Exorcism continued

Sorry if I'm not as bloggy as usual, but we're mid-exorcism here in Allyville, and even though the evil center brace section of my kitchen cabinets has been successfully removed, and that--I thought--was the hard part.

I was mistaken.

Today two carpenters worked from about 10-4 removing and installing doors.

Three sets of doors were the wrong size.

All of the doors are the wrong color.

We have two too few door handles.

The little pull-out spice shelf thing doesn't quite pull out as far as I'd like and to see into it I have to lean way over the stove which gives me flashbacks of that scene with Robin Williams burning his lady suit in Mrs. Doubtfire.

And after two weeks of doing the yoga that supposedly burns 1100 calories a session I have gained four pounds.

On the upside I'm glad you guys have enjoyed the 101 tips. Of course, now everywhere I go I keep thinking of more, so maybe I'll do that again sometime.


Nighty night,
Ally

101 Tips for Writers: Part 10--closing thoughts

(part 10--closing thoughts)

91. Become fiscally responsible. Writers get paid in lump sums—usually when you sell a book and again when the book is released (or something like that—it varies). This means you might only get two paydays a year. Or two paydays every two years! So learn to budget wisely and make that money last.

92. Pay your taxes! Unlike occupations where your employer takes taxes out of your check and mails it to the IRS, writers (and other self-employed people) are responsible for making those payments themselves. Unfortunately, a lot of writers forget about this, and by the time their taxes are due, the money is long gone. And this is very, very bad.

93. Find a non-writing hobby because this business can make you pretty crazy sometimes, and it’s important to have something to take your mind off of it from time to time.

94. Become involved in some writers groups/organizations. This is a great way of staying informed and learning more about the business and the craft. Be careful, though, that you don’t spend more time talking about writing than actually doing the work itself.

95. To sell your first book you will almost always need a complete and polished manuscript. Once you have a track record of finishing books, meeting deadlines, writing under pressure, etc, it may be possible to sell a book based only on an idea and/or a few chapters. This is called writing “on proposal”. There are pros and cons to doing this, but until you have your first sale under your belt, don’t worry about it.

96. Read everything—especially the types of books you want to write. If you want to be a NY Times Bestselling Romance Writer, then read all the romances that appear on the Times list. If you want to win the Newberry Award, then read the Newberry winners (and finalists.) Read. Learn. Repeat.

97. If you’re anything like the writers I know, then it doesn’t matter how many books you sell; how many awards you win; how many emails you receive from fans; you will spend the majority of your time thinking 1. You’re a hack; 2. The entire world will soon find out you’re a hack. This is usual. There is a word for people who think everything they’ve ever written is perfect and there’s no way they can be better: unpublished.

98. If you’re going to be a writer—write like it. Always. Nothing amazes me more than when I get emails that say “I wunt 2B a writer…” etc. etc. Writing well is a habit. Get into it by writing professionally now in all you do.

99. Pressure. I don’t think anyone can comprehend the pressure in this business until you’ve experienced it first-hand. This is why I tell new writers not to rush to finish their first book—don’t wish away the opportunity to be free of critics and doubts. Savor that because once you go pro you’ll never have it again.

100. I’m about to finish my fifth (published) book, and I can tell you that—in my experience—success in this business isn’t about writing a great book. It’s about writing a great book. And then another one. And then another. Almost every writer I know says that his/her second book was far more difficult than the first. There’s no guarantee that it will get easier. But I can promise you that each book will be different.

101. There are some writers who will become wealthy superstars, but the majority of published authors have to maintain a “day job” just to pay the bills, so whatever you do, don’t pursue writing because you want to be rich; don’t even do it because you want to “be a writer.” It isn’t like the movies. The only reason to pursue writing is because you want to write. Period.

--Ally

101 Tips for Writers: Part 9--being a professional

(part 9--being a professional)

81. Remember that publishing is a profession, and as such, you should, at all times, act like a professional.

82. Say thank you. Show your appreciation. I’m very Southern that way (my mother raised me right), and I’ve been amazed at how appreciative people are when I thank them for all they do for me. It’s sad that we’ve reached a point where “thank you” constitutes going above and beyond, but we have, so be one of those people. Please.

83. Meet deadlines. My editors are probably having a good laugh over this one and pointing at me and saying “have you forgotten 2006-2007 and the debacle that was CROSS MY HEART AND HOPE TO SPY?” Because I don’t always make my deadlines. At all. But I always try with all my might.

