I am a talented writer. Creativity flows through me effortlessly and easily. I love to write. I write every day. When I sit down at the computer the words flow on to the page. Am I the most conceited writer in history? No. A few years ago, I heard a recording of an RWA workshop about using positive self talk, … Read More
Sharing a little writing humor
Securing a weekly author interview has not been as easy as I anticipated, so I’m going to make Wednesday an anything goes day, until I come up with a better idea. Today, I wanted to share some writing humor.
The Infernal Devices: Quotes from Will Herondale
Have you read The Infernal Devices series from Cassandra Clare? This series is a prequel to The Mortal Instruments and has it’s own quotable lines of dialogue which I’m going to share with you here. Why? Because I’m fan-girling like crazy and I want everyone to come along for the ride. In this Steampunk series, WIll Herondale’s sense of humor … Read More
Chris Cannon Welcomes Young Adult Author Karri Thompson
Hello, Karri. Welcome to Writing and Ranting. Why don’t you start by telling us when you started writing? I started writing my first book about 10 years ago. It was a science fiction. I was about 65 pages in, and then our house burned down in the 2003 Cedar fire in San Diego. When we were evacuated, the fire hadn’t … Read More
Is Your Manuscript Ready to be Queried or Published?
How do you know when a manuscript is done and ready to be queried or published? If your answer is when you type the last word, you deserve a Nerf bat upside the head. Typing the last word of your manuscript, or “The End” is a momentous occasion, but it does not mean your work is ready to see the … Read More
Wednesday Welcome versus Doggy Drama
Doggy Drama won out over an author interview this week. Pete the shitzu developed double ear infections yesterday. How did we figure this out? When I came home from work yesterday, he tried to crawl up my leg. This is not normal shitzu behavior. We went to the vet and he gave us pain meds and ear drops. The pain … Read More
Obsessed with Jace Wayland Quotes
Did you see the Mortal Instruments movie? It was awesome. Let me clarify by saying that I hadn’t read the books. Die hard fans weren’t pleased with some of the changes the script writers made to condense the novel into a two hour time frame. Since I read the books after, I could tell the differences, but they didn’t bother … Read More
Welcome Wednesday: Meet NA Author Mary Duncanson
What’s your Call story? Trouble Comes Knocking, my book coming out in November, was my first real “Call” story. I submitted my book to Karen Grove at Entangled on December 24th, knowing her read-time was about five weeks. Three weeks later I got my first e-mail back from her, asking about the series. I giggled and danced around the house. … Read More
You Might Be A Paranormal Young Adult Junkie if…
You might be a paranormal YA junkie, if… You picture angels as hot, brooding guys wearing tight T-shirts and jeans. You believe you’re surrounded by a bunch of Muggles or Mundanes who don’t have a clue about what is going on in the real world. You wonder why you don’t have a wand or a stele. You picture demons as … Read More
Welcome Wednesday: New Adult Author,Ophelia London
When did you start writing? I’ve always been a storyteller, but I didn’t take a legitimate interest in writing until I was in college. I had a very supportive professor who kind of took me under his wing. I still have the first “review” he wrote for me. It was around then that I fell in love with fiction writing. … Read More
Why I Write and Read Young Adult Novels
Whenever I tell people that I read and write young adult novels, they have one of several reactions. Either they think it’s cool, ask a few questions, and change the topic, or they stare at me like I said I moonlight at a strip club. Why do people find the idea of a normal person writing a novel so difficult? … Read More
Wednesday Welcome: Author Shea Berkley
I’m starting a new feature. Every Wednesday, we’ll chat with a Young Adult or New Adult author. Today our guest is Shea Berkley from Entangled Teen. Welcome to Chris Cannon Writing and Ranting. When did you start writing? I’m not exactly sure when I started writing. Probably around five or so. Before that I was basically an oral story teller, … Read More
Social Networking, or Tumbling and Stumbling
It’s Monday. Again. Yawn. I am not a morning person. I do not hop out of bed ready to take on the world. I drag myself to the kitchen where I suck down a cup of coffee. Once the caffeine kicks in, I pour myself a bowl of Cinnamon Chex and turn on my laptop. It’s time for social networking. … Read More
Brain Candy
What do you want from a book? I want a fast paced, fun roller coaster ride of a read. Do you like cliffhanger endings? In one of my favorite series, The Morganville Vampires, every book ends with a main character dying or on the verge of death. Rachel Caine is a genius. She may cause me to spew profanities when … Read More
More Writing Mistakes to Avoid, or More Things We Did Before We Knew Better
Today I’m presenting you with more rules for genre fiction. I didn’t make the rules up. I’m just passing along the knowledge. Some of it may work for you, and some may not. 1. Don’t start with a dream. It’s been done. Agents and editors gripe about stories that start with a dream. If I pick up a book where … Read More