Surprise present for early #sipswap -er!

Hey, hey!!

Jessica and I could NOT be more thrilled about the awesome response to #SipSwap!

We hope you'll continue to tell your friends, talk about it, and sign up in the next several days!

As a last minute thank you to those who jumped right onto the bandwagon, we decided that a $25 giftcard to Barnes & Noble for one of the first 25 who signed up would be a nice surprise!

The first 25 people who signed up (the google form as a timestamp) were on the list, and...

the $25 Barnes & Noble gift card goes to

Angi Black!



Angi is an AWESOME twitterer (@anginicole722), writer, and blogger (www.angiblacktallthoughts.blogspot.com), and I hope you will follow her and congratulate her!

Truly though, those first 25 sign ups made us feel really warm and fuzzy about our communtiy. Thank you so much.

Also, there just may be more prizes on the way for those of you participating, so keep watching #SipSwap on twitter!



Sip Swap 2012!

I am so, SO excited to pop the lid on this!

One of my writing besties, Jessica Love and I are excited to bring you a Mug Swap for writers of all types!

Every writer I know has an affinity for a warm beverage. Coffee? Tea? Cocoa? Whatever your poison may be, having a super cute mug can make every sip seem sweeter.

If you want to get a mug, and gift a mug to another writer, please read below and sign up!

If you have any questions, please leave a comment below, or email kelseyiswriting@gmail.com!

Sign up is at the very bottom of this page!

Once you sign up, tweet about it and let us know using the tag #SipSwap!

Kelsey Macke and Jessica Love
@kelsnotchels      @_JessicaLove

Why:
You love coffee. You love tea. OTHER WRITERS ALSO LOVE COFFEE AND TEA!! Imagine the joy you'd feel opening the mail and seeing a cute new mug to fuel your caffinated writing session or hellacious submissions morning. The Writers' #SipSwap is a fabulous way to meet new writing buddies and spread some much appreciated love throughout the community.

What:
You sign up and submit your info and address before Wednesday, November 7th, 2012 at Midnight PST. On Monday Morning, November 12th, before lunch time, you'll have an email with one other writer's personal info and someone will have yours!

How:
You'll go buy a precious/funny/inspirational mug for your swap partner, pack it up, and be sure it's in the mail by Saturday, November 25th!

Enjoy the mug you've been sent, photograph it, instagram it, tweet it, blog about it, and come back for the blog link up starting on December 5th!

When:
To recap important dates...

Sign up by Wednesday, November 7th at Midnight PST

Get your swap partner on Monday, November 12th

Mail your partner's mug by Saturday, November 25th

We'll start the blog hop/link party on December 5th

Grab the graphics below for use on your blog or website!

<div class="Sip-Swap-button" style="width: 150px; margin: 0 auto;"> <a href="http://www.bit.ly/sipswap"> <img_proxy_proxy_proxy_proxy src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4kNrDeI_lbA/UISEmwqh9VI/AAAAAAAADUQ/Zli1Y4vFYmE/s1600/banner3.tiff" alt="Sip Swap" /> </a> </div> <!--end button code box-->

 

<div class="Sip-Swap-button" style="width: 150px; margin: 0 auto;"> <a href="http://bit.ly/sipswap"> <img_proxy_proxy_proxy_proxy src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y6qttxyKksw/UIN9ALoVO1I/AAAAAAAADTw/UTM7ZLC-e8o/s1600/button.tiff" alt="sip swap" width="150" height="150" /> </a> </div> <!--end button code box--> We're sad to say that this swap is being organized for residents of the continental US only. We hate to place such a restriction, but hope, in doing so that we'll be able to keep costs and convenience relatively uniform.

working and working and working title...

*sounds the trumpets*

*curtseys after fanfare*

So, many of you know that the title of my MS has been the source of some... heartache.

I wrote in my "Next Big Thing" blog post about what it is and why I chose it:

So, the title, as of now is BUT NOT FOR ME. Don't love it. It's a line from a famous song by George Gershwin. My MC is a musical theatre enthusiast, so that's the tie in, but I'm not sure.


I'm totally open or suggestions if you have a fabulous idea for a novel that is funny and sad and about bullying and obesity and best friends and first love and lost and ALL THE THINGS.

And all of that is true.. but, I also had a really, really strong feeling that the title was changing for a while now.

And it has.

Without further adieu, I would like to share with you the new working title of my manuscript...

