Interesting! Writing Lark's story, what did you love the most about her?
Her determination. She does not give up, no matter what.

I love that about Lark too. The romance in LARKSTORM is so heartbreakingly beautiful. If you could sum up the book in five words, what would they be? Dedication. Friendship. Loyalty. Horror. Loss.

It's going to be a long wait until Book 2 comes out. Any hints of what we can expect?
The bulk of the book will take place in San Francisco and center around Lark figuring out her place in the State. And Ryker Newbold – Beck’s friend who was kicked out of their home – comes back in a major way.

When Dawn wasn't looking, I snuck Lark away for a quick interview:
Lark, can you tell me something interesting about yourself?
Most people seem to think being a Founders’ descendant is interesting. But I’d rather talk about my talent with agriculture. I’m extremely good at food production and have helped Mr. Trevern create a new strain of hybrid tomatoes.

What things are most important to you?
Doing what’s right. Friendship. And loyalty.

What's the one thing you wish you had?
Besides Beck? Hmmm…privacy. I hate being the center of attention.

What's the one thing you regret?
Not skipping school with Beck when he asked me. If I had…well, things would have been different. I’m sure of it.

Thanks, Dawn, for stopping by! WANT TO WIN AN E-BOOK VERSION OF LARKSTORM AND/OR BOOKMARKS? Click here and fill out the form to enter. If you follow Paper Hangover, tweet/blog about the contest, or leave a comment you get +1 extra entry (max of 4 extra entries). The contest is open (internationally) until January 5, 2012.

Buy your copy of Larkstorm here.
Website: www.dawnraemiller.com
Twitter: @DawnRaeMiller

Friday Fives (35): Holidays Wishes

2011-12-16T07:59:00.003-05:00

Welcome to our weekly Friday Fives!

What are your FIVE holidays wishes?

Post about it on your blog and then leave your link (and blog name) below so everyone can visit your blog today!

Next week: NONE!

2011-12-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

Every Thursday the Writing 101 crew, Michael and Lauren, will critique a page from a novel. If you'd like your page critiqued, please fill out the Writing 101: Page Critique Form.

We have submissions queued up but are still posting just one page a week, so if you've submitted but haven't seen your page yet, don't panic! ;) Stay tuned. Read the previous submission.

Our very first non-first-page comes from Laurie. Her submission is a page plucked from somewhere in the middle of her sci-fi novel Grey. She requests that our critique focus on flow, voice, believability of the characters, grammar, and overall clarity.

First we present the page without comment:

Author: Laurie
Title: Grey
Genre: Sci-Fi
285 words

“Hey, Ray.”

He blinks a couple of times, then looks down at me with narrowed eyes.

“Don't talk to me like you're my friend,” he snaps.

“Woah, you're in a bad mood. Is it because you're guarding the doors again?”

He grits his teeth.

“No, it's because some of my colleagues were murdered, that's why. What the hell do you think you're doing, talking to a superior like this? I should report you, and maybe I should say something about how you were talking like a traitor earlier?”

He grins victoriously but I play bored and give him an even look.

“So what?” I say. “I'll just tell them you were on duty at the time the Grey got in.”

The blood literally seeps from his face. He stares at me with eyes so wide he begins to remind me of an owl. A really big owl that could crush my neck in one hand if he wanted.

But instead of the anger I expected, with possible violence, he just stands there and gapes at me. I shift awkwardly. I'd wanted a rise out of him so he'd be less cautious about telling me what was going on, but now that my plan had failed, I wasn't sure what to do.

“Hey,” I say at last, “don't stare at me like I've gone mad. Say something.”

“A Grey?” he croaks. He looks genuinely scared. If it had been normal circumstances, I would have made fun of him. But no, the fact he looks like that made me realise for the first time just how serious the danger is. And that thought sends chills down my spine.

What say you, readers of Paper Hangover? Did this first page intrigue you enough to read on? Please keep your criticisms constructive. Always be polite and considerate of the writer.

Michael's and Lauren's line by line edits and then our overall comments after the jump.

“Hey, Ray.”

He blinks a couple of times, then looks down at me with narrowed eyes.

“Don't talk to me like you're my friend,” he snaps.

“Woah, you're in a bad mood. Is it because you're guarding the doors again?”

He grits his teeth. Keep his reaction and dialogue in the same paragraph for clarity. “No, it's because some of my colleagues were murdered, that's why. What the hell do you think you're doing, talking to a superior like this? I should report you, and maybe I should say something about how you were talking like a traitor earlier?”

He grins victoriously but I play bored and give him an even look.

“So what?” I say. “I'll just tell them you were on duty at the time the Grey got in.”

The blood literally seeps from his face. I don’t believe he’s actually bleeding from his face, but by the use of the word “literally” it evokes an image of blood actually oozing out of his face. If you mean it seeped metaphorically, then don’t say blood “literally” seeps. Cut “literally”. But I’d still suggest not to use “seeps” at all because of its literal meaning and the image it evokes. He stares at me with eyes so wide he begins to remind me of an owl. A really big owl that could crush my neck in one hand if he wanted.

But instead of the anger I expected, with possible violence, he just stands there and gapes at me. I shift awkwardly. I'd wanted a rise out of him so he'd be less cautious about telling me what was going on, but now that my plan had failed, I wasn't sure what to do.

“Hey,” I say at last, “don't stare at me like I've gone mad. Say something.”

“A Grey?” he croaks. He looks genuinely scared. Describe how he looks. Show us his facial expression or have him react in another way that we can see. If it had been normal circumstances, I would have made fun of him. But no, the fact he looks like that made me realise for the first time just how serious the danger is. And that thought sends chills down my spine. Cliche.

Michael’s comments:

Flow - Dialogue always moves faster than narrative so the pace in this page is fast, but not overly so. I never stumbled once in my reading.

Voice - The voice didn’t really come through for me in this scene. It’s not bad, but it doesn’t stand out either. That doesn't mean it fails to do so throughout the rest of the novel though. However, it could possibly be a good indication of where you might need to put some extra focus in your revisions. Everything the reader needs to know comes through narrative clearly, but not in a compelling way. I didn’t find any turns of phrase or unique metaphors here, but you don’t need those on every page. They are much better in small doses. And maybe you have included some of that elsewhere in your story.

Characters - These characters come across as if they are some kind of military persons. That was my impression when the concept of superiors came up. If not military, they are at least officials who hold some sort of rank. In any case, they didn’t feel as authentic as they could be given their hinted upon statuses.

When Ray says, “...some of my colleagues were murdered,...” he comes across as unattached to the deaths. I don’t know how long ago these deaths occurred previous to this scene, nor do I know the relationship between Ray and these colleagues of his or the circumstances of their deaths and how much weight they hold in the story. But Ray’s reaction came across to me like, “Meh. Some people died. I’m over it. Now I’m going to report you for being naughty.”

I’m not saying that Ray must dwell on these deaths. Maybe he has already mourned them and gotten past it. But I feel like his reaction could use a little more bite.

What if he doesn’t even say the reason why he’s angry? Why would he confess that to a lower ranking official anyway? What if he were to immediately make a threat to the main character.

Before I give you an example on how to do this, I want to make it clear that I don’t make it a habit of rewriting someone’s work in my own voice, but sometimes it’s the best way to express ideas.

Example:
….
“Woah, you're in a bad mood. Is it because you're guarding the doors again?”
“Good [soldiers] died [yesterday].” Silence. “And traitors like you get to walk around. But not if I file a report.”
He grins victoriously but I play bored and give him an even look.
“You were on duty at the time the Grey got in.”
He stares at me ….

(The brackets around the words are because I’m not sure if they are soldiers or not and I also don’t know when the deaths occurred.)

Again, don’t just cut and paste my example into your scene. Take the idea of it and rework it utilizing your own voice and the knowledge you have of the plot/characters that I don’t. You know your story and characters better than I do.

Grammar - Nothing to see here. Good job!

Clarity - Even with the scene given out of context I was able to follow it. Everything that does occur is clear. I didn’t struggle with any of your writing style.

Lauren’s comments:

While reading over this for the second time I actually had the thought, “Damn it, I can’t think of anything to say.” But then I realized you’d probably be happy to hear that. ;) I find this very well written so I imagine your story is on the right track!

Where I’m hardest to please is character believability, so that’s where you’ll get some critique out of me. Mainly, I have questions for you, brought up by lack of context.

Like Michael, I got the sense that this is some type of military/official setting. So it stretches my suspension of disbelief that the protagonist is speaking so casually to Ray. Unless they are friends, though I don’t get any sense of affection in the protag’s narration. And if they’re not friends, why is it unusual for Ray to demand respect? In other words, why is the narrator acting as though insubordinate behavior isn’t remarkable?

I disagree with Michael on one thing, and that’s Ray’s line about his colleagues being murdered. I just get the idea he’s a no-nonsense dude giving a cheeky answer. But you should obviously take into account what sort of person you’re writing Ray as and take Michael’s suggestion accordingly, and he provides a good example to work from.

Overall, great work! I’m a sucker for creepiness and suspense and right now I’m super curious to know what the heck a Grey is. Gimme more!

Teen Scene Tuesday: The Best Books of 2011

2011-12-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

As the year winds down, we're seeing a variety of "Best of..." lists. Of course, since I'm an aspiring author, I always tend to look at the "Best of..." lists that highlight all things books--especially YA. As a matter of fact, you can check out a variety of 2011 Best Book Lists by going here.

So with all of these opinions, I figure why not ask teens about the best books they've read in 2011--you know, since they're our target audience at all. With help from my cuz, Quita, here are the titles that were mentioned (in alphabetical order):

1. 11/22/63 by Stephen King

2. All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren

3. Blueford series by various authors

4. Claidi Journals by Tanith Lee

5. The Crucible by Arthur Miller

6. Delirium by Lauren Oliver

7. Demon Seed by Dean Koontz

8. Divergent by Veronica Roth

9. Evermore by Alyson Noel

10. The Foretelling by Alice Hoffman

11. Last Sacrifice: A Vampire Academy Novel by Richelle Mead

12. Medieval Tales and Stories Edited and Translated by Stanley Applebaum

13. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

14. Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

15. The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

Two major things I noticed while reviewing this list:

Not all of these titles were published in 2011, and

Not all of these titles can be considered YA (major props to the teen who loves Medieval Tales)

So what does this information tells us about today's teen? Hey, I only gathered the data--but I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. :)

Friday Fives (34): Holidays Stories

2011-12-09T07:37:00.006-05:00

Welcome to our weekly Friday Fives!

What are your FIVE favorite Christmas/holidays stories or novels?

Post about it on your blog and then leave your link (and blog name) below so everyone can visit your blog today!

Next week: What are your FIVE Christmas wishes? :)

Writing 101: Page Critique - Vintagegirl

2011-12-08T08:00:00.000-05:00

Author: vintagegirl
Title: Fitz
Genre: Contemporary YA
1st Page (293 words)

After her death, it snowed for the first time in years.  It was the first September morning and the sun had hidden behind thick layers of mist and wet snow. Alex Emerson watched it from his bed as he tried to rid his head of thoughts and feelings. It was easy enough not to think, but much harder to get rid of the void that filled his stomach. Trying to concentrate on the falling flakes and figuring out why they were white didn’t help, either.

Nothing helped. Everything reminded him of her.

Her name had been Beth. Beth Farlow. Mrs. Farlow, whom he had never really known, had come round their house a day after it had happened. Her eyes had been bloodshot cracks in her face when she asked him why her daughter had to die at seventeen. Because she had, for one second, been careless in crossing the railroad tracks. He hadn’t told her that a train had hit Beth Farlow because she had thrown herself in front of it. Because she had thought that seventeen was seventeen years too many to live.

He had been in his bed ever since it happened three days ago. His mother had gone through his room, taking away all sharp objects and things that could be turned into sharp objects. So that his room was a safe haven where he couldn’t hurt himself. So that he was stuck inside his own isolated hell, feeling nothing and unable to get rid of the constant need to do what Beth did.
He hadn’t gone to school. He intended not to until everyone had forgotten about Beth and gone back to their stupid lives. Or at least until they had gotten the ridiculous memorial service over with.

What say you, readers of Paper Hangover? Did this first page intrigue you enough to read on? Please keep your criticisms constructive. Always be polite and considerate of the writer.

Michael's and Lauren's line by line edits and then our overall comments after the jump.

After her death, it snowed for the first time in years.  It was the first September morning. and the The sun had hidden hid behind thick layers of mist and wet snow.

New Paragraph. Alex Emerson watched it from his bed as he tried trying to rid his head of thoughts and feelings. It was He found it easy enough not to think, but much harder to get rid of ignore the void that filled a void can’t fill anything. in his stomach. Trying to concentrate Concentrating on the falling flakes and figuring out wondering why they were white didn’t help, either. Interesting. Has he not seen snow before?

Nothing helped. Everything reminded him of her Beth Farlow. Could you be a little more specific about what reminded him of her? Consider mentioning at least one concrete thing that the reader can see that reminds him of her. This will give you an opportunity to work in some description and ground the reader in the scene a little more.

Her name had been Beth. Cut this sentence for redundancy. Mrs. Farlow, whom he had never really known, had come round their house a day after it had happened. Her eyes had been were bloodshot cracks in her face I like this description. when she asked him why her daughter had to die at seventeen. Because she had, for one second, been careless in crossing the railroad tracks. He hadn’t told her that a train had hit Beth Farlow because she had thrown herself in front of it. Because she had thought that seventeen was seventeen years too many to live.

