Need A Critique Partner? Operation Awesome's The Critique Partner Connection Is For You

First of all, HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Second of all, so. You may or may not know that Operation Awesome is kicking off a free online conference tomorrow. It is called the New Year's Revisions Conference, and it is going to be amazeballs.

But before we start the conference, we at OA decided to host something special for our followers today. If you're on the hunt for a brand new crit partner, hop on over to the blog and check out the Critique Partner Connection! All the rules are posted there, so make sure you read them carefully. I hope you find someone awesome!

And don't forget: the New Year's Revisions Conference is TOMORROW! See you there :)

On Binders Full Of Women & The Power Of No Intentions In Your Writing

So. Last week, Governor Mitt Romney told the whole world he'd been handed binders full of women to consider as potential members of his cabinet. I'm sadly incapable of reading minds, but I'm 99.9% confident Romney had no intention of starting a Tumblr page mocking his alleged binders full of women. He didn't foresee a Facebook page, either.

And yet they happened.

What does Romney's binders full of women have anything to do with writing, you ask? More than I like to admit. You see, when you write those painful, gut-wrenching words on your manuscript, you do it intentionally. Every word is chosen, whether it's before you even begin the manuscript or during the actual writing process. You want those words to have an effect on your reader, and gosh darn it, you'll do whatever it takes to guarantee that effect.

But you can't control what anyone gets out of your book. The reading experience, like every other experience, is subjective. You might want to convey OMG SHOCK at a certain turning point. One reader might be genuinely shocked. Another reader might've seen it coming a billion miles away. Your intentions matter, of course, but they don't dictate what your reader will feel. 

Ask Romney if he intended to offend millions of women. I'm guessing he didn't. Does that mean those millions of women are wrong in feeling how they feel? Nope. Same thing applies to writing, if you ask me. Which is why I think it's crucial all writers embrace the Power Of No Intentions--your work will evoke things you never meant it to, and that's okay. This isn't to say you shouldn't guide your readers toward a particular feeling. You should, but there's always room for the unexpected. Don't be afraid of it. 

Sometimes, it's the unexpected that makes you and your work memorable.

Happy Monday! :)

Are those for little ol' me???

You guys rock. Seriously.

I thought getting one award last week was cool enough. Now I have two more. *sigh*

First up, the super nice Katrina created one for me. That's right, she created an award! For me! FTW????

Here it is:


I read her kick-ass MG manuscript last week and loved it. In case you wanna know what it's about, click here to read her query (and to see why lit agent Mandy Hubbard loved it!). This is a pretty rockin' example of a query, so if any of you are struggling with yours, go take a look.

Next up, here's another goodie from super cool teen blogger Cara:

I pass this bad boy on to:

Lindsay

Carolyn V.

Katrina Lantz

Melissa

Renae Mercado

Old Kitty

Laura Diamond

Love you, ladies!

Now I'm off to work on my stupid synopsis. Hope everyone has a rockin' week! And congrats to the winners!

What I Found Out In Betaland

After wrapping up Draft #3 of my WIP, I sent it to my trusted beta readers. Both of them have read my first novel, which sucked all kinds of suckiness, and were more than willing to read this new book. I warned them of the differences between my first sucky baby and this next one: third person became first, fantasy became paranormal romance, boy MC became a girl, serious overwriting became slightly humorous brevity.

My betas were more than thrilled with the change (can I blame them???). I expected this mini celebration.

What I didn't expect were my findings after taking the Red Eye flight to Betaland yesterday.

Beta #1: "Hey! I just finished reading the first three chapters!"

Me: "Woot, woot! Whaddaya think?"

Beta #1: "I LOVE this story! It's funny, emotional, and I can relate to the MC a lot. In fact, she reminds me of YOU!"

Me: "Woot, wo- Wait... What?"

Beta #1: "She thinks like you, talks like you, and even hates the same things as you! That is soooo awesome!"

Me: "..."

Beta #1: "Gotta go now! I really wanna know what happens next!" *slams the door in my face*


Head hanging low, I headed over to beta #2's place...


Beta #2: "Wassup? I was just about to call ya"

Me: "Really? Why?"

Beta #2: "I just read the first ten chapters of your manuscript. In, like, less than two hours and stuff."

Me: *raises eyebrows* "Dude, you NEVER read that fast!"

Beta #2: "Sometimes I'm awesome like that"

Me: "So... Whaddaya think?"

Beta #2: "Love it. This chick's da bomb. And you know what?"

Me: *smiling from ear to ear* "What??"

Beta #2: "She totally reminds me of YOU"

Me: "..."


There you go, folks--I've written a clone.

Well, both betas assure me that the MC's waaaay more impulsive (and funnier...) than me, but the similarities are still there.

What say you? Is your MC a clone, a cooler version of you, or someone completely different?