DAMSEL DISTRESSED

What do you think? You like it I hope?

I really do. Here's why.

I was pondering the phrase "damsel in distress" the other day, and I felt like there was something there. I was talking to Daron (hubster) about it, and he threw out "DAMSEL DISTRESSED". He says my eyes lit up like fire and my whole face started shining happiness. :D

That's awesome.

I've been wanting to find something that hints at the "happy ending" through line, and I've been wanting something that contributes to the theme of mental illness. It also reads a little bit cheeky to me. The fact that my MC is being referred to as a damsel is just... hilarious.

I really think it's perfect.

Of course, there are some things I'll miss about "BUT NOT FOR ME"... I'll miss the musical tie in... I'll miss that I think it's a song my MC loves, but I really feel like this new one is the best possible option right now.

So, That's that!

Please leave me (and my writer's ego) a comment and tell me that you like it! (If you don't, you can leave me a picture of a puppy instead.)

Thanks for journeying with me! :D

PS: Super fun annoucement coming Wednesday morning! (Fun! Not businessy, but FUN!!)

The Next Big Thing meme

Hey y'all!

So everyone and their dog did this "Next Big Thing" meme, and then tagged other people to do the same.

I was innundated with dozens of tags cause everyone wants to know more about my MS and my kickbooty story and all that.*

*I was not tagged at all. #foreveralone

Anyway, my pals, Jessica Love and Jaye Robin Brown humored me and "faux-tagged" me after I ASKED THEM TO via twitter.

That's true love, people.

So, without further adieu, I present THE NEXT BIG THING: BUT NOT FOR ME

WHAT IS THE WORKING TITLE OF YOUR BOOK?

So, the title, as of now is BUT NOT FOR ME. Don't love it. It's a line from a famous song by George Gershwin. My MC is a musical theatre enthusiast, so that's the tie in, but I'm not sure.
I'm totally open or suggestions if you have a fabulous idea for a novel that is funny and sad and about bullying and obesity and best friends and first love and lost and ALL THE THINGS.

WHERE DID THE IDEA COME FROM?

I am a teacher for adolescents with emotional/behavioral disorders. They are incredible. Students with E/BD can be under the SpEd umbrella, which surprises people. They're not developmentally delayed or physically impaired, nor do they have low IQs. Their disability is their psychological or emotional problems... They're so, so misunderstood.

They are my heart, and I wanted to write a story that one of them could read and see themselves in.

Not a story about a kid who's "sad all the time" or pretty but just doesn't see, but a girl with several, legit, chronic, clinical problems who still has to get through life.

Yeah, it's a lot of issues... but that is REAL for my kids.

The first spark of the idea for the story, after discovering my MC Imogen, was the idea of her stepsister's name being a play on Cinderella (Her name is Carmella Cinder).

At first, I didn't know if it would be a redux or something else, but it ended up DEFINITELY NOT being a retelling.

WHAT GENRE DOES YOUR BOOK FALL UNDER?

Contemp YA

WHICH ACTORS WOULD YOU CHOSE TO PLAY YOUR CHARACTERS IN THE MOVIE ADAPTATION?

I don't have actors, but I do have some inspiration photos of some models that I've pinned on pinterest. Yes, I know I'm playing with fire, posting images. All images remain the exclusive copyright of their owners.

My MC: Imogen Keegan

Source: parentingteens.about.com via Kels on Pinterest

Her BFF: Grant Thornton

Source: weheartit.com via Kels on Pinterest

Her cruel and beautiful stepsister: Carmella Cinder

Source: google.com via Kels on Pinterest

These pins are almost EXACTLY the characters in my head, which is a little weird. :)

WHAT IS THE ONE SENTENCE SYNOPSIS OF YOUR BOOK?

BLARGH! I hate this.

Obviously, putting my book into a sentence is obnoxious to me, cause my book isn't "high concept"... it's a broad coming of age story with a lot of issues.

I received a couple of requests from this twitter pitch, though, so this is as good as you're gonna get:

Depressed, overweight, musical-obsessed Imogen’s the ugly step-sister to cruel Ella Cinder. She’ll have to fight for her happy ending.

WILL YOUR BOOK BE SELF-PUBBED OR REPRESENTED BY AN AGENT?

I'm finishing up on a few agent requested revisions now that I hope will result in some traction. However, if those don't pan out, I plan to enter some winter contests and submit another batch of queries before the end of the year.