He had been in his bed might want to choose a stronger verb here to convey his feelings about beth’s death. Perhaps something like: He’d clung to the comfort of his warm bed ever since it happened three days ago. His mother had gone through his room, taking away all sharp objects and things that could be turned into sharp objects. So that his room was a safe haven where he couldn’t hurt himself. So that he was stuck trapped? inside his own isolated hell, feeling nothing If he’s feeling nothing, why is there a constant desire to commit suicide like Beth? That tells me that he’s feeling something: pain/sadness/loss. Then there’s this sentence: “Alex Emerson watched it from his bed as he tried to rid his head of thoughts and feelings.” unable to get rid of the constant need desire/urge? to do what Beth did.

He hadn’t gone to school. He intended not to until everyone had forgotten about Beth and gone back to their stupid lives. Or at least until they had gotten the ridiculous memorial service over with.

Michael’s comments: I was intrigued by the opening sentence, but the story came to a halt for me beyond the first two paragraphs because it turns into a trip down Flashback Lane. Some of that backstory the reader doesn’t need to know yet, if at all.

There are 35 uses of the word “had” in this first page alone. There’s nothing inherently wrong with the word “had”, but when they add up like this in such a short span, it brings the story to a grinding halt because the scene is taking place in the past. The majority of your scenes, especially opening scenes, should be taking place in the “present”. The reader wants to know what’s happening “now”.

In order to keep a reader locked onto the page, the story must remain in the “present” for quite some time before dipping into the past. If backstory in an opening is absolutely necessary for the reader to understand what is going on, then as a last resort, try to filter it through the POV character (it might be wise to this regardless).

One way to convey backstory is to quickly get it out the way simply by stating the facts but blending it in with the present story.

Example:

“Everything reminded him of his best friend Beth Farlow: her sketches of dragons resting on his nightstand, the ticket stub from the last movie they saw together, the stupid chewing gum wrapper she never to threw away.

He swept his arm across his nightstand, knocking all the wonderful memories into the trashcan. That’s exactly what she did to their friendship when she jumped in front of that train. Three days ago she tossed it all away like garbage. Seventeen didn’t seem like it was too many years to live until now.”

And then get it on with the present story. What is Alex doing at this moment in time, right now? Give him something to do. The above example is in my writing voice. And without knowing the rest of the chapter/story it may not be appropriate. It’s merely to give you an idea of how you can blend information with present thoughts and actions. You would, of course, have to rewrite it in your own voice using your knowledge of the story/characters.

Other concerns--Was Beth Alex’s girlfriend or were they just best friends? It seems as if they were close, but I’m not completely sure what their relationship is. Some readers might need to know how close they were in order to get a better gage on how we should feel about this death. If they were best friends, mention that. If they were dating, mention that. If they weren’t really close at all, mention that, but then the reader is going to want to know why he cares so much. So, you would have to mention why that is in that instance.

Lauren’s comments: Every time I start a new story I make the same mistake. “Going to start the story at this spot! Now let me quickly explain how we got to this point.” It seems like that’s the trap you’ve fallen into here. The main character has just gone through a horrible emotional event, and you’re summing it up for the reader in past perfect tense--it’s done, it’s over. I don’t feel any tension when I read this. I’m not sure why Beth is special, to Alex or to me as a reader. I don’t see where the story can go from here, since it seems like Alex’s life is over already.

I don’t doubt that there is much more to your story than that. But before I can be invested, I need to have a little idea of what’s in store. Is the lack of sharp objects really the only thing that’s keeping Alex alive? What else motivates him? Does he want to carry on for his family, his friends? Is there some question surrounding Beth’s death, or something left unresolved between the two of them, that he needs to figure out?

Numbness is a realistic response to loss, but unfortunately it usually doesn’t endear readers to your characters. Like Michael pointed out, if Alex were truly feeling nothing, he wouldn’t want to end his life. So you’ve got something to grab onto there. Can you describe what Alex is going through in terms of what’s inside him rather than what’s not (i.e. a void)?

What is Alex doing in this scene? It doesn’t have to be an action, necessarily, to be active. But I like having something concrete, no matter how small, in an opening to sort of anchor me.

To summarize, in order to get the most out of this scene, I would suggest you:
1. cut down on the flashbacks,
2. make Alex’s emotions more vivid,
3. give us enough detail about Beth to know why he cares,
4. let us know what’s happening in the present and what might happen in the future.

That sounds like a lot, but again, I believe you have all the material you need--it’s just a matter of bringing it to the surface. :)

Teen Scene Talks Back

2011-12-06T09:04:00.001-05:00

Since Pam and I have been at the Teen Scene deal for a while now, I thought I'd take the time today to ask you guys what kind of things you'd like to see featured.

We've done a lot of interviews, some guest blogs, and featured popular trends in the Teendom so far. Now I'd like to know if there's anything specific YOU would like to ask a teen. Do you have any questions, any suggestions, any feedback?

I'd love to hear what you have to say in the comments!

Friday Fives (33): Holidays Traditions

2011-12-02T07:42:00.003-05:00

Welcome to our weekly Friday Fives!

What are your FIVE holidays traditions?

Post about it on your blog and then leave your link (and blog name) below so everyone can visit your blog today!

Next week: What are your FIVE favorite holidays/Christmas novels? :)

Writing 101: Page Critique - Sel

2011-12-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

Every Thursday the Writing 101 crew, Michael and Lauren, will critique a page from a novel. If you'd like your page critiqued, please fill out the Writing 101: Page Critique Form. At this point we have submissions queued up but are still posting just one page a week, so if you've submitted but haven't seen your page yet, don't panic! ;) Stay tuned.

First we present the page without comment:

Author: Sel
Title: Light Me Up, Turn Me Grey
Genre: YA dystopian/fantasy
1st Page (232 words)

Hell starts on day one, they say; guilty until proven innocent, or until you break and bribe an official to release your name from the Book. You'll be nameless and poor but free and happy.
Everyone in our little society are here, cramped and sweaty and fussed like little robots, standing half a metre apart in the marketplace surrounded by concrete slabs, blue sky and rusty, broken walls. We almost deserve the strikes they give us, for being weak and imperfect.
The whistles in the air are as rhythmic and predictable as the moans we drive into this world. The soldiers give us a second of rest—a painless moment where our muscles relax, before a second, a third strike that makes us stiffen again. In between strikes, they shower us with salt water to keep the wounds alive. Think of grey, I tell myself, a calm, grey ocean blending in perfectly with pale skin and blood. Don't let the pain sear into your mind. Only my skin, yesyes.
The girl in front of me; she's wearing a transparent, blood drenched dress. But that is not the most interesting; she is silent even when the others bow and shudder away and scream their pretty heads off.
My eyes stay on her for the rest of the beating, so that the screams of pain fade to hums.
The Purge-Captain coughs into the microphone.

Hell starts on day one, they say; guilty until proven innocent, or until you break and bribe an official to release your name from the Book. You'll be nameless and poor but free and happy.
Everyone in our little society are here, cramped and sweaty and fussed like little robots, standing half a metre apart in the marketplace surrounded by concrete slabs, blue sky and rusty, broken walls. This final sentence feels like it might be trying to accomplish too much at once. Consider breaking it up into at least two smaller sentences.

We almost deserve the strikes they give us, for being weak and imperfect. Consider separating this line from the previous paragraph since it comes directly from the main characters POV. We get a glimpse at how the MC feels about the situation they are in, and with this line isolated, it packs a bit of a punch.

The whistles in the air are as rhythmic and predictable as the moans we drive into this world. The soldiers give us a second of rest—a painless moment where our muscles relax, before a second, a third strike that makes us stiffen again. In between strikes, they shower us with salt water to keep the wounds alive.

New paragraph because the next line comes directly from the main characters POV.
Think of grey, I tell myself, a calm, grey ocean blending in perfectly with pale skin and blood. Don't let the pain sear into your mind. Only my skin, yesyes.

The girl in front of me; she's wearing a transparent, blood drenched dress. But that is not the most interesting Maybe “interesting” isn’t the right word here? Perhaps something like: But that is not the most puzzling/disconcerting/disturbing thing about her; she is silent even when the others bow and shudder away and scream their pretty heads off.

My eyes stay on her for the rest of the beating, so that the screams of pain fade to hums.
The Purge-Captain coughs into the microphone.

Michael’s comments: I’m hooked! This is a really good page. And I’m not the hugest of fans of the dystopian genre. But I’d definitely read more of this. I’m intrigued by the voice and the story questions you’ve raised. I only have a few small suggestions:

Try to introduce the marketplace a little earlier. When the MC says, “Everyone in our little society are here...” I wasn’t able to picture where “here” was until the description of the marketplace came, which took a little too long to arrive.

Also, about how many people are in this society? The reader doesn’t need an exact number, just an estimate so that we can get a better feel of how cramped they all are. You could use this as an opportunity to show us how they are a sea of people standing shoulder to shoulder, their sweat dripping onto each other or how the MC can feel someone breathing on the back of her neck. This may not be the image you have in mind (you did mention that they were standing half a metre apart which is not super close), but I think you could show us this scene a little more concretely with the right words. Not too much though. Just a few choice words here and there.

What are the whistles in the air? Is it the sound of the soldiers striking the people? If so, what are the soldiers striking the people with? Whips or something like that? The reader needs to know this so that we can picture the scene accurately. You don’t want the reader to image something that you don’t intend and then what you reveal later is actually different from what the reader imagined. That jolts readers from a story.

Lauren’s comments: Amazing voice! This whole thing is excellent; I can think of very little to say except to echo Michael. The above line edits are really where it’s at, in my opinion. I felt some disorientation with regards to POV, but making the line breaks when you switch from description to thoughts will help.

My only other issue is that I can’t figure out what’s going on! At first I thought the narrator has just become the nameless/poor/free/happy state, but on a second reading I gathered that’s not the case. Now I’m wondering: is the narrator a slave, hence the marketplace? Are these people prisoners? WHAT’S GOING OOON my poor clueless reader brain can’t handle it D:

If you can give me a little more detail on the who/what/when/where, you’ll have me hooked. (The why and how don’t need to appear right away; they’re why I keep reading!)

Teen Scene Tuesday: No Way to PDA in YA?

2011-11-29T08:00:00.000-05:00

So, something scary has happened. No, it has nothing to do with my health or my writing or my day job. No, this is far, far creepier. You see, my 16-year-old niece may have a boyfriend.

As you can tell, this terrifies me. I can totally see why she has a boyfriend. She's one of the funniest, most intelligent people I've ever met--and I don't just say that because we're blood-related (though that does give me bragging rights). But I can still remember dressing her up in silly clothes when she was a baby, and hear her whining about how much she wants "juice-sh" (she always had to make that extra sound at the end).

I trust my niece to make wise decisions about her "love life"--and her mom has done a fantastic job with raising her. But still, just the thought of some punk getting all touchy-feely with her makes me sick to my stomach.

Yes, this is coming from the woman who gets disappointed when she has a chapter in which her characters DON'T make out. From the same woman who snapped at someone in her critique group when they complained that I should not make my teen characters have sex.

So even though I don't have kids of my own, I can now understand where some of these parents are coming from. I just finished my NaNo novel, and when two of my characters got a little too close for comfort, it started feeling a little...strange to me.

Have I lost my edge now that my niece is dating? To all my writers that are parents out there, how do you feel about love scenes in YA novels? Also, has having your own kids affected the way you write now? I'd also love to read thoughts from people who don't have kids yet like me.

Friday Fives (32): Thanksgiving

2011-11-25T10:38:00.004-05:00

I apologize for this terribly late Friday Fives post. I hope everybody had a wonderful Thanksgiving day yesterday! Like you all, I am currently in a food coma. :)

Welcome to our weekly Friday Fives!

What are the FIVE things you're thankful for?

Post about it on your blog and then leave your link (and blog name) below so everyone can visit your blog today!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T08:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Turkey Day to our readers in the United States! Michael and I are taking this week off. We will be back next Thursday with more page critiques. If you would like to submit something from your own story for us to look at, you can do so here.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Teen Scene - Movie Madness

2011-11-22T08:00:00.000-05:00

If you didn't know, the newest installment in the Twilight saga hit the big screen this past week. Which, I'm not sure anyone could miss the furor it caused. My Facebook feed was nothing but people checking in from the theaters.

So, I thought to celebrate this teenage phenomenon, I'd share some funnies I found thanks to Youtube. Enjoy. :)

And this one, well, isn't Twilight, but it's FREAKING AWESOME! lol
Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Friday Fives (31): Writing Necessities

2011-11-18T08:11:00.005-05:00

Welcome to our weekly Friday Fives!

What are the FIVE things you need to write with, other than pen, paper, and a computer.

Post about it on your blog and then leave your link (and blog name) below so everyone can visit your blog today!

Next week: For this Thanksgiving season, what are the FIVE things you are thankful for. :)

Writing 101: Page Critique - Emberchyld

2011-11-17T08:11:00.001-05:00

Every Thursday the Writing 101 crew, Michael and Lauren, will critique a page from a novel. If you'd like your page critiqued, please fill out the Writing 101: Page Critique Form. Read the previous submission.

