Posts By Lindsey Loucks
Bingo Is Not A Four Letter Word
Say what? Let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up. I used to have a t-shirt in high school that read Bingo Is Not A Four Letter Word. People would read it, look at me, read it again, and go, “huh?” I would give one of two explanations, depending on how blank their stare was:
1. “Well, Bingo really isn’t a four letter word” or
2. “You shouldn’t be ashamed if you play Bingo.”
But what if someone has read one of your stories and gives you a blank stare/doesn’t get it? That could be a problem. Could be. Ask yourself these questions before you freak out:
1. Are they really literate?
2. If yes, do they read fiction?
3. If yes, do they read your genre?
If you answered yes to all three questions, don’t freak out yet! See what other readers think to see if they all say the same thing. If they all look at you with blank stares/don’t get it, one of two things has happened:
1. IT’S THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE! IT’S TIME TO FREAK OUT!
or 2. You need to do some serious rewriting/clarifying. You’re allowed to freak out a little, but soon your story will be fixed and you can go back to playing Bingo.
P.S. Last week, I really wanted to wear this t-shirt because it fit my state of mind:
YA Confidential Contest
If you read or write YA, you should definitely check this contest out. YA Confidential is giving away lots of ARCs, a query critique by agent Sarah LaPolla, and a five page critique by agent Vickie Motter. Go here to enter.
I Have Tabs
Uh, actually just one tab. The Author Page tab up above. See it? You should totally click on it. That is all.
10 Things To Do While You’re Querying
Rather than check your email every five minutes waiting for responses to queries, why not check it every six minutes and eighteen seconds? During that six minutes and eighteen seconds, here are some things you can do:
1. Twirl around in your swivel chair.
2. Figure out how to make other pages on your blog. (Honestly though, does anyone know how to do this? Can you pretty please tell me?)
3. Clean out your refrigerator. Better yet, come clean out my refrigerator. 🙂 I’m pretty sure the yogurt I have in there has furry socks to warm its little yogurt feet.
4. Write something.
5. Plot something. There’s a new story idea foaming in my brain right now that refuses to stop bubbling. Eww! The foam just squirted out my ears!
6. Resist the urge to share with the online world how many queries, rejections, fulls, and partials you have out. It’s hard, but it makes you look more professional.
7. Develop a secret code that no prospective agent can crack and post it on your blog so you can share how many queries, rejections, fulls, and partials you have out. I’m still working on this one.
8. Teach your cat how to walk on a leash. Yes, the BF and I are really doing this. Either Jesse has crossed the line to kitty sainthood or it really is working!
9. Get really busy at work. Can you say homecoming?!
10. Read a book. Analyze plot, character, wording, etc, but don’t compare it to your own book because you might cry.
Once you have accomplished all or part of any of these ten things, run to your computer and check your email!
The Hunger Games, ZZ Top, and the Prize Patrol
My brain is incapable of coming up with anything to chype about. Except The Hunger Games. I could chype all day about that. But I won’t because I’m hungry. Here’s the teaser trailer:
Critique Contest
YA author Gennifer Albin is holding a critique contest at her blog. Check it out here.
The 1st Amendment Says I Can Start Sentences With And, Or, & But
Remember back in whatever grade that was when your teacher told you to never start a sentence with a conjunction? I kind of remember it. But I never understood that rule. Why can’t I start a sentence with a conjunction? Who decided it was bad? We do it all the time when we’re speaking. For example:
“Let’s have homemade pizza tonight,” the BF says.
I shake my head. “But it’s too hot to have the oven on.”
“Or we could have sandwiches.”
“And ice cream?” Hope shoots me up to my tip-toes.
The BF shrugs. “Ice cream sandwiches it is.”
See? If I can start sentences with conjunctions, you can do it. I give you my permission. ‘Tis a silly rule.
P.S. Yay! Ice cream sandwiches for dinner!
Something I’m Looking Forward To
In the midst of getting ready for school, pounding my head against the desk to get inspiration for bulletin board ideas, going to meetings, pounding my head against the school’s ancient computers, and going to even more meetings, I did something fun. Like holy moly fun.
The BF and I bought tickets to go to the Foo Fighters concert!!!!
I’m so in love with the Foo Fighters, I would marry Dave Grohl. (Sorry BF, but are you really surprised?) I can’t wait. I can’t wait. I can’t wait. Oh, sorry. Too much head-pounding and my brain goes wonky. Go figure.
Here’s a video of a Foo Fighters song that is always playing in the back of my wonky brain:
Dialogue Contest Finalist
Yay! I’m a finalist in Mysti’s Dialogue Contest! I’d love it if you would all visit the link, read the entries, and vote for your favorite. You don’t even have to vote for me if you don’t want to!
Book Pusher Un-Anonymous
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| http://www.cafepress.com/+book-pusher+ornaments |
School starts very soon. I officially go back on Wednesday. Bye bye summer vacation. But I think I’m ready for it to be over. I’m finished editing The Grave Winner, though I’m still waiting for one last beta read. My query letter and synopsis are ready. I’ve written a few short stories this summer. It’s been a productive few months.
Last week, I started putting together my massive beginning-of-the-year book order so the kiddos will have new shiny books to read when they start school. It’s done. Now I’m all excited to get these new books ready for the library and do my job as a book pusher.
Here’s a normal day:
A kid walks in the door, and I usually say, “Hey. You. I got this book here with your name all over it. You know you have to have it. You better take it or else.”
He smiles and reaches for the book. “Or else what?”
“Bad horrible things.” I type in their check out number because I have them all memorized (almost). “And your cooties are all over it now, so you have to check it out. HA!”
“Whatever, Miss Loucks,” the kid says. Then he rushes out with a huge smile plastered to his face.
It happens again and again, day after day. I feed young brains with books, and they keep coming back for more! I’m a book pusher.