84. If the writing is going badly, be honest—at least with yourself. And with your agent. Let people on your team know that you’ve hit a snag and you’ll need either help or more time (if that’s the case.)

85. If you’re unhappy with something (a cover, an edit letter, etc.) talk to your agent before you discuss it with your editor. ALWAYS. Your agent’s job is to be “bad cop”. Let her be the one who has the awkward call with your editor.

86. Stay informed with what is happening in the industry. Don’t write a book that follows a particular trend just because that’s hot, but if you’ve written a book that is in a cold genre then you need to know that and understand that the chances of your book finding a home are not as good.

87. If you blog (or maintain an Internet presence) then be discreet and professional. Don’t list details of your deals. Don’t bad mouth people in the industry. Just…when in doubt…don’t.

88. When attending industry events dress and act like someone a business can feel comfortable entrusting with a large sum of money.

89. Keep people in the loop. I try to always CC my agent on emails with my editor. Is this mandatory? No. But it does keep her from feeling like an idiot when my editor mentions something that she doesn’t know anything about. Just a quick heads-up email can save a lot of time and frustration in the long run.

90. Be respectful of people’s time. Don’t send a dozen emails a day. If you have a dozen questions, fine. Write them up in one email and send that instead. Understand that these are VERY busy people and their time is their most precious resource. Don’t waste it.

--Ally

101 Tips for Writers: Part 8--the business of publishing

(part 8--The Business of Publishing)

71. Before you try to get your work published, make sure it is as good as possible. Agents and editors are busy people--please don’t waste their time with manuscripts that you’re still revising.

72. There is no “trick” to breaking in. You don’t need to know someone. You just need two things: a really great book that will readers will want to buy; and a reputable literary agent. (Note: the agent isn’t the hard part—the really great book is the hard part. If you have that, I promise you will find an agent.)

73. There are people who will tell you to submit directly to publishing houses (although there are very few reputable houses that will even read unagented submissions). My response to these people is that there is no way—knowing what I know now—that I would consider being in this business without an agent.

74. Your literary agent is your advocate in the industry. Once you secure an agent, he or she will submit your manuscript to editors who would be most interested in publishing your book. Your agent will negotiate the terms of the sale; handle the contracts; help present your book to foreign publishers; and, most importantly, she/he will be in your corner whenever conflicts arise.

75. Finding an agent isn’t as mystical as some might think. There are several books and websites that list agents who are taking on new clients. (www.publishersmarketplace.com; www.agentquery.com; http://www.aar-online.org/mc/page.do, for example) Also, you can look at the acknowledgements of your favorite books and the websites of your favorite authors and find the names of their agents that way.

76. Research the agents you are interested in (the above websites are helpful in that) and then follow their submission guidelines exactly. If they say they want an email with a one paragraph summary of your book, then that’s what you send them. Nothing more. Nothing less. Agents get thousands of submissions a month. Don’t give them an excuse to throw yours away simply because you can’t follow simple directions.

77. Never pay an “agent” cash for any reason. Reputable agents work on commission and abide by the Canon of Ethics of the Association of Author’s Representatives which means they never charge clients—or potential clients—for services or consideration.

78. Be patient. There is a massive time lag in this industry. It takes time to write a book. Time to find an agent. Time for your agent to sell your book. And then you’re probably still at least a year from seeing your book on shelves.

79. Expect rejection. Lots of it. Paper your walls with rejection slips if that’s what it takes, but as a rule in this business you’re going to hear “no” a lot more than you hear “yes.” Be prepared for that. And if you honestly can’t take it, then there’s no shame in simply writing for you and forgetting about the publishing industry.

80. Know when to cut your losses. Even though everything in this business takes a long time, I always worry when I hear about a new writer who has been submitting the same manuscript (unsuccessfully) for years. Always be working on your next book. Always.

--Ally

101 Tips for Writers: Part 7--editing

(part 7--editing)

61. Once you finish a draft, put it in a drawer and work on something else for at least a month before reading it again with fresh eyes.

62. Allow plenty of time. I will usually spend at least twice as much time re-writing a book as I spend writing the first draft. You probably don’t want to hear it, but the hard work is just beginning!