First we present the page without comment:

Author: Emberchyld
Title: The Desired
Genre: YA Paranormal
1st Page (242 words)

“You are so important, Sara. To me and to the world,” He whispered, as the sky above us flamed in a lightshow unlike any I’ve ever seen.

No one ever told me that my world would end in a medieval castle halfway around the world from my parents, my school, and my best friend.

No one ever told me that I’d have to choose between two people who I loved—and that my choice would probably mean life and death.

No one had told me that my life would be anything but normal, that the summer before my senior year would be anything more than a tan, a few great photographs, and a lot of good memories.

No one told me that I would be the one who had to save the world.

I wish they had. I would totally have slept in this morning.

Chapter 1
The summer before my eighteenth birthday was supposed to be quiet and normal. Well, about as normal as a summer can be when you’re shipped off to hang out on your grandparents’ farm in Europe while the rest of your classmates get to go to the shore or Philly or Florida. But, still, I wasn’t expecting anything special. Jog every morning, take a few photos for my blog, prep some of my college applications, drink lots of espressos at the local internet café.

Yeah, things never seem to turn out the way that you want.

What say you, readers of Paper Hangover? Did this first page intrigue you enough to read on? Please keep your criticisms constructive. Always be polite and considerate of the writer. Michael's and Lauren's line by line edits and then our overall comments, after the jump.

“You are so important, Sara. To me and to the world,” He whispered, as the sky above us flamed in a light show unlike any I’ve ever seen.

No one ever told me that my world would end in a medieval castle halfway around the world from my parents, my school, and my best friend.

No one ever told me that I’d have to choose between two people who I loved—and that my choice would probably mean life and death.

No one had told me that my life would be anything but normal, that the summer before my senior year would be anything more than a tan, a few great photographs, and a lot of good memories.

No one told me that I would be the one who had to save the world.

I wish they had. I would totally have slept in this morning.

Chapter 1
The summer before my eighteenth birthday was supposed to be quiet and normal. Well, about as normal as a summer can be when you’re shipped off to hang out on your grandparents’ farm in Europe while the rest of your classmates get to go to the shore or Philly or Florida. But, still, I wasn’t expecting anything special. Jog every morning, take a few photos for my blog, prep some of my college applications, drink lots of espressos at the local Internet café.

Yeah, things never seem to turn out the way that you want.

Lauren’s Notes: Let me start by saying that I love everything under the Chapter 1 heading. I’m already endeared to the narrator. Her (I think?) plans for the summer are easy to relate to but also tell us a little bit about her. We start off with a small sense of loss that her plans were disrupted. Well done.

Take what I say next with a grain of salt, because it’s heavy on the personal preference. Destroy the prologue!!! No mercy!!!!! Okay, to explain, I just don’t like those in medias res from the climax prologues. To me they feel like a cheap trick, like the author didn’t trust his/her story enough to pull me in on its own.

From a more technical standpoint, I don’t think you’re putting your best foot forward with the prologue. I don’t hear your voice in it, and it seems relatively generic. (I ain’t gonna be compelled by life-or-death decisions I until I care about the MC and the people they love.)

So, there’s my vote--kill the prologue, and you’ve got an intrigued reader. :) Good luck!

Michael’s comments: I’m not one of those people who has an automatic disdain for prologues. I think they have their place, and when done well, they can enhance a story in ways a first chapter can’t always do.

But with that said, I’m going to have to agree with Lauren. I don’t feel as strongly as her about killing the prologue per se, but I don’t have any suggestion on how to improve it. So, killing it might be a wise decision. However, now that you have two opinions of how it isn’t working, you could potentially figure out how to make it work.

First of all, I actually loved the way the prologue ended. “I would totally have slept in this morning.” Despite not knowing much about the circumstances surrounding the protagonist, I thought that line was a great character moment.

But here’s why everything that came before it didn’t work for me: I didn’t have enough invested in the character to care about her predicament--which I also didn’t know much about. I understand why it is written the way it is. You’re raising story questions. And the conflicts of her world ending and the difficult choice she has to make could potentially be intriguing had I gotten to know the protagonist first. But as presented, the reader doesn’t know what’s at stake so it comes across flat. The reader hasn’t had the chance to bond with the main character so that they can root for her to overcome those conflicts.

Now as far as Chapter 1, I had difficulty understanding why the main character doesn’t think going to her grandparents farm is normal. Also, I’m not sure why she doesn’t want to be there. This may be something you address later, but the reader needs a hint for us to be as invested in the main character’s plight as she is.

Consider a sentence or two hinting at why the character feels the way she feels about spending the summer at her grandparents. There’s no need to go into an info dump because you’re going to show this later. All the reader needs is a hint for now. Without it, the reader is left wondering why her summer can’t be quiet and normal with her grandparents instead of feeling as if we understand exactly why it won’t be quiet and normal. Not everyone goes to their grandparents farm for the summer, but it’s not such an outrageous thing that it would be considered an abnormal thing to do.

Is it not normal for the main character? Does she not ever visit her grandparents, but this one summer her parents mysteriously sent her there?

“The summer before my eighteenth birthday was supposed to be quiet and normal.”
Was her life, previous to opening of this story, not so quiet or normal? If so, give us a brief sentence hinting at why she wanted and expected her summer to be quiet and normal.

Are her grandparents loud and not normal? Are they eccentric and annoying? Give us a hint as to who these grandparents are since we are about to meet them. If we should be dreading living on this farm along with the character you have to provide concrete examples as to why we should feel that way so that we can feel that way. If we are meant to be intrigued by these grandparents and their farm, give us a reason why so we can, in essence, be intrigued. Do this in no more than a sentence or two.

Don’t forget to provide an emotional experience for the reader who needs to feel one way or another about your character(s).

Did the MC have any major plans for the summer that were interrupted? I know she mentioned jogging and taking photos, but she can do those things on a farm. They’re not so special that she can only do them at home. And drinking lots of espressos doesn’t seem like a huge loss either. Maybe it is an intolerable interruption to the character, but it isn’t presented that way. What if she was drinking the last bit of her final espresso as she was thinking this? That would be an opportunity to show her really missing it. What if she ordered a couple more and froze them to take with her to the farm? (I’m not much of an espresso drinker so if freezing them is a ridiculous notion, please don’t mind me. I just want to help you generate ideas.)

Everyone can relate to having their plans interrupted, but it doesn’t come across as if she planned anything special for her summer. So it doesn’t feel to the reader that her summer was interrupted at all.

Consider mentioning something special that she had planned to do for the summer, something that she could never ever do on a farm in Europe. It can still be something quiet and “normal” such as: she might have wanted to watch her entire DVD collection with her boyfriend, but the farm doesn’t have electricity or her boyfriend. That’s just an example of the direction you could potentially go. And a single sentence just like that would be all you need to get the point across.

This is needed because if she wasn’t expecting anything special for her summer, how did it not turn out the way she wanted? Those are two conflicting ideas.

I hope this helps. You have my best.

Links Around the Web

2011-11-16T07:38:00.004-05:00

The ever eloquent Sara Zarr has a wonderful post on how she is inspired by failure: In a way, “failure” is just another word for “the journey,” for not being there yet but on the way. It’s the road we walk on to get wherever it is we’re trying to go.
Author Veronica Roth talks about how she writes out of order: The most common objection to writing out of order is that it will get too confusing. Understandable-- but not necessarily true.
Agent Mary Kole answers the question many of us wonder, do fiction writers need platform? Fiction lives and dies by the manuscript itself, unless you’re famous.
Author Kat Zhang gives us insights on how she makes time for writing in college: I figure out when I write best and try to free up those times.
Does your story need a jump? Author Janice Hardy has an excellent post on the 4 ways to fix a stalled story: If you’re facing a stalled scene or story, ask yourself: 1. Are there plausible and strong motivations for your protag to be doing what the plot requires them to??
Janice Hardy also details on making betrayals in story unpredictable: [Betrayal is] a great and unexpected thing to do. But lately, I’ve been seeing the unexpected betrayal everywhere. It’s gotten so bad it’s verging on cliché. Instead if surprising me, I’m playing the “I wonder which one of these allies will turn on the hero in the third act?” game. I know it’s gonna happen. And more times than not, it does.
Slightly late (on my part), but if you're doing NaNo, it's worth it to check out this series of posts by author Alexandra Sokoloff.

I hope you find these links helpful. Happy Wednesday! Just two more days until Friday! :)

Teen Scene Tuesday: NaNo and Lit Mags!

2011-11-15T08:00:00.002-05:00

Happy Tuesday, everyone! A couple of things to discuss this week for our Teen Scene Tuesday.

First, unless you've been sleeping or living under a rock for the past two weeks, you should know that it's National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo as it's also affectionately called. Basically, the goal is to write a 50,000-word novel during the month of November. There isn't any age discrimination for NaNo, so teens can join in on the anguish...err, I mean excitement, too!

That's right--though we've reached the halfway point, if teens still want to sign up for NaNo, they have excellent Resources for Young Writers. Us old-timers can help out, too, by funding one of the classrooms that are participating. Click here for more details.

On another note, two weeks ago, my awesome cousin, Quita, guest-posted about how to start a teen lit mag. And this week she's willing to share her high school's VERY FIRST ISSUE! *tosses confetti*

Just click here to check out the very first issue of The Duke Diaries--a literary magazine featuring the writing of high school students.

Teens that enjoy writing really motivate me to push forward with my own writing. Not loving my NaNo novel at the moment, but I KNOW I'm going to finish it. What about you all? How are you doing in your writing?

DESTINED eBook giveaway still open...

2011-11-14T16:36:00.000-05:00

Today on Paper Hangover we welcome debut author Jessie Harrell. Paper Hangover is stop number 5 on the DESTINED blog tour organized by the wonderful Damaris Cardinali of Good Choice Reading.

I had the pleasure of reading DESTINED a few weeks ago, and I can honestly say it took my breath away. I read the whole book in twenty four hours! It was something I couldn't put down, it was addicting.
Seemlessly blending a sassy, modern day voice with the setting of Ancient Greece. Jessie manages to make the prose bleed hotness, from both the male and female character perspectives, yet capturing the innocence of a teenage girl, caught in a world far from her own sheltered palace.

Here is a sneak peek in the first chapter, giving you a glimpse in to the strong, sassy female lead Jessie has created.

Destined, Chapter One...
My stomach churned as the smell of ground charcoal and nearly-rancid oil smeared across my eyelids. Whoever decided that greasy anything should be part of a daily beauty routine deserved permanent exile.
    The stink never seemed to bother Maia though. She hummed quietly while layering on the goop -- and it was driving me nuts. My teeth ground into my cheek until I managed to shred another piece of skin.
    “Will you stop fidgeting? I’m going to have eye paste all over your face if you don’t hold still.”
    Servant or no, Maia was good at keeping me in my place. “Sorry.” I stopped chomping my cheek in favor of twitching my foot.
    Maia placed her weathered hand against my forehead; her eyes wrinkled around the edges with concern. “You don’t seem yourself today. Are you sure you’re well?”
    My eyes darted to the bird sitting on my bookshelf. Maia followed my gaze and gasped.
    “Good heavens, Psyche. How’d a pigeon get in here?”
    She dropped the makeup onto my vanity and made as if to shoo the bird away. Instinctively, I snatched her wrist.
    “No, don’t. I let her in.” I paused, debating whether it was worth correcting her that the bird was actually a dove, and not a pigeon. Or noting that the dove would turn into Aphrodite as soon as Maia left.
    Better just to let it go.
    “I like having her here. I’m just worried Father will make me get rid of her.” I met Maia’s eyes and plastered on my best smile -- the one Aphrodite helped me master when she wasn’t a bird.
    Maia’s shoulders relaxed and she started in on phase II of my beautification regimen: crushed mulberry blush. But there was no relaxing for me.
    Something was up. This was the fifth day in a row Aphrodite had come to visit. Sure, she’d shown up a couple of months ago, just after I started getting daily admirers at my window. She’d said she liked watching beauty get the attention it deserved. It was part of her domain, after all. And then she’d dropped in randomly after that, but not daily.
    Even though I pretended like nothing was different, I knew she wanted something. Something more. Goddesses don’t just hang out with mortals for the fun of it. But what?

Jessie's path to publication has not been easy, yet she produced a fabulous novel and her team of designers, photographers and editors did her proud. The finished product is a glossy, eye catching dream, of any writer.

****Paper Hangover Giveaway!***

Jessie has given us an Ebook of DESTINED to giveaway, the giveaway will be open all the way until the formal release date of November 17th, 2011.
To be eligible you need to be a Paper Hangover follower and leave a comment for Jessie, include your email address and she will choose the winner on the 17th!

You can purchase an advanced copy of DESTINED here.

Website: www.jessieharrell.com
Twitter: @JessieHarrell

Become a friend on Facebook at the Jessie Harrell Fan Page.

Friday Fives (30): Beginning to End

2011-11-11T07:41:00.002-05:00

Welcome to our weekly Friday Fives!

What are the FIVE ways that get you from the beginning to the end of your WiP without losing all your hair?

Post about it on your blog and then leave your link (and blog name) below so everyone can visit your blog today!

Next week: The FIVE things you need to write with, other than pen, paper, and a computer. :)

Writing 101: Page Critique

2011-11-10T08:00:00.000-05:00

Every Thursday the Writing 101 crew, Michael and Lauren, will critique a page from a novel. If you'd like your page critiqued, please fill out the Writing 101: Page Critique Form.

