Tiffany Rambles



February 2012 - the most active month for Honest Crits/Reader's Den

A couple of days ago, I finished reading a great book for writers and small business owners called "Business Tips and Taxes for Writers." The section on record keeping talked about spreadsheets and the importance of consistently recording a business's finances. At first, I was a bit bleh about this method of record keeping. I'd never used a spreadsheet before.

But, when I stayed up until 2 AM recording my income and expenses for Honest Crits, I learned that I loved spreadsheets and seeing exactly where the money from and for Honest Crits/Reader's Den goes. As of lately, most of the money has been going to my office and research, and more people pay for the Promotion Plan than anything else. Of course, this all makes sense. My business is not at a point where I'm actually making any profit. The money I make from the business goes to the business. Pretty soon, though, the money I make from the business will go toward college as well.

I have five months to figure out how I'm supposed to pay for college. All four years is about 28,000, so one year is roughly 7k. I already have 800 (which is really only enough money to pay for one class and a half -_-). When I went to IUB for the summer and the first semester, I worked my ass off and did almost 2 scholarships a week for months. I won enough money to pay off the first year and parts of the other 4 years. Because of a scholarship mix-up, I still ended up having to take out a $2500 loan to pay off the first year. Already, I have loan money that is building interest.

So this is the plan that I've come up with to help pay for college: Sure, little-by-little, I'm making more money with my business. But I could be making more. I need to change my editing prices; I need to better promote my websites so that I can offer advertising; I need to enter into more writing contests and freelance for paying markets; I want to self-publish a helpful book for writers; I want to make a donation page.

It'll be stressful, I know, but the best way to push myself is to push myself. If I tell myself that the money I make with my business will help pay for college, at least the first year and a half, then I'll have even more incentive to work harder. Whatever doesn't get paid for with business or scholarship money will have to be paid for with loans (ick). Because I have to spend these next five months working specifically on Honest Crits and Reader's Den (when college starts, most of my Honest Crits services won't be open. I don't want to make college even harder on myself), I'm officially taking a break from working on my novels.

So, what'll I be doing in college? I plan on getting a Bachelor of Arts in Human Resources and minoring in English: Writing. A B.A. is perfect for me. There's not much math and science, and getting into the business school at Purdue University Calumet is nowhere near as hardcore as getting into the business school at Indiana University Bloomington. If you fit the qualifications, you get in.

Yep, that's all.



Hey, this is my ACTUAL to-do list. Putting my camera to use. ^_^

This morning I woke up at 8:30 am instead of 9:30 or 10 am. I had tea, oatmeal, and sausages instead of soda, an omelet, and waffles. This is me, trying to wake up earlier and eat healthier, and I'm happy I'm finally trying. What pushed me? Here and there, I've been reading posts about the daily lives of professional writers and entrepreneurs who work out of their home. The majority of those posts drilled into my head that if I'm aiming to be more productive, I need to take better care of my health and start my days earlier. I knew that before I read those articles, yeah, but they were the push I needed. I now want to eat more fruits and veggies and drink more juice and tea. I feel proud to admit that.

Anyway, my to-do list is HUGE today (hence why I call it the monster list). I know, I know, it's Valentine's day. Shouldn't I be spending today with a friend or with my boyfriend or TV? Well, as it turns out, the boyfriend goes to work today and I have a lot of work to do as well. We anticipated this already and decided to do our Vday stuff together yesterday. It was wonderful. I gave him things, he gave me things, we cuddled and talked and laughed a lot. Mostly the day was just like any other day we've spent together, in that he played video games and I worked on my business, but we didn't need the excuse of Valentine's day to feel extremely thankful to have each other.

Now that I'm done being a lovestruck goober, here is what I'm up to:

Yep, this is the card and candy.

1.) Start editing novella: If you don't already know, I'm a freelance editor who owns an editing business called Honest Crits. Because I had to edit the stories of those who won my Big Giveaway Contest over at Reader's Den, I had to wait to start editing the most recent novella that's been submitted to me. It's 74 pages long. If I give myself until March 5th to complete it, I can do 3-4 pages a day. Now all I have to do is make sure the writer is okay with that date.

