WriteOnCon hangover.

Wait. You don't know what WriteOnCon is? Really? Please tell me you're kidding. If not, get over here right now and check out the awesome posts by industry professionals. The content will be available for...I think a long time? Long enough that you can read it all, respond, learn, and grow! I'm trying to give WriteOnCon some love since they're so generous to offer a free conference. Yes, you heard that right. Free!

And this year I have to say my all time favorite thing was the google hang outs where we got a chance to see agent's first response to twitter pitches. I loved hearing their reasons for either requesting or rejecting. Seriously, if you ever doubted if querying is subjective...go watch these! There are so many reasons for them to reject your project. It doesn't mean they're necessarily rejecting your writing, your premise, or you as a person. That's why it's so important to keep on trying. The only person who can stop you is yourself.

And now that my brain is fried, in a good way, I'm going to try to clean up the tornado that crashed through my house these last two days. Really. My kids are super sad it's over. What? They have to actually do something instead of staring at a screen for longer than healthy limits? Yeah, that's life.

Happy writing! I can't wait to put the polishing touches on my query and send it out to the agenting world!

FLASHBACK TO VINTAGE ...

I should've written this post while these memories were fresh on my mind...but I didn't. Let's pretend my summer wasn't crazy and that my kids didn't get sick. And that this is the perfect time for this post :)

While visiting my parents, I read this book.

I loved dipping into the sixty's and going vintage with the characters. With my own issues of technology taking over real life conversations and face to face connections, this was right up my alley! 

And to make my experience even better, I spent the week going through old fashioned things taken from my grandma's house. Here's the photodump of vintage awesomeness. 


Yes, this is a Better Homes and Gardens Magazine from 1963! Awesome, right?

I absolutely loved these ads. Ice cream in Cream of Wheat? Sure, why not?

We also found dresses my grandma wore back in the day. 

This is of me in her homemade wedding dress! So much fun!

It was a great week made even better by reading Going Vintage and finding these vintage things from my personal past. 

  
If you haven't read it, do it! I love Lindsey Leavitt's books.


One more thing. Have you heard of WriteOnCon? 

If not, go here right now. Like NOW. It's awesome and right around the corner. You certainly won't want to miss this FREE writing conference filled with great advice from industry professionals. The crit forums are open and are a great way to polish your query and first pages! 

See you there!

Summer Vacay Success!

I just got back from my summer vacation to Utah! I know, I know, exciting right? Well, that's where I grew up and where I like to go to visit friends and family. And oh boy, do I have some awesome friends. Several writer's live in Utah but I didn't get to see most of them. :( Sad day.

But I did go to Lagoon, twice. (Yes, it's a terrible picture of an awesome amusement park, but it's the only one with the name and no family.)

And I did get to see one of my favorite writer's in the world. This is Shallee McArthur and me. We've known each other since Elementary School! She is a brilliant writer and I'm lucky to have her as a friend.

And, as luck would have it, I was sitting at a local restaurant with my mom and kids when in walks a familiar face--familiar from seeing it online but never before in person. I approach this person and ask if her name is Elana Johnson. And it was! Yes...me..starstruck, looking around the small restaurant for any kind of camera and never finding one. It was fun to meet her and hopefully one day I'll get to visit with her again!

My next post will be a book review. I know, shocker. I don't usually review books because there are so many things that factor into rating a book and giving it a reputation. Mainly, personal preference. But this time I just couldn't resist. Be sure to stop by for the awesome adventure that made my visit home even better!

Have a great week and happy writing!

SUMMER!!!

I swear I'm not neglecting everyone on purpose. With all the kiddos home, we're super busy. And when I do have free time...I'm writing! That's good, right? 

Here's my brain during the day.

A;OIBYUS;O!@#%SDGLOIU$^tOPGJS;LKNGER$#@%

And here's my brain at night.

Once upon a time...

I'm almost finished with the first draft of a book that I absolutely LOVE! It's emotional and tender and I hope to share it with everyone one day. This is the book I was supposed to write and this is the reason I love what I do.

I promise to be more consistent with blogging when school starts again. Until then, you're more likely to find me on twitter (@merrillwrites). 

I hope you have a great summer and a safe Independence Day!

The 9 letter word of doom.