First we present the page without comment:

Author: Jenny Kaczorowski
Title: Rivers Underneath
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
1st Page (245 words)

Emma watched a cluster of mourners gather around the fresh grave at the foot of the hilly cemetery, curling and uncurling her fingers into her palms. The black-clad figures clung to one another, finding comfort in knowing they didn’t mourn alone. Comfort Emma couldn’t share. Their shock and grief and anger pounded against her, even across the distance.

The wind shaped Emma’s dark hair into softly waving tendrils and she brushed it away with the back of her hand. She shifted her feet and the frozen dew clinging to the grass crackled under her.

Emma knew she should join the other mourners. She knew they expected her to share in their public display of sorrow.

But she couldn’t.

The slightest touch, the slightest betrayal of emotion and she would lose everything. Even a hug, meant to console, could send her spiraling out of control.

She remained frozen, a silent witness to their grief. She saw every detail in stunning clarity. The lurid green of the carpet covering the hole in the ground and the cold, dead coffin that held her best friend. The sky, the same colorless grey as her eyes, burned in her mind. Overwhelming sorrow surrounded her, but she refused to absorb any of it.

Her parents were worried. Not that she blamed them. She’d never handled loss well. She’d nearly self-destructed when Gabriel left four years earlier. And he’d only moved away.

Lily was dead.

Unbidden, an image rose before her eyes.

What say you, readers of Paper Hangover? Did this first page intrigue you enough to read on? Please keep your criticisms constructive. Always be polite and considerate of the writer.

Michael's and Lauren's red line edits and then our overall comments after the jump.

Emma watched a cluster of mourners gather around the fresh grave at the foot of the hilly cemetery, curling and uncurling her fingers into her palms. The black-clad figures clung to one another, finding comfort in knowing they didn’t mourn alone. Comfort Emma couldn’t share. Their shock and grief and anger pounded against her, even across the distance.

The wind shaped Emma’s dark hair into softly waving tendrils and she brushed it away with the back of her hand. She shifted her feet and the frozen dew clinging to the grass crackled under her.

Emma knew she should join the other mourners. She knew they expected her to share in their public display of sorrow. Depending on how deep in POV you want this to be, you could drop “knew”. Example: She should join the other mourners. They expected her to share in their public display of sorrow.

But she couldn’t.

The slightest touch, the slightest betrayal of emotion and she would lose everything. Even a hug, meant to console, could send her spiraling out of control.

She remained frozen, a silent witness to their grief. She saw every detail in stunning clarity. The lurid green of the carpet covering the hole in the ground and the cold, dead coffin that held her best friend. The sky, the same colorless grey as her eyes, Who’s eyes? I assumed Emma’s at first, which made me think this was another POV issue, but now I’m thinking this is a reference to Lily’s eyes which would have more of an emotional impact. On the other hand, we don’t know Lily is the one who is in the coffin yet. burned in her mind. Overwhelming sorrow surrounded her, but she refused to absorb any of it.

Her parents were worried. Not that she blamed them. She’d never handled loss well. She’d nearly self-destructed when Gabriel left four years earlier. And he’d only moved away.

Lily was dead.

Unbidden, an image rose before her eyes.

Michael’s comments: For my personal taste, I prefer a little more action in an opening, but this page is written well enough that I would continue reading. You have a great handle on your craft and you write with such confidence that I’d read further to see where this scene is going. I’m curious what this image is that Emma sees right before the page ends.

The only issue I’d point out here is the POV. In some spots, it’s very close POV such as when she mentions her parents. In other spots, the POV pulls back and we’re outside of Emma’s head (I highlighted those ares). Neither POV is particularly wrong though. But it is something you might want to consider paying a little closer attention to. I’ll give you a couple of deep POV options below.

Instead of: “Emma watched a cluster of mourners...”
You could try something like: “Emma gazed down at the cluster of mourners from her spot on top of the hill...”

Instead of: “She saw every detail in stunning clarity.”
You could try something like: “Every detail jumped out at her in stunning clarity.”

Lauren’s comments: I agree with Michael’s suggested edits. Bringing the POV in closer would help to make the scene more active. And that’s something I’d encourage you to focus on in general: switching from passive to active.

An opening doesn’t need to have action to be active. Emma is doing a very passive activity: watching, describing, and reflecting. I want to see more of her reaction. I’m not clear on whether she’s in denial about her own pain, or if she just doesn’t want to let it out. If it’s the latter, show show show us what’s really going on inside her!

Another way to look at it is that nothing changes on this page. Well, except the image rising before her eyes, depending on what that is. For an opening to be really compelling, I think there needs to be movement, either internal or external.

I hesitate to give you specific advice since I don’t have the next few pages, but I’m willing to bet something happens, something changes, very soon. And my suggestion is that you move it up. One way to do this might be to delete the sentences explaining that Emma can’t let anyone close to her without fear of breaking down. That would have the added benefit of making the reader curious as to why Emma is staying away from the funeral.

I hope I’m making sense. Please feel free to ask for clarification. Good job with this so far, and good luck tinkering with it!

If you liked...

2011-11-09T06:49:00.000-05:00

This week’s post highlights a genre I know nothing about.

Steampunk.

Dictionary.com defines Steampunk as being a subgenre of science fiction and fantasy featuring advanced machines and other technology based on steam power of the 19th century and taking place in a recognizable historical period or a fantasy world.

I’ve been curious about this genre for quite a while now, but with my attention on realistic contemporary and the occasional dystopian I haven’t made the time to explore this genre.

With today’s list, I hope to broaden my own familiarity of this well kept secret as well as yours. Enjoy!

If you liked…

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

In an alternate 1914 Europe, fifteen-year-old Austrian Prince Alek, on the run from the Clanker Powers who are attempting to take over the globe using mechanical machinery, forms an uneasy alliance with Deryn who, disguised as a boy to join the British Air Service, is learning to fly genetically-engineered beasts.

Then you might like…

The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray by Chris Wooding

Thaniel, just seventeen, is a wych-hunter. Together, he and Cathaline - his friend and mentor - track down the fearful creatures that lurk in the Old Quarter of London. It is on one of these hunts that he first encounters Alaizabel Cray. Alaizabel is half-crazed, lovely, and possessed. Whatever dreadful entity has entered her soul has turned her into a strange and unearthly magnet - attracting evil and drawing horrors from ever dark corneer. Cathaline and Thaniel must discover its cause - and defend humanity at all costs.

Airborn by Kenneth Oppel

Matt, a young cabin boy aboard an airship, and Kate, a wealthy young girl traveling with her chaperone, team up to search for the existence of mysterious winged creatures reportedly living hundreds of feet above the Earth's surface.

Worldshaker by Richard Harland

Sixteen-year-old Col Porpentine is being groomed as the next Commander of Worldshaker, a juggernaut where elite families live on the upper decks while the Filthies toil below, but when he meets Riff, a Filthy girl on the run, he discovers how ignorant heis of his home and its residents.

The Five Fists of Science by Matt Fraction

True story: in 1899, Mark Twain and Nikola Tesla decided to end war forever. With Twain's connections and Tesla's inventions, they went into business selling world peace. So, what happened? Only now can the tale be told - in which Twain and Tesla collided with Edison and Morgan, an evil science cabal merging the Black Arts and the Industrial Age. Turn of the century New York City sets the stage for a titanic battle over the very fate of mankind.

Teen Scene -- Football and Friendship

2011-11-08T08:41:00.000-05:00

I grew up in one of those small southern towns where football is the center of the universe. Every Friday night when the local high school (there's only one!) plays at home, the whole county comes out to watch. The Alumni all visit in time for the homecoming game, it's like a multi-year high school reunion sitting in the concrete bleachers.

As a teenager though, it's something else entirely. Not only are football games a source of school pride, but the games also represent a unique opportunity for shifts in the school's social structure.

Picture this: You have a field full of the social elite -- your football players and cheerleaders. I don't care how cliche it sounds, it's the truth. Follow along to the fence line where teens gather in large groups (much to the dismay of every adult within walking distance). They're here to see and be seen.

Of course, you always have your stadium-sitters who are your in-between class. They're here, they're nice, and nobody's going to mess with them, but they won't make any attempts to include them either. After that you've got your behind the stadium dwellers, which are usually the ones smoking or otherwise doing their best to show their hatred of these stupid cliche moments in teenage life in this stupid small town they can't wait to escape.

But it's these cliche moments that are pivotal. Rumors fly around the field quicker than an angry hornet, and reputations are crushed in a single sentence. Fights are used to either tear someone down a level, or to prove you're macho enough to take a step up. Friday night football is the time where anything is possible, all bets are off.

A lot of the YA books I've read have these social structures in school that are sealed in iron. Nobody is penetrating that class scale, no matter what happens. But in reality, there are these moments where change can happen, and I wanted to share one of them.

What about you guys? Did you come from a town like mine where football and back woods parties ruled the school?

Book Cover Lust!

2011-11-07T08:20:00.003-05:00

Which gorgeous book covers have caught YOUR eye recently?

Debut Author Jessie Harrell and the much anticipated DESTINED

2011-11-05T11:50:00.001-04:00

Friday Fives (29): Inspiring Authors

2011-11-04T07:48:00.000-04:00

Welcome to our weekly Friday Fives!

The FIVE authors who inspire you, writing or otherwise.

Post about it on your blog and then leave your link (and blog name) below so everyone can visit your blog today!

Next week: In honor of NaNoWriMo, what are The FIVE ways to get from the beginning to the end of your WiP without losing all your hair? :)

Writing 101: Page Critique - Ciara

2011-11-03T08:00:00.000-04:00

Every Thursday the Writing 101 crew, Michael and Lauren, will critique a page from a novel. If you'd like your page critiqued, please fill out the Writing 101: Page Critique Form.

Congratulations to Ciara for being our very first page critique. First we present the page without comment:

Author: Ciara
Title: Untitled
Genre: Contemporary YA
1st Page (273 words)

I’m pretty sure my sister had decided to become a pagan or a Baptist or something before she off’d herself so I don’t know why we were having a Catholic funeral. I don’t believe in hell and she didn’t either, obviously, but I wonder when I see all these sad puffy eyed faces how many of them believe she’s burning now. Everyone says with their wringing hands that it’s such a waste but how long would she have to stay miserable to satisfy them? Maybe they only remember how she used to be before she got lost.

Our house is empty now of all the sombre tourist mourners paying to gape at our tragedy with their thoughtful lasagnes and endless pots of coffee. The ghost of condolences and morbid curiosity is hanging in the air on their stale cigarette smoke. But we’re alone now in this house separated by the gulf of our secret thoughts. Every day since she died has been leading up to the funeral and now that it’s all over I don’t know what we’re supposed to do. I don’t know if I’m allowed to go back in our room. My stomach turns over remembering how I used to wail about the unfairness of having to share a room with someone who would try to make my bed while I was sleeping in it and wave my own dirty socks in my face as proof that I never pick up after myself. I’ve been sleeping on the sofa since she died and no one has told me to go to bed so I guess that means I’m not supposed to.

What say you, readers of Paper Hangover? Did this first page intrigue you enough to read on? Please keep your criticisms constructive. Always be polite and considerate of the writer.

Michael's and Lauren's red line edits and then our overall comments after the jump.

I’m pretty sure my sister had decided to become a pagan or a Baptist or something before she offed herself so I don’t know why we were having a Catholic funeral. I don’t believe in Hell and she didn’t either, obviously, but I wonder when I see all these sad puffy eyed faces how many of them believe she’s burning now. Everyone says with their wringing hands that it’s such a waste, but how long would she have to stay miserable to satisfy them? Maybe they only remember how she used to be before she got lost. Consider giving a brief example here. We're just getting to know these characters and have no context on which to base how much the sister had changed.

Our house is empty now of all the ~~sombre~~ redundant tourist mourners Maybe reverse: mourning tourists? ~~paying~~who had paid to gape at our tragedy. Ending the sentence here gives it more of a punch. ~~with their~~ Thoughtfully, they brought with them dishes of lasagna and endless pots of coffee. The ghost of condolences and morbid curiosity is hanging in the air on their stale cigarette smoke. Nice! But we’re alone now in this house separated by the gulf of our secret thoughts. Consider breaking this paragraph up. Long paragraphs read slower than short ones. Here is where we would break it. Once again, ending the paragraph here gives it a little more punch.

Every day since ~~she~~ Name? Is there a reason the POV character never mentions her sister's name? died has been leading up to the funeral and now that it’s all over I don’t know what we’re supposed to do. We understand what you're saying in this sentence, but it reads awkward. Consider revising. I don’t know if I’m allowed to go back in our room. What makes the character think this? Also, paragraph break.

My stomach turns over. ~~remembering how~~ If you want this to be deep POV, you don't need "remembering". I used to wail about the unfairness of having to share a room with someone who would try to make my bed while I was sleeping in it. You can break these into two sentences. ~~and~~ She would wave my own dirty socks in my face as proof that I never pick up after myself. I’ve been sleeping on the sofa since she died and no one has told me to go to bed so I guess that means I’m not supposed to.

Laruen's comments: I am compelled to read on--you want to send in your second page for critique, too? ;) Good job immediately setting the reader up with a question we want answered. I find the opening disorienting in terms of time and space. From the very beginning, I figured the first scene would be at the funeral, but then it’s actually after the funeral, but I’m not sure how long after... I would like to see something concrete right away, an action or a line of dialogue happening in the present. This happens to be something I’m often guilty of when starting stories. I take a couple paragraphs to explain How We Got Here and then it’s awkward for me to transition to the actual opening scene.