2.) Promote my review of 'Spur of the Moment' by Candace Bowen Early: I'm very satisfied with this review. I wrote it without an outline and the words still easily came to me. The review also turned out to be longer than I thought it would be, which always makes me happy. Feels like the review has more depth. Today I'm gonna go into hardcore promotion mode and promote the review on more than 25 sites and pages, but already 3 people have particpated in the giveaway. That makes me incredibly happy! Since my promotion plan is 15 bucks, I always feel so terrible when an author doesn't get at least 3 participants and/or a discussion in the comments. Already, I won't have that problem with this review.

3.) Mark David down for second week of March: This means that, the second weekend of March, I'll be reviewing the second book in The Black Earth Series. I already reviewed book 1 here. Soon, David will be joining my Reader's Den team of writers. I'm thrilled to have him as a writing companion.

4.) Finish 'Common Errors' article: Actually, I need to start it too. -_- In March, I'll be doing a blog tour for Honest Crits, but first I need to write all 8 articles I'd like to promote throughout the web and then contact the blog owners whose blogs I'd like to appear on. The 'Common Errors' article will be a two-part article exploring the errors I see time and time again when I'm editing.

5.) Do at least 500 words of Dream Catcher, damn it!: If you read the last part of my previous post, you'll know that I'm very upset with myself for not working more on my fiction. I've been so into this business life that it feels like the creative part of my mind that allows me to write about creatures and alternate dimensions has been closed off. I can write articles and reviews with no problem, but work on my story? Fiction is where I started. I need to return to my roots, and making myself do at least 500 words today is supposed to help with that.

6.) Make sure dad gets boxes and 40 bucks: How handy is it that my dad works at the post office? Anyway, this is in regards to the fact that I need to send the books of those who won my giveaway contest out. It slipped my mind yesterday, but to make up for it slipping my mind, I finished editing the winning stories.

7.) Start polls for Reader's Den posts: There are two questions and two polls I'd like to have a lot of readers' inputs on. First question: Do readers really care about where and how a book was published? Second question: What do readers do with free Amazon books? Then, when these polls have been circulating for a while and I feel like enough readers have participated, I'll write two posts at Reader's Den about the answers to those questions. It should be fun.

8.) Submit at least 1 job application: My sources of income are rather shaky right now. Twice a month, I get 50 dollars from my dad, but my phone bill is 40 bucks and I have a tight budget. When all is said and done, only $7.50 of that 50 goes to me for general spending. Percentages of the rest go to self-publishing, savings, and my business. The business money I make is, of course, sporadic because Honest Crits is still in the process of being launched. Hency why I'll be doing a blog tour in March and advertising in April. So far, all the money I've made for the business has gone back to the business. As thus, I need a part-time job.

9.) Clear at least 25 e-mails: Even after going on my large unsubscribing spree, my e-mails still multiply very fast. And it doesn't help that I have about 6 e-mail addresses. I could very easily spend a whole day clearing e-mails, but I don't have the time for that. Clearing at least 25 e-mails today seems good enough for me.

Will I complete all of this? I don't know. Chances are, I won't. But it's not a big deal if I don't complete them all, as long as I complete 3-5 of them. As always, I leave you with the two most recent songs I love most:

How long this blog post will be depends on how much I can type before the bell rings. I've never put up a blog post during school, but this is just about the only time I have available, so here goes.

This entire week was planned in advance last week. My senior-year-of-highschool and personal life is basically eating up time for my academic/professional life, but that's okay. I'll be going to college this summer. There, I'll be right back to my tight schedule...meaning I want to cherish all this time with my boyfriend and friends as much as I can.

Tomorrow is prom. THAT certainly feels surreal. It's not really setting in, honestly. -_- For the longest time, I was certain I wouldn't go, yet here I am.

Yesterday was Wednesday Writing/Work day, where I take a break from any social activities that do not involve me writing or working on my website. I didn't get as much done as I wanted, but I DID complete my next article for Best Damn Creative Writing Blog (BDCWB). I'll send it to the editor some time after school. I also submitted my resume to Elance, where I can hopefully start getting paid for freelancing.

