Spin On First-Kiss

       Since I have decided to update on Wednesdays, it only makes sense to start or end each post with an answer to YA Highway's Road Trip Wednesday question. Road Trip Wednesday is, as described on their blog, "a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered." This week, the topic is: Compare your first kiss to your favorite characters first kiss.

       I have many favorite characters, but I'd have to say that one of my all-time favorite first novel kisses would be between Clary and Jace of Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments* series. If you haven't read City of Bones, this is somewhat of a spoiler, but nothing too bad. :)

       The moon, directly overhead now, lit everything nearly to daylight brightness. In between one step and another she saw a white spark struck off something on the floor: It was the knife Jace had been using to cut apples, lying on its side. She jerked hastily back to avoid stepping on it, and her shoulder bumped his--he put a hand out to steady her, just as she turned to apologize, and then she was somehow in the circle of his arm and he was kissing her.

       Oh Clary & Jace, the first kiss of many. They are, quite possibly, my favorite couple ever. The pictures above and below are of two actors/models from the book trailer** filming that very scene! I also adore Tessa and Will's first kiss from Cassandra's Infernal Devices trilogy.. The woman has quite the knack for tortured romance. Which is my favorite kind, of course. I'm looking forward to Tessa and Jem's first kiss, because we all know it's coming! These first kisses make mine pale in comparison, but I will discuss it nonetheless, because I have dedicated myself to answering all the Wednesday questions fully.. *sigh*

       I was in the second grade, and I had this love-hate relationship with a boy who is now the father of one of my best friend's children (that's Winthrop for ya.. this place is too damn small). We were playing kickball, of which I was amazing at because we played every day (I was QUITE the tomboy when I was younger), and I recall him chasing me down and pecking me on the mound. Nothing big or special, just some cute eight-year-olds pretending they know what a "real-relationship" is, i.e. Will you be my girlfriend? Check yes or no. It's funny the things we remember so vividly. I would write about my first real kiss, but I feel as though that'd be too embarrassing. 

Okay, now that the kissing portion of the post is done with, here's the weekly update:

       I think the good-critique fairy has blessed this week, because I have had so many amazingly nice things said to me about my work these past few days, that I'm concerned about the size of my head. I checked it again in the mirror this morning and it still seems to look normal, but I'm going to keep tabs on it.. 

       Seriously though, there is nothing better than hearing from people that have no good reason to lie to you about how they feel, tell you that they love what you've been slaving over the past few months of your life for every waking moment. The best thing about critique partners is just that. You know they're not sugar-coating anything for your benefit. Family members and good friends may read your work and not like it, therefore feeling the need to lie to you because they don't have the heart to break yours, or they may simply read everything you write with rose-colored glasses. There is never any way to really know if it's as good as they're saying. Critique partners on the other hand, are people you don't really know. People halfway around the world (my partners are in Canada, Texas and Australia) that don't have any real reason to lie to you about what they think. So when they tell you they think you're really on to something great, or have natural talent that shines through to them, you best better believe it, because it's actually true.

       There's a lot of uncertainty in the life of a writer, a lot of insecurity, so getting an uplifting comment every once in a while is important. It gives you the confidence to continue on. I can't tell you how many times I've tortured myself with a "why do I think I can really do this?" kind of thought. I wonder what makes me think I have anything worth writing. Anything worth reading. And then I get notes back from critique partners and their comments completely wash those ideas away. I can write. My story is worth reading. It's the most amazing feeling in the world.

       On the topic of feedback, I've been attending a Novel-in-Progress class for the past few weeks now and I read my second excerpt for them tonight. Normally class is on Sunday nights, but because of Palm Sunday and Easter, this past Sunday and the upcoming one have been rescheduled to weekdays. I had the joy of looking for my class tonight in some Boston University building, because my instructor teaches a class there and had us relocate on account of our normal space on Sunday's being taken up on Wednesday nights. For those of you that don't know, BU is huge and my natural sense of direction is so terrible that I've been known to get lost in a closet. That is not an exaggeration.*** After I finally found my way, I read the rest of the first chapter for them (I read the first 500 words during the first class) and they seemed to really be on board with my concept! They told me to erase some of my information dumping (which is like, my worse habit ever) and other than that it was perfect. It made me excited to come home and get right to work but it's 10:30 now, so I know if I start I won't stop.. and sleep is necessary for humans to function. I know, lame. I always hate reading my work aloud because I have terrible, terrible anxiety, so getting good feedback is always good. I wish there was something I could do to make it go away, but it just won't. I've tried everything. Medication. Meditation. Nothing works. Not even soothing images of the beach. *sigh* I wish I didn't get worried so easily. Just thinking about the anxiety now, is actually making me anxious. Ridiculous, right? It's so sad.

In other news:

       I died my hair blue today! Not completely blue, just the underneath part of my hair.. Truly I don't know how else to describe it, so hopefully y'all know what I mean (I included a picture, but I honestly think it looks much better in person). Most suggested me against it because my hair is a strawberry color†, but I get bored with my hair so easily that I couldn't help myself. I quite like it. It's different and funky.. and I've died my hair every natural-looking color, so the only reasonable thing to do now is to start dying it colors of the rainbow, right? :)

That's all for now, I guess.

Happy writing!

*Get used to me gushing over the amazing Ms. Clare, because she is a HUGE inspiration to me and I will probably never stop admiring her to almost a stalker-that-needs-to-be-handed-a-restraining-order extent.

**Are book trailers not the coolest thing EVER?! The fact that they're slowly making their way onto television (for example: James Patterson's Angel & Carrie Ryan's The Dark and Hollow Places) is just beyond awesome.

***Okay, maybe it is.

†Not naturally. Naturally my hair is this very strange, ashy, mousy-looking blonde. It sounds absolutely terrible, but it is the ideal color for someone who likes to dye their hair a lot. It's very versatile! Whatever color my hair is at the time, people are always shocked to hear it's not natural. Your hair isn't naturally black you say? Your hair isn't normally bright red? Nope. Just lame 'ole ash.