I love the level of emotional detail you were able to fit in here. It speaks volumes that the MC didn’t even know for sure what religion her sister was. I can tell they weren’t close, and that brings up plenty more questions.

Good job and good luck!

Michael's comments: My style of critiquing is to ask a lot of questions. I found that asking questions helps more so than simply pointing out issues.

Great job on the POV character’s voice. I learned quite a bit about who the MC is and also the sister whom I’m very intrigued to learn more about. You’ve raised some interesting story questions as well.

The biggest issue with this page though is that I’m having difficulty picturing where the POV character is in relation to the scene. What is the character doing? Are they lying on the living room couch or in the kitchen scarfing down that lasagna? I’d like to see this house a little bit more so that I can become grounded in the setting. You don’t need more than a sentence or two right now, and show it through the main character’s actions.

I’m also having a hard time getting a sense of what the character wants in this scene. The funeral is over, so now what is the character up to? We need some kind of hint as to where this scene is going. Otherwise, there is nothing carrying us through the scene. The MCs thoughts about the funeral and her sister are not enough for this reader.

I’m not exactly sure what “thoughtful lasagna” is. Did you mean that some of the mourners thoughtfully brought dishes of lasagna as a comforting gift? Did the MC appreciate the gift(s) or not?

The character says, “We’re alone now…” Who is “we”? The main character and their parents? MC and mom? MC and dad? Aunt and uncle? Consider adding just a word or two to tell us more about who “we” is.

Is the POV character male or female? I guessed female since they shared a room with the sister before she died. Plus the voice sounds like a girl--not trying to sound sexist, but I’m forced to guess because the MCs sex is not explicitly stated or alluded to. You don’t have to go into a deep description of how the main character looks. Just a brief sentence letting us know whether we are in the head of a boy or girl.

Describing the mourners as tourists is an interesting word choice. Initially, I thought it was an incorrect word choice, but in hindsight I’m wondering if the POV character and her family are famous or celebrities of some kind since the mourners paid to come to the funeral.

That raises another question about the funeral. Who charges money for people to attend a funeral? Even celebrity funeral services are usually for family only. In some cases, the public may be permitted to a free viewing of the body. Maybe paying for funerals does happen in real life and I just haven’t been exposed to it. Also, this could be an intentional part of your setting. Bottom-line is: I am curious about it. What makes these people or the dead girl so popular that people would pay to attend the funeral?

How does the POV character feel about the fact that people paid to attend the funeral and that somebody actually accepted the money? It comes across as something normal to her or expected. If that isn't the case, consider including a word or sentence describing how she feels about that.

It comes across as if the POV character wasn’t close with the sister because she didn’t know what religion the sister practiced. But if the two of them shared a room, how could they not be at least somewhat close? Why would they even share a room if they weren’t close? If these are the kind of people who are interesting/popular enough that people would pay to attend their funeral, why would the sisters be forced to share a room anyway? I imagined that they lived in a mansion because I thought they were celebrities. That may not be what you intended, which is why we need to see more of this house through the MCs eyes and also we need to know more details about the MCs family. Just sprinkle in a few key details. No need to over do it with an info dump.

Did everyone smoke at the funeral/wake? Who smokes during a funeral/wake? If the mourners paid to attend, shouldn’t they have had the courtesy to refrain from smoking? Or did the MCs family not mind the smoke? Again, this could be intentional to your setting. Maybe in your story it’s customary to smoke at a funeral. Just be aware that some readers (like me) aren’t familiar with this custom.

Keep in mind that I’m just asking questions here. I’m not saying anything is wrong with these concepts. Nor am I specifically suggesting that you must cut or add anything. But you must be aware that these are the kinds of questions readers will ask when getting to know a story for the first time. For some of these you might want to provide an answer. For others you may not. And some of these questions you may have already planned to answer as the story progresses, which is perfectly fine. Everything can’t fit on the first page and you shouldn’t try to cram it all in there either.

Without reading the rest of the story, I can't definitively say you should address all these questions. But my first point regarding the character’s actions and goals in the scene is something I think you should really keep in mind as you revise. That is your chance to really bring this page to life.

Teen Scene Tuesday: Creating a Teen Lit Mag!

2011-11-01T08:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Tuesday! And for those crazy like me...Happy 1st Day of NaNoWriMo! In honor of the start of this writing-heavy month, my cousin, Quita, is guest blogging today about her high school's literary magazine.

Quita isn't just awesome because she's my cousin (even though that does up her Awesome Factor), but also because she balances teaching young adults while writing for them. She blogs with me over at Y(A)? Cuz We Write!

Creating A High School Literary Magazine in Six Easy Steps

1.) Get the word out! Most kids don’t know what a “literary magazine” is. So, you need to explain it. Set up a table to advertise. Put books they know and love across the table, along with pens and notebooks. The students will eventually get that the magazine is to showcase writers and readers.

2.) Set up a steady meeting date and time. Keep it simple: the first and third Thursday of every month until 3:30 PM is one example. You can meet as often or as little as you want, but if you want to be organized, keep it the same.

3.) Assign positions. Once kids show up to the specified meeting, give them a specific job. Book Reviewer, Writer, Co-editor, Illustrator, Interview, Web site/Facebook moderator, etc. This way everyone feels like they have something to do and they don’t just sit around and stare at the walls during the meeting.

4.) Make sure to choose responsible co-editors! If you can, have more than one co-editor, just in case one of them gets sick or can’t complete an assignment on time. Also choose ALL jobs with care. You don’t want the person who is in charge of the website and Facebook to be the kind of person who types with one finger…

5.) Create themes and release dates for your issues. This is needed if you want to have an organized, well ran magazine for teenagers. They need to have something to give their writing more focus. Also due dates will help students to remember to get their writing done. We all know how busy teens are with social matters. :)

6.) FINALLY—put the word out! The magazine will lie in an abyss of mystery if no one knows about it. Create commercials, advertise with posters, and write a blurb for your school’s morning announcements. That way people will know when and where they can get your magazine (and if you are selling it—make sure you advertise for how much). Also, put the word out to other writers in the school. They should be able to submit their work even if they are not a club member.

Have fun and happy literary magazin-ing!

Friday Fives (28): Fantastical Worlds

2011-10-28T07:52:00.000-04:00

Welcome to our weekly Friday Fives!

What are the FIVE (book or movie) worlds you would love to live in?

Post about it on your blog and then leave your link (and blog name) below so everyone can visit your blog today!

Next week: The FIVE authors who inspire you, writing and otherwise?

Writing 101: Page Critiques

2011-10-27T08:00:00.000-04:00

If you would like to have a page from your novel critiqued by the Writing 101 crew, we are now taking submissions. (See the form below.) Every Thursday Michael and Lauren will critique a page from a novel.

Genres We Accept

We accept any genre under the YA umbrella (mainstream, paranormal, fantasy, sci-fi, et al.).

What We Will Critique

We will critique first pages and anything else you need feedback on.

The all important first page is essential to get right...but so is the rest of you novel. It's not chopped liver.

We recognize that sometimes you may need targeted feedback on a scene that doesn't take place on the very first page of your novel. This is why we're opening up the flood gates and allowing you to submit a random page from your novel.

How Will It Work?

Along with your submission, you'll simply tell us that your page is not the first page of your novel and you'll describe to us what exactly are you looking for in your critique.

For instance, you may need feedback on your love scene, or you might need direction for your fight scene, or maybe there's a craft technique that you're not quite sure you understand and you need an outsider's eyes to make sure you're on the right track.

Whatever your issue is just let us know. We will focus our critique towards your needs, directly targeting the specific area where you feel you may need the most help.

More Info

A random number generator will choose which page(s) we will critique that week.

Each week we will post one or two submitted pages to the blog, including our notes.

Readers of Paper Hangover will be encouraged to offer their own constructive criticisms in the comment section.

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Sometimes I Fail, so You get a Recommendation!

2011-10-25T13:24:00.000-04:00

So, obviously I fail today. Because it's 1pm and I'm just now realizing I was in charge of the Teen Scene post today. Sorry, guys! I'll blame it on the sick kid I'm home with. ;)

In spite of my obvious lack of teen topic, I thought I'd share a book I read with you guys. It's an ARC from Simon Pulse, the novel will be released January 3, 2012.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO SURVIVE THE APOCALYPSE

By Lucas Klauss

Phillip's sophomore year is off to a rough start. One of his best friends ditches him for a group of douchebags. His track coach singles him out for personalized, torturous training sessions. And his dad decides to clean out all of the emergency supplies from the basement, even though the world could end in disaster at any moment...and even though those supplies are all Phillip has left of his dead mom. Not that he wants to talk about that.

But then Phillip meets Rebekah. Not only is she unconventionally hot and smart, but she has seriously great boobs. And she might like him back.

As Phillip gets closer to Rebekah, he tries harder and harder to turn himself into the kind of person he thinks she wants him to be. But the question is, can he become that person? And does he really want to?

Something I haven't seen a lot of (meaning not much at all) in YA books is religion being discussed. Which, I understand why. That's a really hot-button topic that not many people want to touch. Which is why I'm doubly impressed by Mr. Klauss.

First of all, the writing in this book is awesome. I laughed out loud, I cringed, I got teary-eyed -- everything I expect when I'm in the hands of a good book.

Now, this story has a lot of religious discussion in it. A. Lot. BUT here's catch, Klauss handles every aspect of Phillip's exploration into the realms of religion with the utmost respect. He argues both sides of the coin and holds true to the principle that overall, people are just trying to do what's right no matter what path they choose.

I highly recommend you pick this book up once it hits shelves for a funny, deep story of a teenager's struggle with life, religion, friends, and finding his place in the world.

Friday Fives (27): Best Ages

2011-10-21T09:19:00.002-04:00

I'm sorry -- I'm not at my computer this week, and thus cannot get the Friday Fives banner up. I will add the banner to this post in the afternoon as soon as I get on my own computer. However, instead of making you all wait -- please do participate in this week's Friday Fives and leave links to your post below!

Welcome to our weekly Friday Fives!

What are the FIVE best ages of your life and why?

Post about it on your blog and then leave your link (and blog name) below so everyone can visit your blog today!

Next week: What are FIVE (book or movie) worlds you would love to live in?

My Favorite Writing Resources

2011-10-20T08:00:00.000-04:00

Confession time: I am an entirely self-taught writer. Aside from two required composition courses, I didn't study writing in college at all. I've never been to a writers conference and never paid for any classes or workshops. (How DO my fellow starving artist types afford them, I always wonder?) But I have spent a lot of time hunting down every morsel of free advice and instruction one can find on the Interwebs. Here are my favorites.

Holly Lisle's articles, formerly known as Forward Motion: This was my writing school. I can't even begin to list the skills I honed by reading through every piece of advice Holly put on her site, since so much of it has just become my own writing habit. The layout of her site has changed, and I don't think it's as easy to navigate as it once was, unfortunately. But click through those links down the right side and I promise you'll find some useful stuff.

Vision for Writers: I believe this started as a another project of Holly's, but the vast majority of the content is from other contributors. Click on the tab for "Back Issues," follow the links from there, and find hundreds of quality articles pertaining to everything Writing 101 (and 201, and 301...). You're welcome. ;)

Muse Online Writers Conference: My timing's pretty lousy here, since the 2011 conference just ended. But you can still register for next year!

Anyway... for those of you who are (rightfully) wary about any ZOMG FREE stuff for writers online, let me assure you, Muse is totally legitimate. It really is free, you really do get access to all kinds of cool workshops, and you really do get to connect with industry professionals. Last year I had a pitch session with an agent from Andrea Brown Literary Agency (!) and she requested a partial (!!). Turns out my book wasn't for her but, you know, it was exciting there for a while.

Muse is also the reason I have a blog (which I never update) and a twitter (...ditto), because it was there I learned the importance of social networking for writers. Okay, so, the information hasn't fully sunk in yet. Blame me, not the conference. Check it out!

Absolute Write, specifically the Share Your Work forum, specifically Query Letter Hell: I can't link you directly to the latter two because they're password protected for members only, but if you're not a member of AW, JOIN IT if only so you have access to the fantabulousness that is SYW. You know how I was saying before about not having the money to spare on pricey conferences and workshops where I could, say, get my query letter worked on? AW's subforum dedicated to query critiquing, Query Letter Hell, is all I needed. As the word "Hell" suggests, it can be pretty brutal. But if you want to transform your query from textbook to standout, I suggest you suck it up and go anyway. Less intense are the other parts of Share Your Work, where you can post a few pages (your opening pages, perhaps?) or a chapter for critique.

Now, big disclaimer: they kinda don't want you joining AW just so you can get your query fixed up and then be on your way. You need at least 50 posts under your belt before you can post in SYW. So check out the rest of the forum, too! They have an area for just about every writing issue you can think of, as well as genre-specific forums and threads for hundreds of agencies and publishing houses. In fact, the reason I initially joined was so I could go to a certain agency thread and cry WHY HASN'T THIS AGENT GIVEN ME A RESPONSE ON MY FULL YET? (I didn't get a response for several more months, and it was a no. But it sure was nice to have moral support before and after.)

Oh, and another shout-out: AW is where I first saw the announcement looking for contributors for a blog about YA writing. Perhaps you've heard of it...?