63. Fix the big stuff first. Add subplots. Cut characters. Don’t waste time perfecting the wording of a scene where Phil argues with Frank if, in the end, you decide Frank isn’t really adding anything and so he—and all his scenes—end up on the cutting room floor.

64. It’s important to properly use the English language when writing, but don’t waste time fussing about small typos and grammar when you’re doing early drafts of your books. There will be time for that later.

65. Write tight. This is perhaps the most important of these tips, and yet I’d bet it’s the one people are least likely to utilize. Why? Because for most people it’s the hardest. You see, part of re-writing has to be done with a sledgehammer and part of it has to be done with a scalpel. Look at your manuscript closely and ask yourself if you’re saying something with 12 words that could be said just as well with nine? It’s hard, hard work, but few people are willing (and able) to do it, so this will give you an advantage.

66. Murder your darlings. It’s an old adage but one of the best. Writing means cutting anything—even the most beautifully-written sentence in the world—if it doesn’t make the overall book better.

67. Pacing is key. I’ll say it again, PACING IS KEY. Keep your story moving and the reader will stay with you. Let your story tread water and the reader is going to walk away.

68. Every chapter should change the story. Every one. After all, if your characters go a whole chapter and haven’t evolved in any way, then don’t waste your reader’s time.

69. Keep a balance between loud and quiet; fast and slow. In other words, a good story is like a good song—the tempo varies. Keep your reader guessing about what is going to come next.

70. There’s an old screenwriting adage that says scenes should “start right after it gets interesting and end right before it gets boring.” I like that one. I use it all the time.

--Ally

Tips for Writers: Part 6--more writing tidbits

(part 6--Misc. Writing Tidbits)

51. One of the most important decisions you will make is Point of View (POV). Pick the wrong POV and it can be fixed, but it might take months. Or years. Or, worse, the novel will just feel off-center for eternity.

52. Don’t get hung up on new and inventive dialogue tags. Said, yelled, whispered, etc. can get the job done. Now, of course, it’s okay to use something special when it fits with the scene, but don’t think you have to do something different every time. That can be really distracting.

53. All writers have a tendency to overuse certain phrases or words. Don’t worry about it in the first draft—just write—but eventually you’ll need to be aware of terms that you might be using too frequently.

54. Beware of adverbs. Personally, I don’t think adverbs are as terrible as some writers will say, but I do have to admit that it can get pretty distracting when there are too many words ending in –ly. For example, “He slammed the door angrily.” Really, do you need to say he slammed the door angrily? Isn’t door slamming enough to let the reader know what he’s feeling?

55. “Throw away lines” are lines of the book—especially of dialogue—that don’t really have a purpose except to round out your characters and scenes. They make everything seem more real (see Rule 32). One of the most famous throwaway lines in history was from Star Wars when Obi Wan told Luke that he fought with his father in the Clone Wars. Star Wars fans spent years obsessed with the Clone Wars—it opened up their imaginations to a whole other story.

56. Read back cover copies of the books you like and practice summarizing the central conflict of your own story in that fashion and in that amount of space. This is a great way of understanding what you want your book to accomplish. (It will also probably come in handy when you start looking for literary agents—more on that later.)

57. When plotting first drafts and (especially) for working out the plotting/pacing of second drafts, I use an old screenwriting technique called Storyboarding. Basically, I just write every scene idea on a big Post-It note and stick them on the wall in order. Then I can move the pieces around—like a puzzle—until everything fits.

58. Keep your manuscript in any format that you like when you’re working on it (my friend Jennifer Lynn Barnes will write an entire book single-spaced and then change it when she sends it to her editor.) But when it’s time to submit, fancy fonts and strange margins aren’t going to help—quite the contrary. Times New Roman; 12 point; 1 inch margins has always been good enough for me.

59. Listen to your characters and cherish those moments when they take the wheel and do something that surprises you.

60. Think of your characters as real people. Think of your plots as a true story. Don’t ask yourself “what can I make up next”. Ask “what really happened?”

--Ally

101 Tips for Writers: Part 5--Overcoming Writer's Block

(part 5--Overcoming Writer’s Block)

41. Writer’s block comes with being a writer. Get used to it or get out of the business.

42. There are (for me at least) two types of writer’s block. Learn which one you have and you’ll have a better chance at overcoming it.

