Oh, How I Miss You!

 Andrew, Matthew & Alex are hosting the "Oh, How I Miss You Blogfest!" 

Do you have a couple blogger buddies who aren’t posting as often? Those who’ve pulled back and seem absent from the blogging world? Do you have blogger buddies you are grateful they are still around and would miss if they vanished? Now is your chance to show your appreciation and spotlight them! List one to three bloggers you really miss and one to three bloggers you would miss if they stopped blogging. Then go leave a comment on those blogs.

This is an interesting blogfest for me to do since I've been absent off and on for a while, but I know I've missed some bloggers a lot! I had a hard time beginning my blog, not being able to figure out if what I wrote would be unique, or interesting, and seeing other bloggers out there writing what they wanted inspired me to keep on going. 

 List one blogger I really miss: 

K.V. Briar: TO THINK IN INK: 

I've followed K.V. for a while, and she was one of the first blogger buddies I had. K.V. has been on a blogging hiatus for a little while. She also got pretty far in Amazon's Breakthrough Novel Award Contest. She writers book reviews and awesome tips on writing. 

Here is Part 1 of a blog on names:http://kvbriar.blogspot.com/2011/04/whats-in-name-part-one.html

Here is Part 2 of a blog on names:http://kvbriar.blogspot.com/2011/04/whats-in-name-part-two-my-process.html

These were just a couple I really liked. Check out K.V.'s blog! :) 

The next two, I'd really hate to see leave the blogsphere. They're both super busy writers. 

Precy Larkins (a.k.a. Cherie) and A.G. Howard

You know what's awesome about these two? They're like a dynamic friend force. I followed them one day while I was blogging at school and they immediately followed me back AND commented on my blogs. They made me feel like I was a cool blogger. And they were SO kind and SO sweet! I wasn't surprised to see what a splash both Cherie and Anita had made in the blogsphere because they are truly awesome people and writers. 

You know what else is awesome not just about these bloggers, but everyone? Watching everyone achieve their dreams. I've noticed that writers I began blogging with over a year ago have agents now and on their way to being published. Isn't that awesome? So inspiring! 

If I was an editor...

I wouldn't need one!

Luckily for me, I am lucky.  :D

I am lucky because a friend from my high school recently contacted me and offered to edit my book. Uh, of course I said YES!

So, for what it's worth, I am referring to her as my editor.

My editor has a degree in English and is an editor for Pearson's Publishing (educational publishing). She also has experience copy editing. She's using my book as a test run to see if she'd like to do freelance editing (I sure hope I make a good impression!).

To give you a taste of why I am SO excited, here is the e-mail she sent after I sent her my book:

Here are a couple of notes on how I'm planning on editing:

• I'll track all my changes using Word's track changes function. This way, you are free to accept or reject each of my changes

• I'll mostly limit myself to copyediting--checking grammar, spelling, clarity, repetitiveness, and consistency--but I'll also leave you content-related notes if I find something to be confusing or unclear. My job is not to rewrite, just to help make things clearer. You'll find I ask a lot of open-ended questions.

• I'll use the Chicago Manual of Style, 16th edition, and Merriam-Webster's dictionary as my main style references.

• Since passive voice is such a common thing, I'll probably go ahead and delete unnecessary passive words; however, I'll highlight the instances of passive voice that require rephrasing in pink--that way you can see them all and adjust them as you see fit. Besides, passive voice isn't ALWAYS bad. :)

• Likewise, if I notice a recurring issue, I'll make a note the first couple times, and then highlight that particular issue in one color through the rest of the book. That way you will still be in control, and the comments won't become overwhelming. 

• I'll create a style sheet where I can keep track of all of the character names, locations, and their characteristics. I'll probably send this to you during my edit so you can verify the information is working out how you intended. Or, if you'd like to make a quick list of main characters/locations and what you see for those characters/locations, I'll make sure the book is achieving that end. 

I asked her if I could use this on my blog, she said sure, "Just keep in mind this is just a starting point! I'm constantly trying to evolve to make things better."

And that's why I find her so awesome.

I am BEYOND excited to have this opportunity to better my book!

Especially since I am not a good editor! :/ 

Okay, okay

Okay...I have a SERIOUS question for everyone.

Now, I have thought of several blog posts over the course of by weekdays while I am in procrastination mode. (it's bad). Very bad this time.  I FINALLY finished editing my book and I FINALLY found (or rather she found me) an AWESOME editor. So while I am adding all the finishing touches I can to my book, I was thinking about how awkward it is for me to write kissing scenes.

I mean...really?

I can read them. I can watch them. Writing them makes me blush...and it's JUST a kissing scene. Disney has kissing scenes!! Why am I all blushy and embarrassed? It's not like I don't kiss Aladdin (speaking of which, we had pics taken, look!!):

Anyways, I am one of those people who can't be in the same room when someone is reading anything that belongs to me. I run away or I make distracting noises.

Still.

Aladdin has read my books and I always feel really stupid when he gets to the kissy parts. I feel like a fifteen year old girl--all giggly and obsessed. Then I think of something Jennifer Armentrout said which was that YA is for people who like to remember all those firsts--like first kiss, first hate, first love. Maybe when I read my book this time, it was as the READER not the WRITER and all the embarrassment actually came from my characters.

Wishful thinking.

So...does anyone else have this problem? Or rather, what do you find embarrassing to write? And why?