As excited as I am about this freelancing stuff - it's been my dream to prove to myself that I do have the strength and energy to consistently write for other places - I really want to get back into creative writing. Today I wrote two more paragraphs of my short story and one more paragraph of my Chapter 4 summary for Savior of the Damned. That's just not enough, tho! I know I can only push myself so much, but still...

In all, I'm busy, extremely happy and grateful that so many people support and care about my endeavors, and very tired/afraid. Soooo much is about to change. Jeez, I can feel it everywhere I turn.

All the things, writing-wise, that I wanted to become habits are automatically becoming habits. I'm thrilled by that. The past week, I've made sure to blog every day or every other day. The past three days, I've been up well past 12 am working on my story. Last night I finished the new chapter three. I couldn't stop writing, even though I was sleepy and hungry, and it felt wonderful. Except now I'm tired and sorta winding down, but I'm sure this has less to do with when I sleep (I don't have to wake up early) and more to do with the fact that I have too many things to worry about.

What makes all of this better is that I don't plan to write for 3-5 hours, and I don't plan to blog. I just do it.

I also found some cool free online college courses that I plan to take later on, namely the ones on grammar, entrepreneurship, and finances.

Oh yeah; yesterday, I put up my review and giveaway contest for Allan Leverone's 'Postcards from the Apocalypse.' I've noticed that review writing has gotten a little easier to do. It's a lot like writing a synopsis, but with a commentary. One day I plan to put up a post about what it's like to be a reviewer. Hm. I may actually write some articles about the many different hats I wear and try to publish it on other blogs through guest appearances.

So, in yesterday's blog post, I promised myself that I'd start an idea booklet. Last night, no ideas would come to mind. I was confused and a little sad. Back in middle school, I easily had two notebooks full of ideas. Why wasn't anything coming to mind now (beside ideas linked directly to Savior of the Damned)?

Today all the ideas hit me.

I was walking to a financial aid meeting. The sky was big, blue, and beautiful, and my music blasted in my ears. Before I knew it, I couldn't stop the ideas from coming. All types of ideas too: A humorous fantasy, an off-kilter fantasy about the muse, a supernatural spin-off to SotD about necromancers, an alternate world horror/fantasy, a young adult coming-of-age comedy...

I found it odd that so many of my ideas were comedy, though not odd that so many were fantasy (I used to be a high fantasy writer before getting into horror and supernatural). I'm not really big on funny. Tragedy, yes. Comedy, no (not unless it's full of sarcasm and dark humor). Even more, I found it tragic that I was walking and going to a meeting, so I couldn't write it all down. They're in my notebook now. I'm gonna write the descriptions, in spite of the fact that the trade-off of writing these descriptions is pretty big, after I finish this post.

I've also been thinking a lot about short stories. I read lots of nonfiction and fiction, but I've read very few short story collections. In fact, I've only ever been determined to read short story collections by Stephen King. The next book I review, hopefully this weekend, will be Postcards from the Apocalypse by Allan Leverone. It's a short story collection, the second one I'll review (the first I reviewed was Florida Gothic Stories by Vicki Hendricks). Anyway, though I'm sure it'll be a wonderful read what with it being horror and all that jazz, I'll also be paying close attention to how the short story collection is put together. Plus, Allan guest appeared on Triple R a while ago, which makes me more excited that I've finally gotten to his stories.

I need to learn more about short stories and short story collections if I ever plan to take myself seriously when I say I want to self publish a collection. Even if it won't sell a hella lot of copies, or much at all (I'm having a hard time finding data about self published short story collections). Even though it will be very hard work. I want to try. I want to see what it's like to be part of the self-publishing world as much as I want to feel what it's like to be part of the brick-and-mortar publishing world.

P.S. On another note, very exciting things are happening to authors I've recently been keeping a close eye on. Amanda Hocking's Hollowland's series will become graphic novels! I've always fantasized that, if I ever get published, someone will want to do that for my work. Author Michelle Davidson Argyle had her first book signing for Monarch, and it appears as though it went very well. I really wish I could've come.