43. Type 1 writer’s block can also be known as “can’t get off the couch” disease. You don’t want to write. You want to watch TV or play online or talk to your friends. There’s nothing wrong with the book—there’s just something wrong with you. For this type, you simply have to pull yourself off the couch (deadlines are very helpful) and keep writing.

44. Type 2 writer’s block is far more problematic. In these instances, you’re working hard, but for some reason the book is...wrong. The scenes feel forced. Just getting 100 words down is a struggle. While Type 1 must be written through, Type 2 means writing around. This is your book (and body’s) way of telling you you’re writing the wrong thing. Take a step back; figure out what’s wrong; and keep going.

45. Find a system/routine that works for you—something that tells the mind “we’re going to write now”. Maybe this means going to a certain room in your house. Maybe it means putting on your comfy robe. Whatever it is, keep in mind this might vary for different books. It might even vary for different parts of writing the same book.

46. If you work for a couple of days and the work isn’t going well, then first ask if you have Type 2 writer’s block. If so, revisit your story. If not, then change HOW you’re writing. Trade the computer for a pen and a notebook. Drag your laptop to your local library. Get up early. Stay up late. Whatever the case, remember that if you want different results, you have to make different actions.

47. Exercise. Walk the dog. Swim. If the blood starts flowing, the ideas might follow.

48. Take a nap. Seriously. Let your subconscious take over for a little while and the true answer to your problem might come to the surface.

49. Think out loud—either by yourself or with a friend.

50. Make a list of all the possibilities—the act of writing them down and looking at them physically can help you narrow down the choices until you find the right one.

--Ally

101 Tips for Writers: Part 4--Characters

(part 4--Ally's philosophy about characters)

31. Know who your main character is. This may sound obvious, but I remember struggling with that issue when writing my first book—there were so many characters swirling around in my head that it was hard to focus on the main one and remember that my job was to tell his story well.

32. Unless you’re quite literally writing the life story of your characters, then your characters lived before your story began and, in most cases, they will continue to live after. Write like it. Give them quirks and histories and inside jokes. Because people have those things. And great characters always feel like real people.

33. Make your characters unique—both from other characters in history and from each other. Generally speaking, if a character isn’t adding something to the overall story, throw them in the ditch.

34. Write dialogue that is as realistic as possible. Listen to how people speak. Capture that.

35. Unless what your character looks like is important…it isn’t important. If her raven hair makes her look exactly like an international assassin and that’s why the FBI starts trailing her—then yeah, mention the hair. But don’t get hung up on what’s going on in your character’s mirror—be more concerned about her head and her heart.

36. Know your characters. Know them well. What kind of toothpaste would she buy? What does her favorite outfit look like? Where would he sit in math class? These are the little decisions that show who we are as people.

37. Every character should contribute to the plot in some way, large or small, positive or negative.

38. Sometimes it can help to think about who would play your character if the story were to be made into a movie. Now, don’t get hung up on that—at all! The odds of a movie getting made are slim to none, but I do find that it can help sometimes to close your eyes and envision a scene and then write what you see and hear.

39. When writing supporting characters I think it’s important that they do just that—support. They should be what your main character is not (for the most part). Complementary strengths and weaknesses can help your characters to rely on, envy, learn from, etc. each other. It gives you—and them—a lot of places you can go.

40. Ultimately, good books are the stories of how a character changed. Maybe the change was physical or emotional or mental—but your character should be different at the end than he/she was at the beginning.

--Ally

101 Tips for Writers: Part 3--plots and plotting

(part 3--Ally's thoughts on plots and plotting)

21. Even the most character-driven stories have a plot of some kind—a conflict. I love beautifully written “quiet” stories. (Sara Zarr’s STORY OF A GIRL comes to mind.) But even though that story was literary; even though it was character-driven; it still had a plot that came directly from who the character was and what she needed.

22. Your characters should also have a goal which is intrinsically linked to, and yet separate from, your story’s conflict. Take LYKY for example. Cammie’s goal is to try to learn whether or not she really wants to follow in her parents’ footsteps. To do this she develops a relationship with a normal boy. The conflict, however, is the many security measures that stand in her way; the fact that Josh can’t know where she really goes to school; and finally her own misgivings about leading a double life.

23. Appreciate the difference between internal and external conflict. Personally, my favorite stories have both. When characters face external struggles that mirror their internal doubts, you get great stories. (The Percy Jackson books by Rick Riordan are excellent examples of this.)

