Had a bit of a bumpy holiday season this year, but I managed to find time for work. In addition to writing and rearranging on my YA WIP, I put together some research for book two in the urban fantasy series currently making the rounds through my agent. I also worked on blog posts for the Deadline Dames. We’ll be launching VERY soon and I’m so excited and honored to be a part of this new website. If you missed the announcement, it’s a couple of posts down.
When not writing, I’ve actually spent quality reading time. Terri Schaefer gave me a copy of Swan Song by Robert McCammon for Christmas.
OMG, this book is taking over my life. I was up until two reading last night. It’s become my reward for meeting writing goals, yet I hear its siren’s ‘song’ while I’m working. I do occasionally have trouble with so many different perspectives. There have been a couple of times I’ve had to track back to see whose head I’m in. And occasionally, I’m reminded of The Stand–but trust me, the books are sufficiently different.
This story of the ultimate survival, this plot, the characters, and description… they’re all great. I’ve read scenes that had me cringing and gripping the heavy, thick book with white-knuckled fingers. I’ve read scenes so descriptive, I could taste the grit of wind-driven sand between my teeth. I want to read what happens to these people! I want to know about Swan and this power she has over nature. I want to KNOW.
I feel like an important part of myself has been reawakened. While I’ve read quite a few good books lately, there’s been a part of me that holds back. I don’t know if other writers do this, but while reading, a part of my mind always feels a little guilty for the time I’m spending away from my own manuscripts. For some reason, I let that go this time around and was reminded of something very important in the process.
I need to take more time just for reading. As writers, we can find inspiration in many things-music, movies and more, but it’s seeing the words on the page that really pulls our attention back to how very powerful writing can be. It’s made me want to dig deeper into my own work as well as give myself TRUE permission to enjoy reading again. I needed the reminder that this is what pulled me in to begin with, this is what I want to do–write stories that take people away from their own lives for a little while.