I'm not back from any where in particular. Right now, I'm at my desk in my dorm room. As a writer/reader/blogger/reviewer/editor, I'm back.

Yesterday, I put up a new blog post at Triple R: Read, Rate, Review that lists a number of helpful links and writing resources. It hasn't gotten any views, I don't think, and there are no comments. I won't let this get me down. I've been gone for a while, wrapped up in this new college and job and steady relationship lifestyle. My online platform has probably suffered for it. But maybe, just maybe, when my devotion becomes clear again, it'll pick back up.

I just want people to read and benefit. That's why I write, review, and critique. That's why I'm in this business (and I am actually in this as a business. I have a business checking account registered as a sole proprietorship and a composition book for account/site details and everything). I'll provide more on 'Honest Crits' when the site is finally up and running. The layout and coding is there. It is actually live online, but I'm not providing anyone (but my boyfriend) with the link just yet. I need to fill in the content.

Anyway, what makes me boldly declare myself back again? The blog post mentioned earlier, for one. Also that I'll be done critiquing a novel, the first one someone requested I critique for them where money is involved, on September 12th. I'm sure I'll be done by that due date. I have about 20ish more pages to critique. I've also finished reading Sacrifice by Dakota Banks. After this blog post, I'll be outlining the review and preparing its promotional plan. I hope I can still do it correctly! It's been so long, sadly. Also, I've been thinking a lot about my novel and my boyfriend's novel. The passion is coming back. I just need to schedule in writing time again, and I'm set.

As for my first week as a true college student and part-time worker, I'd have to say it went really well. Haven't been late anywhere, though I've gotten pretty damn close to being late for a class or two. Homework is still easy. Math, though, is the BANE of my existance. I am not being dramatic. I'm in the lowest math class and failing soooo hard, it has made me cry. Finances are also a bit scary. Scholarships and grants are my keys to staying here, and if I don't keep my track record high, I'll have to drop out. D: Stress and pressure? Hell to the yeah.

I attended the Welcome Week 2011! It looked just like that, actually. But I was sick and texted through the whole thing. It's more amusing if you're there with family and friends, but I was there alone, so it just made me feel lonely.

In other news, if you haven't been keeping up with my posts, I'm now a full student at Indiana University Bloomington. I've been here for 4 days now, but I'm not at all new to the campus. I was here for 6 weeks of the summer participating in an intensive scholarship program. I was initially very nervous that I wouldn't make the 2.0 required to pass the program and IU would reject me, but I ended up getting a 3.2 and a certificate! So it's all good. And the fun thing is, when I'm out, I often find myself showing other freshmen around the campus. I'm very knowledgeable about the Southeast side and the 9 bus, but I can't really say much for anything on the northside of campus.

I moved in a day early, but I was thrilled to be taken by my boyfriend's mom. It was an amusing ride, and I don't know how I would've gotten there without them. I wish my family could've taken me, but I know things don't always work out that way. As it is, I'm extremely grateful for my boyfriend and his family. I've said thank you lots and lots.

Have I been a terribly antisocial nerd? No, actually. I've been too all over the place for my own health, though, and the day before yesterday, when I went to Culture Fest, this was cause for a lot of stereotypical teenage angst. Bleh. Today I've forced myself to stay inside. It was supposed to be a Nerd It Up and Chill day, but I ended up having to critique 2840 words of the novel I'm working on - double the 1420ish I usually critique a day - because I forgot to critique yesterday. Was too busy buying all my books and going to financial aid meetings and eating an entire tray of free food at the Taste of IMU or something like that. And then I had to try and call a loan place and do laundry.

When I finish blogging here, I'm gonna go in the basement and try to play DDR on the big screen TV down there for like an hour or so. Then I'll come back upstairs to finish reading a fanfiction by this awesome writer who calls himself Shax Davis. I need to hunt him down and congratulate him on his writing skill!

I'll try the Nerd it Up day again tomorrow. More comics and cracked and blog reading and game playing and TVtroping. The day after that, classes start! Math first. Ew. 