24. There’s a vast difference between plot and premise. Premise is the set-up; plot is the action. For example. “Girl who goes to spy school” is a premise. “And falls for a normal boy” is the plot. There are a lot of brilliant premises that never found a conflict—never found a plot—and as a result the story failed.

25. Some writers know the entire plot of their story before they ever write a word. Some begin with a single idea and then dive in and figure out the rest as they go along. Some know the highlights but figure out the details along the way. There is no right or wrong—you just have to figure out what works for you.

26. Your plot should be constantly moving forward. Even when your characters hit roadblocks (and they should), they should keep working toward their goals.

27. Hitchcock had a term called “the MacGuffin”—that’s the item that everyone in the story wants and around which all action revolves. For example: Dorothy’s ruby slippers; The One Ring of power; the letters of transit that can get anyone out of Casablanca. Not every story needs a MacGuffin, but they’re useful plot devices to consider.

28. Make your characters earn things. It’s far more interesting if Cammie breaks into the East Wing to learn that boys are coming to her school than it is for her to hear it announced in an assembly, for example.

29. Be aware of the cause and effect of your character’s actions. For example, let’s say your character jumps off a train. What’s the effect of that? He hurts his leg. What’s the effect of that? He hitches a ride instead of running. What’s the effect of that? And so on and so on. Great plots are like dominoes lined up in a row, each one knocks over the next.

30. You story should probably contain “plot points”—the moments that hook into the action and spin it around. These are the moments where the characters know that tomorrow is going to be different from yesterday. These are the moments that make a book hard to put down.

--Ally

101 Tips for Writers: 11-20--Ally on the craft

(part 2—Ally’s philosophy on the craft)

11. Show don’t tell. This is pretty controversial, but I come down firmly in favor of the “show don’t tell” rule, not because it’s a rule and I like to follow rules (although that’s generally true.) I like it because, I think, it makes for far less boring books.

As a reader, I want to be engaged. I want a role to play. It’s a lot like taking a cross-country plane ride. Would you rather sit beside the guy who talks on and on about how painful his root canal was or the guy who describes the dentist’s office, and the chair, and the feeling of the needle that was supposed to deaden the area—but didn’t. Don’t tell me “I went to the dentist, and wow was it painful”; show me the needle and let me figure the rest out for myself.

12. For me, great stories always take place within the context of scenes—your characters have to BE SOMEWHERE, doing SOMETHING. If you find yourself going pages and pages without letting the reader know where your character is or what he/she is doing, chances are you’re “telling” (see above) your story.

13. New characters almost always equal new conflict. I’ve frequently said that the most brilliant decision J.K. Rowling ever made was to give Harry a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher every year.

14. Don’t force it. The best things I write are almost always the easiest things I write. Now, that’s not to say that I didn’t try a few dozen bad things before I finally discovered the right word/scene/subplot, etc. But great books are very much like puzzles—if you’ve got the right pieces you shouldn’t have to struggle to make them fit.

15. Writing and publishing are two incredibly different endeavors. One is creative and one is a business. Treat them differently.

16. Voice is one of the most important things a writer can develop. It’s something that is unique to that author/book, but it won’t happen overnight. Don’t worry about it—just write.

17. The most important thing a book can do is take a reader to another time and place. Think about the reading experience as hypnotizing someone. You don’t want any extraneous noise or movement, nothing but the experience they’re focusing on—nothing that might snap them out of your world and back into their own.

18. It takes a great deal of effort to write something that reads effortlessly.

19. Writing a book can feel like pushing a boulder up a hill. But if the conflict is intrinsic to the story (this can also be called “High Concept”) then, for me, the writing is far, far easier. The higher the concept, the higher the boulder starts out, and the less I have to strain to figure out what comes next.

20. In his brilliant book, ON WRITING, Stephen King says something like “first drafts should be written with the door closed; second drafts should be written with the door open.” I think about that quote all the time. Write your first draft for YOU, but when you’re editing, keep your readers in mind and try to see the story through their eyes.

--Ally

101 Tips on being a writer

I just received a very sweet email from Sophie S. (hi Sophie) who asked for 101 tips on being a writer.

It took more time (and headaches) than I thought, but here you go, Sophie!