I believe in this book, and I believe that the perfect agent is out there for it, and for me.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO WRITE THE FIRST DRAFT OF YOUR BOOK?

I went from concept to full-requests in about 70 days.

MAY WE SEE AN INTRO?

It's up on my projects page, so this isn't earth-shattering new information or anything, but my opening is as follows:

I hate buttoning my jeans. 

I would rather skip straight to the inevitable muu-muu phase of my life than try to encapsulate my size 20 ass into this denim prison ever again. 

Come on, suck it in. 

I'm not really into wishing on stars, but being able to magic my way into my paint-splattered jeans without feeling like a summer sausage would be a pretty good reason for a fairy godmother. 

Oh, thank God. Houston, we have closure. 

But seriously. The girls in fairy tales—they don't need the help. I mean, why would a completely gorgeous girl have trouble looking fabulous in a dress, or need help getting a handsome prince to take her to the ball anyway? I'm not fooled. Snow White has the attention of seven little men, not because she’s the only one who can reach the top of the book shelf, but because she’s a porcelain-skinned, ruby-lipped knockout. The little mermaid got a prince because she had to shut her trap for five whole seconds and looks fierce in a bikini. And Cinderella? She’s a girl who clearly demonstrates to the prince that she’s got lots of experience on her knees, and doesn’t mind getting dirty. 

Seriously. 

Hot girls get the fairy tales. 

WHAT OTHER BOOKS WOULD YOU COMPARE THIS STORY TO?

Ack. This question kills me. Seems so presumptuous to compare your unrepped-unpubbed novel to works, especially ones you like.
I think my MC is as unlikable on the surface as the MC in Lauren Oliver's BEFORE I FALL.
I think my character has a very distinct, very strong voice, but comparing it to other voice masters would make me feel like a hack.

(If you've read/beta'd for me, I'm totally open to COMP suggestions)

WHO OR WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS STORY?

I opened with this... but my students.

They're the strongest people I've ever met.

I want them to know that they're not alone.

WHAT ELSE ABOUT YOUR BOOK MIGHT PIQUE READERS' INTEREST?

Well, if you like a funny, snarky MC voice, this book has it in spades. If you like heart-wrenching characters who've experienced great tragedy, my book as that too.

In short, it's about a girl who has no reason to believe that a happy ending will ever find for her, and her realization happiness doesn't seek you out, you have to make it happen.

Thank you so, so much for all of your support and encouragement!

I'd love to know what you think in the comments below. :)

The most hated phrase...

Okay, other than phrases like, "I like it, but it's going to have to be a no" and "I already have so much like it on my list", most writers love words. Words can be strung together in so many combinations, it's hard to imagine having a true hatred for any single one of them.

Except for "moist". Everyone hates "moist".

But on twitter the other day, I decided to reach out and ask some of the wisest writers on the interwebs (or whomever saw my tweet) what phrases they hate.

I loved that some of the phrases are absolutely in my current speech patterns, while others cause me to cringe too.

My LEAST favorite phrase, however, to get the ball rolling is PER USUAL! BAH!

Mine is: "as per usual/per usual"I hate it so much I nearly made my antagonist say it!
— Kelsey Macke (@KelsNotChels) October 3, 2012

As per usual... I just... I just don't even... WHHYYYYYYYYYY?

Moving on. Here are some loathed phrases from some other brilliant tweeple:

There's the obvious 'I could care less', as well as most corporate speak. Using 'party' as a verb can be bad!

— Simon P. Clark (@araenvo) October 3, 2012

It is what it is. I hate that with all my heart. ugh. I'm angry just thinking of it.

— Angi Black (@AngiNicole722) October 3, 2012

"just sayin'." if you're right about whatever you just said, good for you. if you add this to it, you're a jerk. #writeclub

— emmet f. cameron (@ohmynoti) October 4, 2012

"the fact of the matter is" UGH. #WriteClub

— Cassandra A Marshall (@CA_Marshall) October 4, 2012

"my bad"

— Jennie (@book__sniffer) October 4, 2012 I thought it was particularly interesting that I wanted to put phrases that I HATE into the mouths of characters that are antagonistic. I wonder if it's because I think that if they say obnoxious, hated phrases, the reader will have one more reason to want to rip them right off the page and poke them in the eye. Do you have a phrase that you can't stand? If so, leave it in the comments. :)