REJECTION 

I know. It's like someone just told you you'll never make it. You didn't impress them and you'll never impress anyone. That's what goes through your head, right? 

But what do you do after that initial reaction? Do you sulk off and beat your head on the wall until all creative thoughts are subdued? Do you grab the closest piece of fattening food and indulge, wallowing in self doubt? 

How about ice cream? YES! That's what I'm going to go eat right now. But not because I'm upset. I'm going to eat it because I've decided to treat rejection like the Robinson's from Meet the Robinson's treat failure. They have a party! Because every time you fail, it gives you another opportunity to succeed. 

I love this quote from Walt Disney. "Around here, however, we don't look backwards for very long. We look forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we're curious...and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." 

So, lift your spoon of ice cream and join me in looking forward. Here's my ice cream of choice today. 

Be happy. Keep going. And don't ever let anyone's opinion come in the way of your success. This writing business is subjective and rejection will just put you on the right path of finding success with the agent that's best for you. 

In the meantime, I plan on taking this advice from Shakira's Waka Waka song. 

 "Pick yourself up, and dust yourself off, and back in the saddle."

TBR pile

My TBR pile is huge! But there are so many books next to my bed that I can't wait to read. 

Right now I'm reading this.

I absolutely loved the first book in the series, The False Prince. And so far, this one is equally awesome!

I also have these two.

 

These are both parts of series that I would definitely recommend :)

What's up next in your TBR pile?

The Writer's Voice 2013!!!

"The Writer's Voice" is a multi-blog, multi-agent contest hosted by Cupid of Cupid's Literary Connection, Krista Van Dolzer of Mother. Write. (Repeat). Monica B. W. of LOVE YA, and Brenda Drake of Brenda Drake Writes.

I'm in! I've made it through the first part of The Writer's Voice. Yeah, okay...it was just a lottery pick, but my name was chosen! And for those interested, here is my entry. :)


SMOKE AND ASHES Query 

Dear Awesome Agent,

Genies don’t only grant three wishes, they grant wishes for three weeks. And if their lamp breaks while they’re on assignment, they die…leaving a layer of ash and a blackened singe mark.

When sixteen-year-old Brielle gets her first assignment in Tri-Cities, Washington, she abandons her Saharan prison only to discover that someone’s out to kill her kind—one smashed lamp at a time. She needs magic to solve the mystery, but won't get it until her assigned human, Addie, makes a wish. Unfortunately, Addie isn't "the wish-making" type, more like an anti-social teen who wants nothing more than her bright pink accessories and addiction to Mountain Dew.

It’s bad enough that Brielle can’t reveal her true nature, but without magic or help from a disorganized Council, her last option is Rockafel: a smokin’ hot genie who has a history of trouble. She’d love to avoid him, but he has magic and she doesn’t want to die. With three weeks on assignment, Brielle has days left to find out who’s behind the murders before they get a hold of any more lamps—especially hers.

SMOKE AND ASHES is a YA Urban Fantasy novel complete at 67,000 words and is a standalone with series potential.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Michelle Merrill


First 250 words. 

I stared through the window at the Council Member’s back. This was the fourth time I'd come to make my request—same day each year with the same Saharan sun reflecting in the glass. That sun followed me, trapped me, hunted me with its rays, suffocating me with a constant reminder that I couldn’t leave. There was no escape.

My fingers tightened into a fist and the grains of sand pricked my skin. I lifted my arm and knocked on the window three times.

The Council Member turned around and nodded as if he expected me. Seconds later, the other two Council Member’s joined him and an argument broke out—no doubt discussing my problem but never coming to a conclusion.

Same old, same old.

I squeezed my hand tighter and slammed it against the window. They didn’t even flinch. Maybe overreacting was the only way to get something done. “Hey,” I yelled. “I’m right here. Come out and talk to me.”

Finally, they formed a single line and filed out the door.

“Happy birthday, Brielle.”

“No. It’s not. But it could be.”

One Council member cleared his throat. I held my breath and waited for him to tell me something good. 

Those few seconds felt like several minutes. “We can’t help you.”

I cursed the seven dunes and felt my hope collapse. “Can’t or won’t? It’s been four years since my lamp was put into storage by a human. I could be helping someone, getting my magic. You three can’t even figure out who’s in charge.”


And...that's it! I hope you enjoyed it! 

Thanks for stopping by.