I should point up right up front that anyone who tells you “this is how you write a bestselling novel” is lying to you. There is no magic wand or proven formula. There is only opinion.

What I share here is what I have learned and experienced—so far. Take what you like and leave the rest and remember that the only way to learn to write is by writing.

101 TIPS ON BEING A WRITER

(part 1--getting started)

1. Write. I know this one should go without saying, but I've met a lot of "writers" who spend far more time talking about writing than they spend actually putting pen to paper (or fingers to keys). Seriously, folks. Being a writer isn't about talking about it--it's about doing it. So do.

2. Read. Read everything and anything, and when you figure out what you like to read, then that's probably what you will like to write.

3. Don't be afraid of ugly first drafts--even the great classics had a first draft. I promise.

4. Don't worry about length--tell the story as well as it can be told and then figure out if it's a novel (usually 50,000-80,000 words); a novella (shorter); a short story (even shorter); or a mammoth tome (100,000 words or more).

5. If you start your "novel" and figure out it's only two pages...well...then it's either a short story (and that's okay), or you don't have enough conflict present within your story, or you're glossing over things that shouldn't be glossed over. Go deeper.

6. I heard it said once that the first 100,000 words anybody will ever write will be bad words. I call those the "dirty water" words. (You know how when you turn on a garden hose, the stuff that comes out first is dirty water?) Well, the only way to get to the good stuff is to let the water run. So, back to #1 and #3--just WRITE!

7. Everything ties to character. Everything. Take THE WIZARD OF OZ for example. If Dorthy were a street-smart bully then that would be a very different story, would it not?

8. Write steadily. Now, I don't necessarily prescribe to the "write every day" mantra (although that's not bad advice if you're up for it, I personally, need to take writing vacations from time to time). But I do think you need to write steadily. Don't put it off by saying "I'll start during spring break" or "I'll write when we go to the beach" or whatever. Those are excuses. See #1--writers write.

9. Pick an idea that you love and then commit to writing it from start to finish--don't let yourself give up in the middle. Middles ALWAYS look like the land of no return. Push through. (See rule #3--it's okay if it's terrible.) Just FINISHING a book/story/novella is a good process to go through. Just FINISH.

10. In order to pick your story idea--or to really get at the center of what your story is truly about--try filling in the blanks of the following sentence:

It's about a _____________ who ________________s.

That's it. That's all a book/story/movie ever is--the story of a ___ who ____s.

Here are some examples. (For fun, let's see if you guys can guess the novels/movies to which they refer.)

a. A student at a spy school who falls for a normal boy.

b. A girl who challenges the gender bias of her boarding school by secretly taking over an all male secret society.

c. A group of three friends who take a road trip to discover who they really are and what they really want.

d. A Southern Belle who refuses to be defeated by the Civil War.

e. A child prodigy who has been in love with 19 girls, all of whom were named Katherine.

(all the correct answers are in the comments of this post--good job, guys!)



--Ally

Newsletter coming soon

Hey gang,

My fabulous webmaven, Maddee, has been hard at working putting together a newsletter to go out to people who have subscribed to the newsletter mailing list.

Now, this isn't going to have any info that hasn't already been mentioned on the blog, but not everyone reads the blog regularly, so hopefully those folks will get something out of it.

The main reason I'm blogging about this now is because IF you don't receive a newsletter and you think you've subscribed to the list, chances are you haven't followed the steps completely. You have to OPT IN by following the newsletter signup instructions.

thanks a lot,
Ally



Edited to add: the newsletter went out late last night, so if you THINK you should have gotten it--but you didn't--please follow the steps to sign up again and make sure you "opt in" and follow the directions exactly.

Mark your calendars: Thurs, July 31st signing in San Francisco!

Hi Everyone,

I just got the official word that I will be signing books, meeting with readers, and talking shop with the great folks at Kepler's, one of the coolest bookstores in the country.

So if you live near San Francisco, CA please come and say hi at 5:00 on Thursday, July 31st!

Please say you'll come. Please, please say you'll come!

And as an added bonus if you visit the Kepler's site and sign up for their newsletter you'll be entered to win one of our super cool new t-shirts!

Have a great day, everyone. And for all of you Bay Area Gallagher Girls and Guys, I hope to see you on July 31st!


-Ally

An update

I did the torture yoga today. Again.

