Have a Magical Halloween!

Edit until you die...

I'm sorry for my leave of absence! I hate when I check a blog to find that the author hasn't written anything new. Not that I'm saying people check my blog often. And if anyone does, well, you just made me the happiest author in the world.

My time away has been spent on two things. Number one, my little sister just got married this past week and it's been a whirlwind of wedding plans, family, cake, and glitter (More on that later). The second reason I've been away is because I've been editing. A LOT. So much so that I believe I started looking like this...

However, I may have been influenced from being tired (after pulling all-nighters to edit) and continually glancing at my skeleton candelabra Halloween decoration. Sometimes my imagination just runs away. 

Anyway, through the experience of writing my sequel, I've realized there is a specific formula I follow for completing novels. I've recorded the formula below. 

1. Get an awesome idea.

2. Spend 934574954058409 hours writing it down and typing it up. 

3.  Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit,  Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit.

4. Edit some more. 

There you have it, that's my formula. Hopefully you have your own tailored, editing plan that you use when writing. Maybe you edit as you go, or perhaps you can finish a novel in a month or two. For me, I have to take my time. I need to read every single line and make sure it's something I can feel good about. Writing is my dream job, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity's I've been given. Editing is hard for me, but after it's done and I have the final, finished product, it's well worth the blood, sweat, and tears. 

Words to live by

My Reading List

I've inhaled a large variety of books this month, so I've complied my list and posted them here:

I absolutely loved A Year Down Yonder. It was lighthearted, funny, and very entertaining. It's a middle grade novel about a girl who goes to live with her hilariously unpredictable grandmother for a full year. It's a short read, something you can read in a day, and it received a Newbery Medal. This one was gold to me, and I will definitely be reading more Richard Peck books. 

I try to make sure that I reread as many classics as I can. I'm not sure I quite appreciated classics when I was in high school, but now I see the importance. It's remarkable to see where we've come from and how we've developed overtime. Mark Twain of course is one of the greatest authors of all time, and his southern voice is contagious. Every time I read a chapter I suddenly have a southern accent.  

The Twelve Dancing Princesses by The Brother's Grimm. Overtime it seems that Hollywood changes fairy tales. That's why I like reading the original, even though often they're more, well, grim. You know the general story of most Grimm fairy tales, but why not read the true versions? Plus if you have a kindle they're free to download. 

Have you ever read or watched The Secret? It's about changing your life for the better using laws of the universe. I'm definitely a big fan of positive thinking, so I always love reading this kind of stuff, but I understand it's not for everyone. This book is similar to the Secret, but talks about using the magic of gratitude and happiness to give you a better life. Inside you'll read chapters about magic dust, magic mirrors, and even magic wishes. 

So there you have it. That was my array of books I've read this month. Have you read any of these books? What's on your list this month? 

A Child's Imagination

I think it's so important for children to have a good imagination. It supports intellectual growth, helps children build self-confidence, gain social skills, and even work out fears. Reading is a huge step in building a child's imagination, and I think that Einstein had it right.