I've been doing a lot lately, mostly when it comes to writing/networking/college, so I've got to be more careful not to step on the surprise shell that will totally shut me down. This has happened before, and it usually shows when I keep getting tired. However, telling me to stop will just fall on deaf ears, I assure you. lol.

Right after I post this, I'm gonna check out Neil Gaiman's blog and Amanda Hocking's blog and then dozens of more blogs. Every now and then, I randomly do a blog roll, which is where I list all the blogs of people I regularly talk to and comment on their recent posts. If something comes across as particularly helpful, I'll go into psycho marketing/networking mode and start advertising the link everywhere. I am on TEN social networking/bookmarking sites, but I'm still working on gaining a presence. Now regularly posting on those sites can easily get tiring. I need to balance that out the most.

I'm hoping to start pitching some articles to Best Damn Creative Writing Blog (BDCWB) soon and write out more reviews, in the hopes that more of them will make the cut for another issue of Suspense Magazine. I love seeing my name in print. Gives me a rush only rivalled by soda and chocolate and sleep. Which reminds me...

Pitching articles and entering into Script Frenzy and writing a story for a storytelling event I'll participate in and networking and college scholarship essays and editing other people's stuff and writing book reviews and hoping hoping hoping my dropping of the Academic Honors Diploma doesn't get me rejected from Indiana University Bloomington after I spent so long dreaming of escapism means that I will most likely have to give myself much less time to work on my novel. I've been outlining Chapter 2: Home Sweet Home for days now. It saddens me a bit, but I understand how trade-offs work.

I'm not upset. I do, indeed, feel like I'm getting ahead in some way or another, but I AM getting tired.

P.S. I WANT THIS BUSINESS CARD!

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On March 1, 2011, Rhemalda Publishing will either reject or accept my novel 'Savior of the Damned.' They are the first publishing house I've ever submitted to, and I respect Rhett, the man-in-charge, as well as all the authors. They've been extremely influential and helpful, and I'll still talk to them regularly even if I don't get accepted. Also, you should look at the unveiling of the covers for the upcoming titles! It really is beautiful and of such high caliber. In the meantime, while I wait for their answer, I'm working on other writing projects. To figure out what I'm doing in the informative, nonfiction realm, check out this post at Triple R: Read, Rate, Review. Below is very general info about what I'm doing in the realm of fiction. Except for the script idea, I hope to actually find a journal and make actual cash off of the two short stories! I'm very excited about this new step in writing. Right now, I'm in a free phase, and I suppose I'll be in a free phase for a while (free phase = everything I do in the writing world is to get my name out there. I'm not getting paid for my contributions.).

Title: Gap Year
Format: Script
Genre: YA; Romantic Comedy (Oh my god, two genres I equally suck at)
Summary: It's the summer before the odd, nerdy, interracial couple go off to college (I don't know their names yet, or that much about them but stereotypical terminology). They're both the epitome of outlandish, what with their interest in anime, books, web sensations, and foreign music. The female decides that she and her boyfriend should take off a gap year to do a bunch of stupid stuff that will inevitably bring them closer, like in romance books, and maybe actually do something educational to satisfy their parents. I want it to be an awkward type of humor with somewhat believable events and an actual point by the end, sorta like Juno.
Note: I plan on writing this during Script Frenzy in April, even though April is the busiest month for me (I have to perform a story at the Blue Island Public Library, Go to Indiana University Bloomington (IUB) for a campus visit mandatory for all Groups Scholars, compete for the Academic Super Bowl, and have most - if not all - of my registration stuff for IUB complete.) However, I feel it's important that I write my first true script through Script Frenzy, just like I wrote my first actual book through Nanowrimo. It really helps me out, to have all of that support and contest exhiliration.

Title: When Darkness Grows
Format: Short Story (The way it's going, it may be a novelette).
Genre: Horror
Summary: Sydney wakes up one morning and sees disgusting black goo that looks like black maggots when she squints above her window. At first, she wants to shrug it all off as insignificant, but, as time goes by, she realizes she can't just do that. Nate, an outlandish and compulsive reader of the Dark Intent Series, believes he can rid her of the Darkness. As the days go by, though, the goo keeps growing and Sydney realizes she is running out of time. Whatever happens when Darkness grows certainly can't be good.
Note: I'm very confident that, once I finish and edit this story, I can publish it in some journal or anthology. I really like the story! The characters always surprise me, and it's the type of psychological horror I pursue. The story happens within the span of five days. So far, I'm six pages in and starting on the second day. I can't wait until it's finished!

