10,000

My blog has surpassed 10,000 vistors! Actually, when I checked this morning it was at 10,015, and it was only because I scrolled that I saw. Hurrah! Thanks everyone for continuing to stop by. Without you, I'd just be talking to myself, and I do that enough already.

Pass the virtual cake, all. It's chocolate, mmmm.

Blogs? No Thanks

I had heard before that teens don't really care much for blogs, but this NYT article explains why. If you write for teens, it has some great information on teen tech habits, so check it out.

Interesting stuff.

Fun Timewastery

Check out the GenderGenie! It lets you paste text (like my latest WIP) and tells you if it thinks you're male or female by your word choices.

I'm still a girl, quelle relief. It's all nonsense, but it's Tuesday, and I knew you were looking for something to do that isn't what you should be doing. Right?

Kidlit Agathas

Snatched from the lovely Janet Rudolph at Mystery Fanfare: the Agatha Noms for kidlit:

Best Children's/Young Adult:

Theodore Boone, Kid Lawyer by John Grisham
Theodosia and the Eyes of Horus by R. L. LaFevers
The Agency: A Spy in the House by Y. S. Lee
Virals by Kathy Reichs
The Other Side of Dark by Sarah Smith

Happy weekend, all!

Library Love

I love my library. Where other people might go shopping for the art of the hunt, I treasure hunt at my library. And I always walk out with a giant bag of books, like a hungry man at an all-you-can-eat buffet.

I was lucky enough to grow up in a house full of books, and with parents who would take me to the library on Monday evenings. I discovered Agatha Christie while roaming there, and was taught that if you want to learn something new, you get a book--whether you're writing a book report or want to learn a new craft. Libraries are my favorite places.

Ah, nostalgia. If you're up for some more, check out this article in the Guardian on libraries in the movies. It was a fun trip down movie memory lane for me.

How about you? What's your library story?

Monday Music: Best Suit Ever

In case you missed last night's performance by Cee Lo, here 'tis. Is this not the best suit ever??

What Lives Under A High School

This past Monday, I taught my last class of the year (on fiction writing)at my local high school. It's always interesting to see who shows up--directing teenagers can be a lot like herding cats (no insult there, I love cats).

This last one was pretty hands-on, because I worked with the class, showing how to plot a novel using the three-act system. And we did. It took my class (all girls this time) no time at all to toss out fun ideas, which reminded me: teenagers are sharp as a tack. I was humbled, and reminded of why I love to write for kids: they have an uncluttered intelligence, imagination, and willingness to go on a fictional journey that's just tough to find in an adult audience.

I laughed my butt off with this class, and I was sorry this year's sessions were done. Oh, in case you're wondering: in our novel called Dragon High, dragons are living under the high school, and it's up to our hero emo Steve to slay them and the evil janitorial crew to get the girl.

I told you we had fun.

February Is For Flash

It's February, and since it won't freakin' stop snowing, I look for some fun distraction to beat the winter blahs. Here's a great one for us writers: Patti Abbott posted a flash fiction challenge on her blog, calling for stories based on an overheard conversation, where a young woman said to her male friend, "I really don't mind the scars."

I can hear your imaginations spinning tales already, writer pals.

Check out the details here, and join in! If you're not convinced yet, check out this nice review of DISCOUNT NOIR, an anthology that started as a flash fiction challenge just like this one. Cool, huh?

Monday Music: Lovin' Linkin

Bringing you some inspiration on this Monday with uber-talented Linkin Park. Turn up the volume, all.

Never Open With The Weather

Or so we're told as writers, right? I've always hated this rule. What's so bad about 'it was a dark and stormy night?' Weather is such a great tool to set mood, build tension, or add conflict. Just look at this massive storm we're all talking about, and the news people are so happy to finally have a new crisis.

I'm working on a new story (such fun) that revolves around the weather--tornadoes to be exact. So I'm breaking the old weather rule, though I probably won't make it the first line or anything.

How 'bout you, my writer pals? Ever use the weather to build your story?