TED talk Thursday: John Green's The Paper Town Academy

Oops, the blog post title led you to believe that this blog post would be all about John Green's awesome TED talk about how community learning is alive and better than ever because of online communities like youtube? (You didn't think youtube was a learning community? Better skip down right to the TED talk.)

And this post is. It is about how John Green is so wonderfully meta and smart and *gets* how to inspire people and understands that what we put into the world changes the world.

But it's also about THIS ARTICLE on writerly envy, subject: John Green. (See how it all ties in?)

And I don't want to judge or shame anyone. Everyone is allowed their Feelings. And writing is such a tough industry--rejections all around, all the time. So, by all means, have the envious Feelings. But also know that there are ways to not wade into and get swallowed up by those Feelings.

With this perspective, our mental state would be so much healthier:

Courtesy of Aish.com

I think that video stands for itself. Without further distraction, here is John Green's fantastic and eclectic TED talk on paper towns:

 

I love how Aslo became something, just because people believed it already *was* something. :) Just makes you want to write, right?

Have you struggled with looking into someone else's bowl? Have you ever joined in the online learning classroom? I know it helps my research as a writer--what did writers do before the internet?!

Rock the Drop!

Yesterday, I went to my beloved Indie book store and picked up two YA books. Then in my travels, I left them out in a public place, for a teen to find and pick up. The rain hampered my book destinations, as did my inability to be in all places at once. :)

While stopping for food for the sitter (a teen boy) and my three kids, I set the books down on a bench outside of a Five Guys Burgers. I'm itching to send a teen out to see if they were picked up.

Here's the evidence:

A. S. King's PLEASE IGNORE VERA DIETZ

John Green's LOOKING FOR ALASKA

The notes read: If you are a teen, then this book is for YOU. Happy reading. #rockthedrop 

Inside, Cowgirl and Superman rocking the markers.

What do you think? Good picks?

I might put a call out to other Natick writers to send their teens over to see if the books are still there. :) (I'm looking at you, Nandini and Martha!) Is that cheating?

Thanks to Readergirlz for inspiring us to Rock the Drop!

And capping off the fun yesterday was a fabulous dinner with some wonderful writers. Thanks to Marissa, Kip, Alicia, Michele, Kyla, and Nandini for coming out and sharing the laughs last night!

Last Call for Wanted Poster Contest and Another Awesome Prize!

Tomorrow, at midnight is the finish line for the Wanted Poster Contest!

It took me but a moment to make three posters at this site. It's fun, and good practice, whether you do it for your own book (yay for fun marketing), or for a book you love or hate (being able to write a blurb is great for when the time comes for querying!).

Here is the final awesome giveaway book that the winner may choose from:

Untraceable--Shelli Johannes-Wells

WANTED:  A new young adult wilderness thriller with a missing father, a kickbutt heroine, and of course - two hot boys.

Sounds delish, right?

Check out the prizes, and directions, here in the contest page!

Which one would you choose from, if you win?

What books are you reading, or would recommend?

Have you checked out what John Green is reading? (I totally get sucked into his vlogs. That guy is one enthusiastic dude. :) Oh, and he writes some kick a$$ books.)

Cleansing the Palette

On Friday, I typed the words "THE END" on my rough draft of my current novel.

Let me just say that one more time:

I've been revising as I go, so this work is in various stages of progress. The actual ending is very rough, but I got there. :)

*shiver of thrill* 

I am super excited to continue revising. I love this book, still. After a year (or more) of growing this idea. I do love it, still. Instead of the sinking feeling of something's-not-working, I have the feeling of I-know-what-I-need-to-do.

Again, let me repeat.

I KNOW what I need to do.

Let me just explain the emphasize--in case those-who-don't-know-me-well mistakes it for egomania, or tooting my own horn. I am surprised to be sitting in the place of comprehension. Of understanding my own writing well enough to draft to my strengths and revise to my weaknesses. Of actually knowing how to fix my weaknesses, and make them strengths. 

Maybe I shouldn't be surprised--I've been working darn hard to get here. By writing writing writing, by reading about craft. By doing crits for others. By revising revising revising. It's been a long road, and one which will continue on as long as I write.

I am surprised and thrilled to FINALLY feel like I can give a novel its PROPER DUE. :)

This palette, not the taste palate. :), although I also had a glass of wine to celebrate. 

So this weekend, I cleansed the palette, and read John Green's book THE FAULT IN OUR STARS. I love this article about it, and how YA isn't just for kids anymore (but we already knew that, yes?).

The least (and perhaps the most) that I can say after reading this book, is that it made me "Feel All The Things". Which I have heard that John Green said was his intention. (I looked for the basis of this quote, and couldn't find it, but love that it started this blog chain.)

So, John Green, in my opinion, did what he intended to do.

What is your intention with writing? Is it to make people Feel All The Things? Or something else entirely?

What, as writers (or parents, or people) do you intend to do this week? This month? This ROWing session?

If it is unclear from my BOLD FACE above, I am having a smashing time doing ROW 80, and sticking to my goals. If I keep up at this pace, (which is writing 2 hours or 1K a day), then I will be successful with this novel. I'm setting myself up for success. How about you?

I am officially one step closer to new boots. :)

Now, back to the revision cave...