Title: No Fourth Wall
Format: Short Story
Genre: Horror
Summary: I only have a premise for this. Basically, what happens when a character in a story is fully aware she is in a story, that some author is writing the tale?
Note: I feel like this is a hard story to portray. I have to be careful with the point of view I choose, with how many characters, with the content and the ending. I once tried to start this story a year ago, but I got too lost in how I should deliver the tale, but I REALLY want to write this one.

So, it's pretty hard for me to strike a balance with this blog. Now that I have Triple R - a site dedicated to book reviews, guest appearances, and the craft of writing - and am a soon-to-be contributor for Best Damn Creative Writing Blog (BDCWB) and Suspense Magazine, I know I can focus most, if not all, of my thoughts on writing in those venues. I want Tiffany Rambles to be personal - not diary-style personal, but certainly not just a checklist of things I need to do and stuff about writing. However, it is true that I mostly think about writing and college, so it makes sense that my personal blog would focus so strongly on my writing and college endeavours...

...bleh. It's my personal blog. Why in the hell do I need to strike a balance?? Have I ever talked about my obsession with maintanence and balances?

Moving on. lol. So, I am now a Hudson and Holland Scholar at Indiana University Bloomington! This is the first scholarship I've won and hopefully it won't be the last. I've entered into many other scholarships and I plan on entering into many more throughout my last year as a highschool student. I've just received the reviewer guidelines for becoming a BDCWB contributor. Because I don't think my style of reviewing is currently up to par for BDCWB, I'll be spending many hours (certainly not today. I'm failing honors trigonometry and I need to actually focus on understanding that before it transfers to my report card) reading every single one of their reviews and studying the material the editors seem to like most. Honestly, I'm not sure what's going on with me and Suspense Magazine, but I am two books away from finishing the first box they sent me about two months ago. I just think they're rather busy, is all. Triple R is also working out well. There seems to be a good demand for a series I'll be starting soon about correctly utilizing Facebook for marketing, and I only have two more spaces to feel as far as guest appearances go to completely have every Saturday in February and March paired with an author or publishing house.

I can't wait!

As it with this blog, I'll be irritated that I forgot to say something after I already put the post up, and then I'll come back next week and make the same mistake. >.< Thanks for reading! Please, feel free to comment.

So, because I'm a competitor in the Academic Decathlon, and I haven't been practicing as well as I should have, these next four days will be dedicated solely to practicing. The competition is THIS saturday, and I'm yet to remember my speech or read the book.

The big question: Can I survive this challenge or I will I fall prey to my growing sickness (sore throat, stomach cramps) by then and drop dead?

Now, I'll still update my blogs. On Thursday I'll be posting at Triple R, but it'll be a short post. Most likely talking about what I have planned as far as the book giveaway and guest appearances (two authors, a publisher, and an aspiring scriptwriter already said yes!). I was gonna blog about how I should strike the 'perfect' balance with my blog, but that will take a little more time than I have now. In fifteen minutes, my first day of intensive studying begins.

What's going on with me?

Well, if you know me on Facebook, you're already aware of this, but remember when I blogged about participating in the IRT Young Playwriting contest. Guess what? I won! Me and my best friend won, actually. However, the big issue is getting there. Who will drive? Will the playwriting people who are giving Caitlin and I housing allow the driver to spend the night? Caitlin and I have until February to figure this all out.

Also, also, I may soon be a contributor for The Best Damn Creative Writing Blog! I admire their blog very much, and even if I don't end up getting a paying position -- which is most likely the case -- I'll love contributing. Plus, it'll help me meet many more helpful people in the writing world.

The lovely picture to the left belongs to Suspense Magazine. You should really check it out!