I didn't sweat quite as much this time. I know this because when I tried to wring out my clothes they were wet. But didn't drip.

(Was that too much information? You guys have to tell me these things.)

But I think I worked out harder. I know this because when I tried to get off the couch a while ago, I kinda couldn't. Yes, there was rolling and a little bit of grunting. And I might have screamed a little.

(Still too much info?)

Just thought you'd like to know.


-Ally

Two very important news items!

Hi Everyone!

I have two very important news items to share today.

Or maybe it's one news item and one question?

Well, in any case, here goes:

Item the first--I spent some (and by some I mean way-freaking-too-much) time last night setting up an "Ally Carter" store over on Cafepress.com!

This, of course, means that you can now order t-shirts featuring Erin, the redhead's fabulous winning design from the t-shirt contest!

Like this.



Or maybe something more like this.



Or even possibly something like this.




There are several more things available, so if you're interested, check it out!

Please note that I have not taken the time to upload my design yet since it's going to need some work. If/when it goes up, I'll blog about it.

Also please note that the prices you see are the absolute minimum prices for which these items may be sold. This means that all of the money you pay will go to cafepress.com. In other words, I didn't build in a "profit" for myself because I wanted the products to be affordable to as many of you as possible, so I'm not making a dime off of this little venture--it's just something I've done because you guys said you wanted t-shirts and Erin designed one that rocks!

And finally, I really, really hope that the products are of good quality, but I cannot testify to that one way or the other. This is cafepress.com's deal entirely--all I did was upload the images and choose the merchandise on which it could be printed. (By the way, if some of you order items and get them home and wear/wash them a few times, could you let me know how they hold up?)

Finally, if you have any problems with quality or customer service, I ask that you please contact cafepress.com directly because I'm not involved in the manufacturing, sale, or distribution of these items in any way.


Item the second...

There is a possibility that I MIGHT be doing an appearance in the San Francisco area in early August, so I'm curious to know how many (if any) of you live in that area and would come out.

Please note that we're not planning a national tour right now--just trying to piggy-back an event on with a trip that I'm going to be making to San Fran anyway, so there's really no need to comment or email and ask me to come to your town. Maybe if/when we schedule a real tour I'll do that, but for now, I just need feedback from people who might actually attend an event in the San Francisco, CA area in early August.


Thanks and have a great night!
Ally

Sweaty

Hey gang,

Long-time blog readers will know two things:

1. that I've been trying to become healthier for a while now.

2. that I own an insane number of yoga pants for someone who has never done any actual yoga.

Well...number 2 is no longer true!

That's right, gang. I, Ally Carter, have attended yoga class for the past two days.

And not only that, but it was the kind of yoga that's done for 90 minutes in a room that's 105 degrees.

And it wasn't pretty.

I had been warned going in that almost everyone feels like passing out and/or throwing up their first time and I was NO exception. The instructor was incredibly cool, though, and told all the newbies that if we needed to sit down and rest or sit out a set then we should, so I made it through.

Today was much, much better.

I don't know if I'm going to love it in the long-haul, but it's supposed to really kick-start your metabolism, so I'm giving it a shot.

And buying more yoga pants.


Lator gators,
Ally

Gallagher Girls gathering places

Hey everyone,

One of you guys emailed me today to tell me about a new Gallagher Girls Community on LiveJournal.

Now, I don't know very much about LiveJournal, but if any of you are into it, this may be something to check out.

Also, don't forget there's a Gallagher Girls group on MySpace as well.

Take Care,
Ally


ps...if anyone knows of any other GG communities/groups, please let me know and I'll include a list when we update the website. Thanks!

Happy Father's Day

Happy dad's day to all the dads!

--Ally

Two things

Two things tonight:

1. GG3 is with my wonderful, fabulous editor, Jen, this weekend because draft three is finished.

Now, that doesn't mean there won't be a draft 4. Or 5. Or 17. It certainly doesn't mean we'll be moving up the pub date (so there's no need to write asking for that--I'm afraid it doesn't work that way).

But it does mean I get to do laundry.


2. Just another reminder to PLEASE don't send me "forward" emails. Please. I want to keep my email available to readers for genuine inquiries and correspondence. If it's abused I'll have to take it off, and I don't want to do that if I don't have to.


-Ally

We have a winner!

Big, big contratulations go to Erin, the redhead (a frequent blog commentor and completely amazing person) for her winning design in our first T-shirt contest!