Am I missing any of your favorite sites for writers? (Besides Paper Hangover, of course. Ba-dum-bum.) Leave a comment telling us about it!

Teen Scene Tuesday: That's What I Want!

2011-10-18T08:56:00.003-04:00

Today on the blog, we have a guest post from Ica, a junior in a small high school in Virginia. She says that she is very imaginative and that's why she loves reading. However, there are more things she'd like to see in novels...and she's happy to share them with us!

What We Need More of in YA Novels

1. More Main Characters (or Multiple Points of View)

The main character is normally one specific person, but adding more than one would bring more depth to the story as well as characters.

2. Females Who Aren't Concerned About Cliques or Fitting In

Normally the female is biased about how she always has to be popular, whereas if she wasn't tied to any specific "clique," the plot to the story wouldn't be as predictable.

3. Highlighting the "Minority" Groups at School

Where are the stories about the band geeks? Students that volunteer? What about those that love computers? They deserve story-lines, too!

4. Geek is Chic

It's seen as uncool to be smart. Why is that? We need more "nerdy" protagonists! :)

5. No More Fickle Boys

There are so many times where I don't understand the choices that some of the guy characters make. It's like they have to be "bad" for the sake of being "bad." Make sure the reasons behind their actions make sense to the story--that way we can relate to them.

Whoa, great points, Ica! I'm glad to see that in my last YA novel, my main character was a "nerdy" boy who played in his school's jazz band. Looks like I'm doing something right. :) What are your thoughts about what Ica wants?

Friday Fives (26): Childhood Favorites

2011-10-14T07:40:00.000-04:00

Welcome to our weekly Friday Fives!

What are your FIVE favorite childhood books?

Post about it on your blog and then leave your link (and blog name) below so everyone can visit your blog today!

Next week's topic: Best FIVE ages in your life and why.

The Goldilocks Zone

2011-10-13T09:25:00.001-04:00

Today's post is about balancing description in your narrative. You don’twant too much description, or not enough description. You want to find thatinfamous Goldilocks Zone where the amount of description is just right.

Incorporate All the Senses

You've probably heard this one a gazillion times. That's because it works.

Using any other sense besides sight makes a huge difference in narrative because sight is the sense most of us rely on most frequently. It's useful and necessary, but kinda boring.

The addition of sound, touch, smell and taste enhances the reader experience because those senses are used less frequently, making them stand out more.

Try to include as many senses as you can, but only the ones mostimportant to the thing you are describing. It isn't necessary to use all the senses in every given scene.

How do you know which senses aremost important? See the next item directly below.

Zoom In On Unique/Contrasting Details

A mouse the size of an elephant
An elephant the size of amouse
A wagon shaped like a rocket
A cave that smells like laundry detergent
Roses that smell sour
A car wreck that sounded like guitar strings snapping
An ice cube that burns
Salty ice cream

Not all of your descriptions will be as contrasting as thoseexamples, but the key is to find something so specific about the thing you’redescribing that the image implants into the readers head and they begin to experiencethe story first-hand.

Pick one or two things that stand out in your setting orcharacters and describe that in great detail. (See, “Description Length”)

Filter Description Through the POV Character

When the POV character directly conveys how they feel about thesight/smell/sound/etc. they are experiencing, it makes the description moreentertaining for the reader. Simple as that.

People read encyclopedias when they want a list of facts.People read stories because they want to become immersed in a world outside oftheir own.

Revise that info dump until it feels like something the POVcharacter would actually think about or say in that moment. Show their personality. Express who they are on the surface and at their core. It will bring your story to life.

Skip the Mundane

We live in an age where the world is literally at ourfingertips. There are some things that just don’t require much explaining in fiction. Some things are universal enough that you can mention them without going into a lot of detail about it.

You always need to set the scene, and some description is always required, but a hospital is a hospital, a church is a church, and a school isa school no matter where you go.

Of course, not all hospitals, churches or schools look exactly the sameas one another. They come in all different sizes and depending on where you are in the world, they will vary in numerous other ways. Those will be the unique details you pick out to describe your specific setting.

Beyond that, readers will imagine the kind of setting that’s most familiarto them. When we read a story set inside a school for instance, wetend to imagine the school we used to attend or the school we send our children to.We imagine the hospital where we go to see our personal physician, and the church we were baptized in, etc.

Only if there is something unique about the setting asdescribed in the story we’re reading do we begin to see a different image inour minds.

For instance, the school may be described in the story asbeing held in a castle with lots of secret passageways, the professors arewizards, and ghosts frequently roam the halls. (See: “Zoom In On Unique/ContrastingDetails.” Also, Harry Potter.)

Description Length

It’s not the size of the boat. It’s the motion in the ocean.

Sometimes you’ll need a paragraph or more to describesomething. Other times you’ll need just a sentence or two. Fantasy writers, for instance, usually need to include more description than thriller writers because of the various new concepts that are introduced in a fantastical setting.

The Goldilocks Zone is what you make it. Everyone has theirown tolerance level when it comes to description. Some readers require moredescription than other readers do. Each individual reader will bring his or her own preferences toyour story, and there’s no way to anticipate that.

Utilizing the techniques above have helped me stay within a general safe zone.

If You Liked...

2011-10-12T06:47:00.000-04:00

Among today’s selections you’ll find two fantasies, two historicals and a combination of the two. What could books with widely different genres have in common? The answer is strong female protagonists with an agenda and drive. These characters know what they want as well as what needs to be done. You won’t find weak passive girls in these stories. Read the books and see if these ladies pass the Bechdel test.

If you liked…

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug.
When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace—or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

Then you might like…

Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

Now on the cusp of manhood, Finnikin, who was a child when the royal family of Lumatere was brutally murdered and replaced by an imposter, reluctantly joins forces with an enigmatic young novice and fellow-exile, who claims that her dark dreams will lead them to a surviving royal child and a way to regain the throne of Lumatere.

The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley

Aerin is the only child of the king of Damar, and should be his rightful heir. But she is also the daughter of a witchwoman of the North, who died when she was born, and the Damarians cannot trust her.

But Aerin's destiny is greater than her father's people know, for it leads her to battle with Maur, the Black Dragon, and into the wilder Damarian Hills, where she meets the wizard Luthe. It is he who at last tells her the truth about her mother, and he also gives over to her hand the Blue Sword, Gonturan. But such gifts as these bear a great price, a price Aerin only begins to realize when she faces the evil mage, Agsded, who has seized the Hero's Crown, greatest treasure and secret strength of Damar.

Warrior Princess by Frewin Jones

You can be a warrior, if you choose to be.

Fifteen-year-old Branwen's life is changed forever when enemy Saxon troops attack her homeland and her brother is killed. Branwen wants to jump into action and avenge her brother's death, but instead she is sent to a neighboring stronghold where she'll be safe from harm. Yet while she is surrounded by exquisite beauty and luxury in her new home—as a princess should be—she feels different from the other girls. Deep down, Branwen has the soul of a warrior.

Then a mystical woman in white foretells a daunting prophecy: Branwen will be the one to save her homeland. Suddenly forced to question everything—and everyone—around her, she realizes that the most difficult part of her journey is still to come. With no time to lose, Branwen must make a choice: continue on the path her parents intended for her . . . or step into the role of a true Warrior Princess.

The Sacrifice by Diane Matcheck

An Apsaalooka (Crow) Indian girl has lived her life as a despised loner, overshadowed by her dead twin brother, who, it was prophesied at their birth, would become a "Great One" among his people. One night, she sets off on a forbidden journey to prove to her village, and her brother's spirit, that she is the one destined to become the true Great One. Her trek over the plains and into the mysterious region of modern-day Yellowstone National Park is a disaster, culminating in her eventual capture by a tribe of Pawnee. Strangely, these foreigners treat her with an unfamiliar respect, and the girl starts to let down her guard. But when it is suddenly revealed that she has been kept alive in order to be killed in a ritual harvest-season sacrifice, the girl is thrown back into her desperate battle for survival.

Who are your favorite strong female protagonists?

The Teen Brain

2011-10-11T08:00:00.000-04:00

During my usual internet browsing this week I came across an interesting article on the National Geographic website. It's called Beautiful Brains and was written by David Dobbs.

The whole basis of the article is: Why do teens act the way they do?

I think that's a darn good question.

Well, Dobbs gives us an explanation, which I think makes a huge difference when we're writing about teens. It really explains the difference in perception!

A test was done by Beatriz Luna on a range of students from 10 to 20 years old, which involved a video game type setting where the instructions were simple: don't look at the blinking light.

What Luna found most interesting, however, was not [the] scores. It was the brain scans she took while people took the test. Compared with adults, teens tended to make less use of brain regions that monitor performance, spot errors, plan, and stay focused—areas the adults seemed to bring online automatically.

Interesting, right?

These studies help explain why teens behave with such vexing inconsistency: beguiling at breakfast, disgusting at dinner; masterful on Monday, sleepwalking on Saturday. Along with lacking experience generally, they're still learning to use their brain's new networks. Stress, fatigue, or challenges can cause a misfire.

Then Dobbs suggests perhaps it's actually more than just the brain's growth that causes the sometimes outrageous actions of teens.

As B. J. Casey, a neuroscientist at Weill Cornell Medical College who has spent nearly a decade applying brain and genetic studies to our understanding of adolescence, puts it, "We're so used to seeing adolescence as a problem. But the more we learn about what really makes this period unique, the more adolescence starts to seem like a highly functional, even adaptive period. It's exactly what you'd need to do the things you have to do then."

So, in essence, there's nothing lacking in the still-developing teen brain. In fact, Dobbs suggests perception could be the issue.

As Laurence Steinberg, a developmental psychologist specializing in adolescence at Temple University, points out, even 14- to 17-year-olds—the biggest risk takers—use the same basic cognitive strategies that adults do, and they usually reason their way through problems just as well as adults. Contrary to popular belief, they also fully recognize they're mortal. And, like adults, says Steinberg, "teens actually overestimate risk."

So if teens think as well as adults do and recognize risk just as well, why do they take more chances? Here, as elsewhere, the problem lies less in what teens lack compared with adults than in what they have more of. Teens take more risks not because they don't understand the dangers but because they weigh risk versus reward differently: In situations where risk can get them something they want, they value the reward more heavily than adults do.

I don't know about you guys, but that makes perfect sense to me. As an adult, impressing my friend by driving too fast or pulling a crazy stunt doesn't hold the same reward as it does to a teen. Even if the fact that it is rewarding to a teen is cringe-worthy.

What do you guys think? Does this give you a better idea for writing a teenage protagonist? A little deeper understanding of your own kids? ;)

If you'd like to read the full article, go HERE.

Friday Fives (25): Inspirations

2011-10-07T07:52:00.000-04:00

Welcome to our weekly Friday Fives!

What are the FIVE ways you find writing inspiration?

Post about it on your blog and then leave your link (and blog name) below so everyone can visit your blog today!

Next week's topic: FIVE favorite childhood books.

Writing 101: Fight Scenes

2011-10-06T08:00:00.001-04:00

Today's post is a shorty but I hope someone finds it useful! At some point in your writing career, it's not unlikely you will be faced with the task of writing a fight scene. It might be a fist fight, a spar, or even a battle scene (especially if you're writing fantasy). Here are three things to keep in mind when you write:

1. Keep it short. I mean this both in the sense of how much page space it takes in your book, as well as how long it's lasting in the "real world." All too often I see sword fights and battle scenes that drag on and on and on... but in reality, most fights are short. I suspect this misconception comes from TV and movies, since in those cases they have to be long enough for the audience to absorb. But people obviously don't fight for fun (except in sports!) or to be flashy. They're fighting either to hurt/kill someone or to defend themselves, so they're going to be efficient.

2. Keep the plot going throughout. Oh, fantasy novels, how bad you are at following this rule! While keeping in mind that someone in a fight doesn't have a lot of time for introspection (see previous point), you do want it to be clear to the reader that the existing conflicts are still at play. You know the old adage that every word in your book should move the story forward? It's just as true for fight scenes.

3. Do some research. Probably not getting in a fight of your own, though I suppose it depends on how dedicated you are to the craft... anyway. Read first-hand accounts of the type of fight you're writing about. If you're aiming for a particular style, such as a martial art, watch videos on YouTube. You'll want to learn the facts, since unless you have personal experience, your imagination will probably mislead you. The one that always bugs me is writers describing swords as being really heavy. Swords are not that heavy! Don't alienate us pedants with those kinds of details. ;)

And that's it for now. You know, in my everyday life I'm a pacifist, but good fiction turns me downright bloodthirsty. Bring on the violence!

Links Around the Web

2011-10-05T16:17:00.002-04:00

ON WRITING:

Author Erin Bowman has a great post on the two different types of cliffhangers:
Agent Mary Kole advises writers to keep a balance of action and information: Imagine scales in your head. On one end is action: what keeps plot driving forward and teaches us about character as our fictional people advance through the present moments of the story. On the other end is information: what gives us context about the fictional world and also fleshes out the characters we’ve created with need-to-know tidbits that exist outside the present moment.
According to Marina, it can be very easy for authors to change too much of their manuscripts based on critiques, so it's important to maintain your voice and write something only you can write: It's such a fine line. Trusting yourself versus trusting what critique partners, or agents, or experts have to say.
Keeping the reader reading is perhaps the most important function of writing fiction. Author Lydia Sharp has some great tips on engaging the reader: What is it that keeps you reading? That is one of the toughest questions to answer because everything about storytelling is highly subjective.
To plot or not to plot is a great series of posts on plotting by Ingrid Sundberg.
Adventures in Children's Publishing has a wonderful post on seven character types that build your story: A Foil: A human or non-human mirror used to reflect and illuminate specific aspects of another character's traits.
Author Veronica Roth gives us a fascinating look into how she revised INSURGENT.

