RIPPLE and an Agent Critique

Agent and Author Mandy Hubbard’s book RIPPLE comes out today . . .

RIPPLE is the story of Lexi, a girl with a dark secret-- she's cursed to spend her nights swimming, singing her deadly song and luring in unsuspecting vicitims. To keep everyone around her safe, she has no friends, and no boyfriend-- becuase the last time she fell in love, he ended up dead. But of course, there's a new boy....

To celebrate, she’s having a contest . . .

“There are two places to win, and TWELVE prizes!”  More info on her blog.

In my quest to read fun Middle Grade books with a magical twist, I recently read her book You Wish,   It was quirky and funny and even managed to bring back childhood memories.  I’m sure Ripple will deliver as well!

Thanks to Ms. Hubbard for offering such a great prize on her big day.

It closes at midnight tonight PST, so hurry. 

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Filter Words

It’s amazing how much better a piece of writing can be without these little words called filter words.  Take them out, change them a bit, and instantly you have a tighter piece that puts the reader directly in your character’s shoes. 

Here’s a list to get you started.  And a little trick- use the F5 key to search for them in your writing.

see
hear
think
touch
wonder
realize
watch
look
seem
feel
decide
sounds like

With filter words:

It seemed to be getting colder each time I stepped outside.  I looked up and saw beautiful, white snowflakes falling from the sky and the only sound I heard was the crunch of the ground.  I felt a chill in the air and then a shiver.  I touched my scarf and wrapped it tighter.  It was then that I realized, there are some things we can always count on.

Bye, bye filter words:

Each time I stepped outside it was a little bit colder.  Beautiful, white snowflakes fell from the sky as the frozen ground crunched beneath my feet. A chill shot through me, making me shiver from head to toe.  I wrapped my scarf tighter.  Yes, there are some things we can always count on.

A few helpful links . . .

Filter Words and Distancing POV

Mental Signposts that Tell, Not Show

Are These Filter Words Weakening Your Fiction?

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Home of the 30 Second Story

What is a 30 Second Story?

Witty and clever Jotter Girl takes an old photograph and creates an interesting (and funny!) little story. 

Start your day with a smile . . .

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Happy Independence Day!

My friends tease me because, yes, I admit it, the Star Spangled Banner brings tears to my eyes.  Because every time I hear it, I picture Francis Scott Key, on that British Ship, watching Fort McHenry being bombed during the War of 1812.  And that American flag, still flying above the fort, was a sign that we had won the battle.

I’m sure it’s fairly easy to listen to the national anthem and think about other things, like the hockey game or the fireworks, but not for me.  I picture being on that ship, watching my country fight for its life,  waiting to to see that flag still flying.  (For the whole story click here.)

“And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there,
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?”

Come on, shed a tear with me . . .

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