Behold, Erin's amazing design:


I'd like to thank everyone who took the time to enter. There were four or five entries that the judges and I were seriously considering in the final round, so it was obvious that a lot of you put a lot of heart and soul into your work, and I'm very, very grateful.

Keep checking back for details about when and where you'll be able to order your shirts! (But keep in mind, I'm trying to finish GG3 at the moment, so this might take a few weeks, okay?)

Oh, and just so you know, there will actually be TWO different designs from which you can choose...

Erin's design...

And one by...

Me.

Yes. I know I'm about the most un-artistic person in the world, but I got really inspired one night and came up with a design of my own, and our celebrity judges have convinced me to make it available as well.
Once again, congratulations, Erin! And thanks to everyone who took part!


-Ally


ps...just in case you're keeping track, GG3 hits shelves one year from today! Just 364 more days of waiting!

pps...It seems like there are a lot of options as to the type of shirt we can use for the design (short-sleeve T, long-sleeve T, hoodie, etc.), so if you guys can leave some comments telling me what you'd prefer, that'd be great. Also, a price range that I should stay within (some of the items are obviously pricier than others.)

Things I want (but don't necessarily need)

--two chaise lounges for the deck off my writing room

--one of those big umbrellas to keep me shaded while I lounge on the chaise lounges

--a dining room table and chairs (note: this is probably something I both want AND need since my current dining room table is a card table.)

--a rug for my living room

--fresh paint for most of the downstairs

--a total backyard makeover (preferably one that includes turning the area under my deck into a screened-in-porch. Sigh. Have I said lately how much I miss having a screened-in-porch?)

--a really good place to plant Zinnias (since they're the flower I can grow).

--new dishes

--a grill (note: this ties directly to the "total backyard makeover" wish above.)

--a cool globe to keep in my office

--a time machine (just because I think it would come in handy.)


-Ally

The pictures...finally!

Blogger seems to have forgiven me for whatever terrible, terrible thing I've done to it, so I can finally post pictures from my super, duper TOP SECRET mission to Denver!


Of course it was a blast saying hello to the lady of the hour, Ms. Stephenie Meyer.




Before the signing I got to stop by my agent's downtown Denver offices and meet the real mastermind behind the Nelson Literary Agency--Chutney the wonder dog.




And, of course, it was a blast hanging out with my college BFF, Crazy Beth, and my agent, Kristin, at the signing.






enjoy!
Ally

Just to clarify...

Hey gang,

I've been seeing some comments and stuff on the internet where people are saying that GG3 will be in stores in just a few days.

I'm very sorry to have to point this out, but the publication date is actually June 9, 2009. Yes, 2009. As in next year.

I know that's a long way away.

I know you want it right now.

I know you're probably heading to the "comment" button at this very moment to beg me to hurry up or to say that it shouldn't take that long, but rest assured that everyone involved in the process is working as hard as they can to create the best book that we can.

People have complained before that books 1 & 2 ended with unanswered questions, and the reason for that is simple: the series is far from over.

Each semester Cam and Co. will encounter a different set of challenges that will, ultimately, tell a much, much larger story than any one book, and you have to believe me when I say that book 3 is crucial in that.

I've got to get this one just right, gang. Wish I could say more than that, but I can't. But don't worry, you'll see for yourselves...

Next year.


nighty night,
Ally

mini blog: "Boy" books

Hey gang,

My writer friends and I have been talking about "boy" books and "girl" books and if/when there is crossover between the two.

So you guys tell me:

1. are any of the people who visit here boys? (if so--HI BOYS!)

2. what are the boys you know reading these days?

3. what are the books that you see being read (virtually) equally by boys and girls?

Discuss among yourselves!

-Ally


ps...I should probably clarify that we (my writer friends and I) were talking about older teen boys (say 15-18) in particular.

This discussion came about because when you look at bestseller lists there seem to be a lot of male-driven books geared at middle grade and young YA audiences that are "breaking out" and selling at bestseller levels, but a lot fewer for the older YA audience.

And this, in our collective opinion, is a shame. And a mystery.


pps...nothing makes me giddy faster than getting fanmail from male readers. There's a middle school in Arizona where all most all of the boys have read the Gallagher Girl books. I would totally go there (if I lost a bet and had to return to middle school, that is).