If the picture and the title of the blog isn't obvious, today I feel accomplished. Now, I know it's too soon to be saying that, and I'll probably be eating my words in a couple of days (or minutes), but I do feel accomplished.

These last couple of days have been pretty frustrating. My internet got cut off, and most of my plans also got cut off. For the first time, I haven't blogged both tuesday and thursday. However, that also resulted in me getting a lot of writing done. I not only finished Chapter 36: Officer Clayton, but I added more to my Mind Realm concept. By Mid December or the beginning of January, my novel should definitely be ready for agents and publishers!

Then I received two very great e-mails, one from the Suspense Magazine editor about the December issue, which will have the critique of my story by the wonderful Starr and some of my reviews; the other came from Dakota with the notification that I'll soon be recieving a free, signed copy of Sacrifice in the mail. I LOVE LOVE LOVE getting free, signed copies of books. J.S. Chancellor was the first to do so for me, and I intend to pay them both back dearly with reviews galore and word of mouth (this hints at an author program I'd really like to put in effect, but that's for another day...)

What put the topping on the cake was the e-mail from IUB telling me that I got in! Now, I know it's not safe to be too excited. They gave me the early e-mail before the letter, and the letter will really solidify it for me. But still! Now all I have to worry about is...the money.

Oh dear. I might as well be poor. >.<

In a previous post, I said that I would explain how I go about reviewing for Suspense Magazine. Well, I keep my word (even if it takes me ages to get back to the word that I kept). But, before that, I'd like to touch on the short story idea that's been brewing in my brain since last night two days ago.

Yes, the genre will be horror; no, I have not written anything down yet. lol. This stems from my fear of writing short stories.

The idea started because there is something odd and dark above my window, and I hadn't noticed it until two days ago. I started to ask myself all types of questions: What is it, exactly? Why did it start above my window? What if the dark stuff started claiming the room until it claimed the whole room? What if only I could see the dark stuff growing?

When I have the time, or whenever I make the time, I have a wonderful premise and vague set of plans. However, I've also accomplished making myself terrified of this room. Of course, the dark stuff hasn't grown, but I also can't get it off, and my eye always finds it. I still don't know what it is!

Now, about my process of reviewing for Suspense Mag. I have a big box of books that the editor has chosen, based on my preferences, to read and review. So far, I've reviewed about 5 books. Within the first 20 pages of a novel, no matter how big the novel is, I already have the whole review planned out and mostly written. When I actually finish the book, all I have to do is go back to the review and add in some stuff here and there.

How?

First off, a Suspense Magazine review is NOTHING like a Wall Street Journal review. Suspense Mag publishes reviews of a lot of books each issue (as well as movies). Because of that, the reviews are asked to be 3-4 paragraphs. There is not a set formulaic format, but this is the set formulaic format I follow:

1st paragraph: Always come up with a hook. Often, the hook corresponds directly to the story's start, but not always. As long as it's catchy and relevant, I use it.

2nd paragraph: Summarize the beginning of the book until it gets to the Big Question of the novel, which will undoubtedly show up within the first 20 pages. Don't say much past the Big Question. I want to make the readers excited to know what's next -- not spoil the plot.

3rd paragraph: I give my opinion of the story as a whole. I try to keep it nice. Even if I don't like the story, I keep two things in mind: 1.) Someone else is prone to like it; 2.) I don't want authors to hate me. lol. Generally, if there's something I don't like and can't get over, I just nicely mention it.

4th: Bring the Big Question back again, usually as a standalone sentence. Or bring forth something good or unique about the novel (The examples are actually from my reviews). Can you keep up with the God of Clocks?/ Now it's up to Madison. Can she help the real vampires stop the wannabees?/ This tale is as much about loss as it is about Mo and Andrea, his wife, reminding Frank that there is as much to look forward to as there is to look back at./ In a time where vampire books are all over the place, Wolf's Cross is not only a refreshing break, but an intriguing view of the werewolves' world.

Even though I can finish most of a review early on in the story, I ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS finish the novel and really take it in. I feel it would be disrespectful to the author and Suspense Mag if I didn't.

Well, this blog post is already too long. Thanks for reading!