Teen Interview: The Perks of Being an Awesome Teen

2011-10-04T07:14:00.004-04:00

It's Tuesday, which means I got a chance to interview another awesome teen! Jasmine is 14 and attends a small high school in Virginia; you can always find her with her face in a book (according to one of her teachers). Not to mention she has the coolest haircut since, like, forever (any girl who's bold enough to shave the side of her head is AWESOME). And now:

Tell us about your school. (What are the demographics? Are there any noticeable cliques? Etc., etc.)
It's a small school. It seems everyone knows everyone, which is a result of a small town. There are plenty of noticeable cliques but none that differ from normal schools.

What is it about a book that makes you pick it up when you're browsing the shelves of the library or book store?
The first thing would be the cover, of course. The cover and design can tell a lot about a book. The author of a book is the next big thing, though. I will definitely read a book if it's by a good author.

What's the best book you've read in the past 6 months?
Six months?! Probably The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Some of my favorite series have come from the past six months, though.

If you could ban one thing from all books, what would it be?
I would ban books being slow. I like books that capture me from the very start.

What would you like to see more of in YA novels?
Mythology!

What's your favorite part of a story? The characters, the setting, or the conflict?
The characters are my favorite because if you can put yourself in the character's shoes, that's what makes a good book.

Do you feel like the characters in YA books are representative of you?
Very much so--those are my favorite types of characters.

What's a popular saying you can't stand?
"I'm weak." Why say that instead of laughing? It's ridiculous.

What will you eat for lunch today?
Chicken sandwich!

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

To travel anywhere--teleportation!

That's what I would pick, too, Jasmine! Perks of Being a Wallflower is a pretty awesome choice. My agent loves it, so it's definitely in my TBR pile. What were your fave books when you were Jasmine's age?

Friday Fives (24): Banned Books

2011-09-30T07:47:00.000-04:00

Welcome to our weekly Friday Fives!

What are your FIVE favorite banned books?

Post about it on your blog and then leave your link (and blog name) below so everyone can visit your blog today!

Next week's topic: FIVE ways you find writing inspiration.

Writing 101: How To Write a Banned Book

2011-09-29T08:07:00.000-04:00

In honor of Banned Books week, this Writing 101 post is a joint effort from both Michael and Lauren. We’ve put together some fun tips to help you write a banned book. So, fasten your seat belts, make sure your seat is in the upright position and place your tongue firmly in your cheek. It’s going down.

1. The material was considered to be "sexually explicit".

You ever heard the phrase sex sells? Well, sex also gets your book banned. The number one thing to include in your potentially banned book is “sexually explicit material”. That's not as vague a term as it sounds.

We all know that sex doesn't happen in real life. Authors make it up. It’s common knowledge that the stork brought us all here...unless you believe in other alternative theories...

There's no reason to ever include sexually explicit material in a book unless you want your book banned.

Dear author, if you want to get your book banned by the powers that be, you can’t be afraid to get down in dirty in your fiction. The key here is details, details, details. You want to include every bump and every grind. The act should go on for pages, maybe even the entire book. Go crazy. Then go crazier!

And while you’re sexing it up, consider giving readers a double wammy and hit'em with some homosexuality.

Caution: Never include anything homophobic or anti-gay because your book will never attain banned books status. We checked. (“We” being highly skilled journalists and thorough investigators of such things.)

2. The material contained "offensive language".

Have your main character and people around them swear a great deal. Real teenagers are not exposed to such depravity in their day to day lives, so the appearance of such in fiction is bound to exert a bad influence on them. Soon they will be swearing with abandon and parents nationwide will cry for the censorship of your work.

But wait, it gets better. As you well know by now, including sexual violence in your book is a surefire way to raise hackles. But if you want to really guarantee bannination, there’s one more step you can take: give that violence a name.

Oh, yes, you know what I’m talking about. The r-word. Alright, sometimes teens get assaulted--but they definitely shouldn’t know the proper name for it! That’s just vile. Someone might read a book, stumble across that dangerous and disgusting r-word, and decide they want to try it out for themselves. Worse still, reading a book like Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson might encourage teens to, well, speak up for themselves about their own experiences. Make teens rock the boat, get your book banned. Easy.

3. The materials was "unsuited to any age group".

Your potentially banned book should be unsuited to any age group. But how exactly do you write a book that’s unsuitable for any age group? Very easy. If your book should never have been written in the first place, you’re on the right track. If that's what you have in your sock drawer, polish up that story now and get it into the first library on your block. They will be sure to ban your book for its unsuitableness.

If you haven’t written something like this yet, here’s how you do it: first you must use each and every one of the the tips in this award winning article. But you must go even further than that. You must offend your readers with every chapter, every paragraph, every sentence, every word. Shoot for a masterpiece that is entirely unreadable by any one.

4. The material was written in 1995.

According to the ALA's chart, 1995 was the year that most books were challenged/banned since they’ve been keeping track of such vital information.

Here’s what you need to do, Biff. Wait for Doc and Marty to go rescue Jennifer. Then steal the DeLorean! Make like a tree and get your ban worthy book to 1995! Tell your younger self about how crappy the future is because of climate change and that he/you should invest in Apple products.

Wait. I mean, give your younger self the banned book you’ve already written and tell him to publish it as the eBook. He’s going to say that no one reads eBooks to which you’ll respond, “Do it, Butthead! I’m from the freakin’ future.”

Hopefully, when you come Back to the Future you’ll be able to look back on your historic banned book that, by its very existence, has created an alternate reality where you’re the king of like banned books or whatever. You’ll also be married to Lorraine and have shot and murdered George McFly, and climate change will still be a reality. At least, you invested in Apple!

“Last week I was in my other, other Benz.”

5. The material contained “violence”.

Teens live really peaceful lives and are unfamiliar with the concept of violence, except for what they see on the news, TV and movies, video games, at home, at school, and on the street. The point is, it’s important to shelter them from it in fiction. Adults don’t want them to get any ideas or, god forbid, see their personal experiences reflected in what they read. Wait, I mean, what personal experiences? I think we’ve established that real teens are not exposed to violence.

So if you open that dangerous door, dear author, you are well on your way to angering adults and getting challenged. Of special note: hate crimes, sexual assault, and domestic abuse. Those are the kinds of violence society really wants to sweep under the rug.

6. The material upset governments.

Governments are actually the only entities who can ban and have banned books completely from society. They can enforce a ban legally through the court system and can punish infractors with penalties.

The only reason this item isn’t number one is because different bodies of government vary on what criteria causes a book to be banned. Usually a government will resort to censorship when there are political, religious or moral issues with the written material.

Now normally, you're a meek, respectful, and polite author. But that attitude will not get you a banned book. Your job is to upset, anger and be a down right meany-pants. You must vilify your political opposition. Your religious arguments should be one-sided and inconsiderate of the majority’s belief system. Also, don’t forget to demean the opposite sex and include other immoralistic values. Speak your dark, infested mind.

There is no one way to upset governments. So combine all of our advice in one giant smorgasbord of ban worthy material.

7. The material upset parents.

Parents always know what’s best for their children. They are never wrong under any circumstance. And children are incapable of thinking for themselves. They don’t know any better. They’ll read any old thing you put in front of them and will likely suffer a lifetime of traumatization when exposed to certain fiction.

This is where you come in dear author. You must offend these parents if you want your book banned. Parents must disagree with the value of your book in every way. You must make them take umbrage with your fiction so strongly that they have no choice but to do what's right for the entire first world and force their opinions on the rest of society, who will no doubt listen and agree.

We are all aware that there is never a choice in which books to read and which ones to simply not read. We're all forced to read every single book that has ever been written, so banning books is a great way to protect us from like the Big Bad Wolf and stuff. Not only does banning books free us of the tedious nature of making a choice for ourselves, it also scares authors away from writing great stories...I mean, inappropriate material. As a society, we’ll force authors to churn out tame fiction for the masses that never challenges our lazy minds or provokes critical thought.

Deep topics in books aren’t open for discussion and shouldn’t be. Engaging in analytical discourse is a pointless endeavor. Banning is always the answer to everything. It is not a knee jerk reaction at all. Who cares if no one's read a word of your book yet to know for sure if it's actually as bad as we think it is? If it merely sounds like it's harmful to our children--Banned! Parents are your saviors!

“I’ll tell you where you can find fantastic beasts. Not in this household!”

8. The material upset schools and libraries.

Schools and Libraries have challenged more books than any other institution between 1990 and 2010. Aren't our children lucky to have such filters?

As we’ve seen from item number 7 above, parents are very capable of deciding what's appropriate for their own children and for everyone else. However, why should schools and libraries let parents do all that hard work?

Shouldn’t parents instead rely on another entity that can make that choice? You know, the same way parents remove the freedom of choice from their children...and everyone else.

In all reality, parents don’t really know any better than their children. They’ll probably just allow their kids to read any old thing. But even if they are awesome filters for their own households, they may not catch everything. They need schools and libraries to back them up or to do the job entirely.

Plus, what libraries and schools absolutely don’t need more of is books. They’ already full of them. You can help them out by writing a book that they will surely ban. It makes total sense.

Everything you applied to parents in the above item, you must apply it to schools and libraries as well.

Topics to Avoid When Writing a Banned Book

Don’t worry yourself writing about serious topics such as abortion, anti-ethnicity, racism, or as mentioned above, homophobia, which doesn’t even make it onto any lists at all. Not that many people care strongly enough about those topics to ban them from books. People are pretty much chill on those.

Also don't try to offend Community Groups and Prisons. They are both the least likely groups to ban your book. And one is instead more prone to shanking. The other we can’t can’t even tell you about because we’ve never been to prison. But we’ve heard stories of sexually explicit violence that’s unsuited for any age group and would especially upset any parent, school or library in the year of 1995.

But Why Write a Banned Book?

Simple! You ever noticed how much publicity those things get? Word of mouth is the best way to get your book flying off the shelves, and no news spreads faster than outrage. First comes the outrage from parents, schools, and libraries at your audacity to write such a book. Then comes the outrage from “free thinkers” who don’t think any books should be banned. Before you know it, your name will end up on the news and in lists all over the Internet. And just like J.K. Rowling and Stephenie Meyer, you will be rolling in the dough.

Another reason some people might put forth is that banned books are often so honest, raw, delightful, and painful that they make everyone sit up and take notice for good or bad. And we hear some people like to write honest books. But it’s also okay if you’re just itching to write a scene with some blood and guts flying. As we have thoroughly demonstrated by now, it’s not the thought that counts, it’s the banning!

Banned Book Week - Author Cheryl Rainfield

2011-09-28T12:09:00.001-04:00

Today we welcome author Cheryl Rainfield to Paper Hangover, Cheryl shares with us her views on Banned Books in celebration of Banned Books Week.

A percentage of all profits for Scars go to the Toronto Rape Crisis Center/Multicultural Women Against Rape and Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN).

Cheryl works tirelessly to promote SCARS, why? Because it helps, it strikes a chord in teens who are using this self-destructive behavior to make themselves feel better about situations they are far too young to handle. Because she believes in it's message, and not just of her book but any book that conveys an underpinning knowledge for the real abuse that some teens face everyday.
We can't sweep abuse under the rug just because it doesn't happen in our house, it's there, it's ugly, and it's real. Teens in these situations need a lifeline, they need release. Can you understand the positive link between reading a book and identifying with the character, leading you to seek help and talk about your experience, ultimately starting the healing process. Or, lashing out at friends and family, or worse risking drugs and alcohol to numb the pain, and we have seen in the news all to often this past year, teen suicide.

Here is Cheryl with a vlog on Banned Books.

Praise for SCARS
Scars is a 2010 GG Finalist (Governor General Literary Award), #1 in ALA's Top 10 Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers, and is on ALA's Rainbow List (LGBT recommended books).

"Scars is a brave novel, a read-in-one-sitting-except-when-you-have-to-put-it-down-to-breathe novel."
-- Ellen Hopkins, author of Burned, a National Book Award nominee and an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, and Glass, an ALA Top Ten Book for Young Adults

"Scars is a painful and well told story, obviously written with the heart's blood of the author. It could prove to be a life-saver for other young victims of abuse and self-harm."
-- Lois Duncan, Margaret A. Edwards Award-winning author of Killing Mr. Griffin and I Know What You Did Last Summer

"Scars is the 'must' read for any teen. I couldn't put it down."
-- Gail Giles, author of Right Behind You, a 2009 ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

"Rainfield's gripping, chillingly honest account of an abused teen's fight to survive her history, and its consequent self-harm, is written with such compassion and empathy that this is ultimately a story of hope."
-- Wendy Orr, author of Peeling the Onion

"Scars is a beautifully written, deeply compassionate story of sexual abuse, cutting, and the process of recovery from both. I expected a harsh, bitter rage, but instead found a warm, embracing voice. Anger is there, yes, along with terror, but what a surprise to read such an uplifting book about such devastating issues! Those who have been victims will find a realistic portrayal of abuse and self-harm, but also a heartfelt understanding and an encouraging journey toward healing. Others will simply be glad they read this book and learned so much from such a generous teacher."
-- Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson, author of Target, Gone, and A Fast and Brutal Wing

"Scars is an engrossing, frightening, suspenseful and utterly realistic portrayal of cutting as a girl's outlet to deal with the horror of sexual abuse. Rainfield beautifully captures the power of redemptive love required of survivors to move beyond trauma to inner strength and peace. A must-read for teens and those who care deeply about them."
-- Julie Anne Peters, author of Luna, Rage: A Love Story, and By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead

"A gripping fast-paced young adult novel that explores the complex dynamics that have led to an epidemic of cutting and self-injury. A realistic, yet hopeful read, Scars provides young people with a powerful role model in 15-year-old Kendra Marshall--a struggling abuse survivor who emerges at the novel's end having found strength, community and a pathway to healing."
-- Laura Davis, co-author of The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse, 20th Anniversary Edition

"An important and necessary book for young people struggling with abuse, cutting, sexual orientation and building a healthy life. We all need to see our lives reflected in the books we read. Cheryl Rainfield has made a meaningful contribution with Scars. I hope this story reaches all the young people who need it."
-- Ellen Bass, co-author of The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse, 20th Anniversary Edition

"Kendra's journey will tug your heartstrings and have you holding your breath at the same time. Cheryl Rainfield's deeply emotional novel is a must read."
-- Marlene Perez, author of Dead Is the New Black

So take heed of Banned Book Week, should books be banned? Or are these books so powerful that they threaten the very fabric that society clings too, Denial.

Leave a comment include your email address and be a follower of Paper Hangover, to win one of two copies of Scars.

You can visit Cheryl's website, follow her on Twitter or purchase SCARS.

Teens and Teachers on Banning Books

2011-09-27T08:00:00.000-04:00

For our contribution to banned book week, Pam and I talked to some real-live teens and teachers to see what they had to say about the practice.

One teen I talked to had this to say:

"I think it's stupid. I mean, it's not like a book sitting in a library is hurting anyone. What if the kid that wants to read it can't afford to buy the book, and what if that book would have changed their life?"

Another teen took a similar view:

We should have the right to read what we want. Just because my best friend finds a book offensive doesn't mean I will. Really, it doesn't mean anyone else will. Should she be required to read it? No. But should I not be allowed to read it because of her beliefs? Again, no. We're all individuals here with different levels of comfort. As long as you're not trying to force a book down someone's throat, I don't see the issue.

Here are responses from a couple of teachers Pam had the opportunity to speak with:

I understand why there might be a banned book lists for grades K-8 because of the maturity level of some students, and I can understand why parents might be upset with their child getting a hold of a book that they would find inappropriate for them, but I often disagree with what books are specifically banned. It's a double edged sword. I would like to think that there wouldn't need to be a banned book list, because parents should be able to work with their children and their children's teachers to communicate which types of books are inappropriate in their opinions to read. I think that in some cases, there ARE children who are mature enough to handle the material in controversial books, and I hate to keep them from being able to read these books if they and their parents approve, so I would like to live in a world where I could make the books available to them, but without forcing anyone to read the books, so I am not offending any parents. I do know, though, that often times middle school is a rebellious age where I cannot necessarily trust all my students to follow their parents' wishes for censureship. It makes things difficult as a teacher, being torn between finding literary justification to read a story that you know students will love and being careful not to offend anyone!
-Jada Parr, 7th Grade English Teacher

My thoughts on book banning are that the choice should be left up to the parent as to what they allow their children to read. No one person's feelings about a novel should dictate to everyone's choice of which book to enjoy. I believe banning books so that noone can have the chance to experience that writing is unfair. Also, who makes up the Book Banning Committee? Is it a variety of ages and cultures so that each book can be evaluated fairly? Just some food for thought. Thank you for allowing me to share.

Charlene Walker-Briggs, Reading Specialist

I also had the opportunity to sit down and talk with my friend Erinn who is a teacher and a writer who has an interesting take on the subject:

Holly: Erinn, I'd like to know, as a teacher (instead of as a writer - even though I know you are one), how do you feel about banning books?

Erinn: As a teacher, I sort of have a different opinion about it than as a writer. Teacher Erinn thinks there should be rating system on books. Teacher Erinn is VERY careful about books she talks to her kids about. Teacher Erinn skips over scenes and chapters even in approved books because I'm SUPER PRUDE. Shocking... I know.

Holly: That is kinda shocking

Erinn: I know, right?

Holly: That's an interesting idea though. What kind of rating system would you suggest? Like the ones they use on video games?

Erinn: Yeah, I think books should carry the same labels as a video game. As a teacher, I have to assume not everyone shares the same opinions I do. When talking to the kids I err on the side of conservative. The school I teach in is in an area that's very religious, and although I've never had a problem with a parent, I'd rather keep it that way too.

Holly: Well, and you teach the younger end of teens -- which I think is where you really have to be careful in the classroom.

Erinn: Yes, I teach 13-14 year olds. Whenever I read a book, I like to share it with the class. Because I want my students to have a love of reading like I do. Last year I read Across the Universe and when I was telling my students about it I told my students "there are a few scenes in the book that skew risky, there's an attempted rape scene. It's a great book, but it's for mature readers." I also tell them if they are reading the book because of the mature content then they've missed the point of the book. And I only told my 8th graders who are above grade level reading class. NOT my 7th graders.

While I don't feel that any book should be banned, I don't feel that every book should be in every middle school library either.

People who ban books assume a sixth grader is going to read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I say, it's a good book, but a 6th grader was NEVER the intended reader.

Holly: That's very true. Authors usually have a very specific age group in mind when they write books. (I know I do!)

Erinn: I think books should match the reader. A 6th grader IS NOT the intentioned reader for ATU or Twilight or An Abundance of Katherines. 9th graders are.

Holly: Right, which is where you suggest a rating system could help.

Erinn: Yes, a rating system would make it easier for parents to know about a book's content too. The parent who went to the book store and couldn't find a book for her 6th grader was in the WRONG section. I think labels would make it easier not only for them to find books, but to decide which ones are appropriate for their children as well. Also, an author shouldn't be asked to remove a scene because BN won't buy YA-15 books...

I think John Green did it best. When Will Grayson Will Grayson came out he said, "This book wasn't written for my middle school readers. It wasn't even written for Freshmen or Sophomores. It was written for older high school students and kids in college."

I think the author should have the final say. The author/publishing team should give the rating and make it clear who the intended readers are. I don't think that that's banning or censorship.

Holly: No, I think I'd call that targeted marketing.

Erinn: Right, I think that's good marketing and making sure the content matches the reader. I'm not a fan of blanket statements that no one can read this book. I feel that parents should have the right to let their child opt out of the book, but they shouldn't keep someone else's kid from reading it. As a writer, I know HOW MUCH work goes into making a book.

If a book was good enough to get past the gatekeepers, editors and the publishing team, then chances are there's literary merit to the book. And the book shouldn't be banned.

Holly: Wow. You've thought long and hard about this haven't you?

Erinn: Yes, I have.

Holly: I love it, I think you bring forward some really important points. Thank you so much for agreeing to interview with me, it's nice to get a view from inside the classroom!
Come back every day this week for more talk about banning books

Banned Books Week

2011-09-26T07:30:00.009-04:00

Each year, during the last week in September, the reading community celebrates Banned Books Week and the freedom to read. In addition to emphasizing the liberty to read and the ability to obtain information regardless the subject matter, Banned Books Week also brings to light the harms of censorship. According to the American Library Association, 348 books in schools and libraries were challenged in 2010. We as readers, writers, teachers, and librarians, can help teach the importance of our First Amendment rights. It is important to recognize the books that are unjustly challenged and sometimes banned and be aware of the dangers of suppressing intellectual freedom.

So, why are some books challenged?

Many times a book is challenged with the intentions of protecting others, particularly children, from what the challenger considers inappropriate. This censorship occurs in classrooms, schools, and public libraries, but according to ALA and The Library Bill of Rights, “Librarians and governing bodies should maintain that parents—and only parents—have the right and the responsibility to restrict the access of their children—and only their children—to library resources.”

There are those who would read a book about a sixteen year old boy leaving his Pennsylvania boarding school for an adventure in New York City and argue that there is excessive violence, offensive language, and sexual references contained within (Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger) and prohibit the presence of that book in a classroom or school library.

Books challenged due to violence accounted for 533 reports between 2001 and 2010, while sexually explicit material and offensive language accounted for 1,536, and 1,231 reports, respectively. Other classics that have been challenged and or banned include: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, The Color Purple by Alice Walker, Animal Farm by George Orwell, and Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. This list is by no means exhaustive.

If you think only classics are challenged or that books aren’t banned or disputed in our modern society, you would be severely mistaken. Recently published books, like Crank by Ellen Hopkins(published in 2004), Ttyl by Lauren Myracle(2005), and The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky(1999)are some of the books to have been challenged due to any number of reasons, including offensive language, sexual explicitness, violence, drugs, being unsuitable to a particular age group, and for certain religious viewpoints.

Out of the 348 books challenged in 2010 the top ten were:

1. And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
2. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
3. Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
4. Crank, by Ellen Hopkins
5. The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
6. Lush, by Natasha Friend
7. What My Mother Doesn't Know, by Sonya Sones
8. Nickel and Dimed, by Barbara Ehrenreich
9. Revolutionary Voices, edited by Amy Sonnie
10.Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer

(2010 was not the first year some of these titles were challenged.)

Organizations like the American Library Association, National Coalition Against Censorship, and American Booksellers Association, among many others, work together to educate and inform the public about the potential dangers to restricting freedom of choice that is pivotal to our society.

Below is a sample of some of the most frequently challenged young adult books from the last decade:

The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials) (series)
by Philip Pulman

Accompanied by her shape-shifting daemon, Lyra Belacqua sets out to prevent her best friend and other kidnapped children from becoming the subject of gruesome experiments in the Far North.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

A traumatic event near the end of the summer has a devastating effect on Melinda's freshman year in high school.

Fat Kid Rules the World by K.L. Going

Seventeen-year-old Troy, depressed, suicidal, and weighing nearly 300 pounds, gets a new perspective on life when a homeless teenager who is a genius on guitar wants Troy to be the drummer in his rock band.

The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney

A young girl is shocked to discover the face on a milk carton is her face when she was a young child. Are her parents her real parents, or was she kidnapped as a young child?

Life is Funny by E.R. Frank

The lives of a number of young people of different races, economic backgrounds, and family situations living in Brooklyn, New York, become intertwined over a seven year period.

Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher

Intellectually and athletically gifted, TJ, a multiracial, adopted teenager, shuns organized sports and the gung-ho athletes at his high school until he agrees to form a swimming team and recruits some of the school's less popular students.

As we all know books can be a means of escape for children, a way to relate to others, and just simply a form of enjoyment. If you haven’t read a banned or challenged book, I encourage you to pick one up today, and see what all the talk is about.

Check back every day this week for more on Banned Books Week, including an interview with Cheryl Rainfield, YA author of Scars, a book that has also been challenged.

Scars by Cheryl Rainfield

Fifteen-year-old Kendra, a budding artist, has not felt safe since she began to recall devastating memories of childhood sexual abuse, especially since she cannot remember her abuser's identity, and she copes with the pressure by cutting herself.

What banned books have you read?

Friday Fives (23): Ideal Writing Locations

2011-09-23T06:00:00.006-04:00

Welcome to our weekly Friday Fives!

What are your top FIVE ideal writing locations? (Bonus points if you include pictures!)

Post about it on your blog and then leave your link (and blog name) below so everyone can visit your blog today!

Next week's topic: In observance of Banned Books Week, we at Paper Hangover would love to know what are your FIVE favorite "banned" books?

Back It Up

2011-09-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

Most of us already know that we should back up our work. What I'm going to strongly suggest with this post is using multiple forms of backups as opposed to just one.

Recently, I was in the middle of renaming a few of my manuscript files when a few of them became corrupted. Some of the files refused to open at all and the ones that did open were still unreadable. The glitch ate most of my work.

The cloud service that I use to automatically sync my work to my other computer as a back up proceeded to sync those corrupted files to my other computer before I could retrieved the undamaged versions of those files.

Fortunately, the day before this incident, my work had automatically backed up onto an external hard drive via Time Machine. If not for that back up, I would have lost my entire manuscript! But I was saved because the Goddess was smiling down on me and I didn't rely on just one form of backing up my work.

It is highly suggested that you do not depend on a single form of back up. Life is strange. You just never know what can happen.

You may be familiar with some of the apps below. Others might be new to you. Utilize as many as you can.

Back up your work with these cloud services (in no particular order):

Dropbox (Windows, Mac)
SpiderOak (Windows, Mac)
Windows Live Mesh w/Skydrive (Windows, Mac)
iCloud [formerly iDisk/Mobile Me] (Windows, Mac)

Or with these Hardware methods:

Time Machine (Mac)
External Hard Drive
Flash Drive
Consider printing out a hard copy of your manuscript

Safe Practices

Any time you plan on making major edits to your work, create a copy of that file first and save it somewhere else on your computer as a backup. That way if something goes wrong with the original file you'll always have that duplicate file as a backup.

Make backing up your work a routine, and stay up to date. Don't procrastinate and put it off for another time.