My #Writing #Journey: An Aside about Being #Mom

Published April 15, 2013 by Jennifer Wagner

For nearly two years I have tossed around the idea to home-school my oldest son. Currently, he is in kindergarten at a private Catholic school. And he has 28 days left.

I have been counting down the days until summer vacation since day #1. In my experience, I’ve only ever come across moms who count down the days until school STARTS.

The first day of school was one of the worst days of my life. It wasn’t because it was a terrible day for him (that’s another story for another day ;) .) It’s because it was the first day I had to leave my son, in a new environment, without me. I cried when I walked away from him, and I cried when I picked him up (but of course, I did the mom thing and hid my tears behind my sunglasses).

I hate being apart from my kids. I always find myself rushing home whenever I go out. Some may think I just need to get away more often and just get used to being away from them. But that’s not the case. It’s because I love my kids, and I am aware how life can change in a blink of the eye.

Life changed for may people today at the Boston Marathon. You don’t know when something is going to happen that will change your life forever.

And this is one of the reasons why I am choosing to home-school my son next year. Life is so short. We have little control over what happens to us–more specifically in regards to unexpected acts of violence caused by others. But allow me to clarify: I am not afraid of death, or of the unexpected. I am not living in fear. I just want to make the best of the time I have been given. And one day, when it all ends, I want the peace of knowing that my time was well spent and that I didn’t miss a thing.

I am a stay-at-home mom who is also able to work from home. I also have an education degree. I am very blessed. I have the option to teach my children at home. I have the option to embrace this precious time when they are little and just learning. And I am going to do just that. I am going to embrace this time and am thankful that I can.

Some may think I’m crazy. Others will think I’m overreacting. And some will agree. But when it call comes down to it, at the end we are only left with memories. And I want my family to remember me being there, and to remember that I wanted to be there.

So that’s my little aside about being a mom. I love to read thoughts if you’d like to share them with me :) .

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#BookReview: Unravel Me by @TaherehMafi

Published April 10, 2013 by Jennifer Wagner

Unravel Me

“Nothing in this life will ever make sense to me but I can’t help but try to collect the change and hope it’s enough to pay for our mistakes.” –Tahereh Mafi, “Unravel Me”

I don’t even know where to begin. This book is poetry–a constant stream of consciousness. It’s what we think inside our heads, without having the opportunity to put our thoughts into words on paper. The entire book captivated me and I had a difficult time putting it down, even when I absolutely had to.

I discovered the first book, “Shatter Me,” over a year ago. I was hooked immediately. “Shatter Me” was different. Unique. It stuck out like a sore thumb, but in a wonderful way. I embraced Juliette, cheered for her, and wanted nothing more than for her to find acceptance and love.

“Unravel Me,” however, has made me speechless. Adam? Warner? Goodness there is so much revealed…this book is a constant tug of war with your emotions!

The main character, Juliette, is beyond phenomenal. Period. She is a character who is only just discovering who she is, what her abilities are, and how to live with who she is and the life she has been given/thrown into.

“Unravel Me” is so clearly fictional, yet the emotions strewn across the pages are un-mistakenly real and raw. There’s hope, heartache, sadness, amazement–constant conflicting.

Juliette’s thoughts and words are like fingers. As I read, they reached into my chest and wrapped themselves around my heart…and at times around my throat. There were moments when I felt like I was gasping for air. My breath was taken away. My emotions were torn between Adam and Warner. Just like Juliette.

I cannot say enough about the written words. Tahereh Mafi has an incredible ability for writing. It is natural, embracing, addictive, honest–shattering, brilliant.

Tahereh Mafi, photo credit- Ransom Riggs via Facebook

Tahereh Mafi, photo credit Ransom Riggs via Facebook.

If you have yet to read the “Shatter Me” series, I suggest you add it your TBR pile. I promise you it will be a quick read–because you will not be able to put it down.

Side note: For those of you who know me, I have long been a proponent of a certain Tiger’s series. For quite some time I  denied myself that this series quickly lost its “pizzazz” after the first book, if not the second.

Well, I have unveiled a new-found love and addiction.  It is all words that is Tahereh Mafi.

Not only is Tahereh an unforgettable and unbelievably talented writer, she has a seriously funny sense of humor :) . Every so often she creates videos and posts them–she’ll reveal news about her series and she is so entertaining! I highly suggest you follow her on Facebook and Twitter because sometimes, well, most times, what she has to say is “pee your pants worthy.” Just saying ;) .

“Unravel Me” Synopsis via Goodreads:

tick

tick

tick

tick

tick
it’s almost
time for war.

Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.

She’s finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam’s life.

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My #Writing #Journey: The Ah-Ha #Writers Moment

Published February 14, 2013 by Jennifer Wagner

Have you ever found yourself suspect to an unexpected inspirational moment?

The other day my oldest son, Noah, was home sick from school. He had woken in the morning with a slight fever, so I had to keep him home. (If you go to school with a fever, you will get sent home.)  Anyways, that day he wasn’t that sick. He was actually quite active.

Little piano keyboard

Little piano keyboard (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

And during the day he created a music game—he played a random little tune on our piano while my youngest and I danced around the living room. The faster he played, the faster we dance. And when the music stopped playing, we stopped dancing. If the music sounded “wiggly,” we danced “wiggly”. Get the picture? :)

Experiencing the “ah-ha” moment is unforgettable.

My heart was touched as I watched my five-year-old sit at the piano, with his little legs dangling from the piano bench. He was so proud of the music he was creating, and it came so naturally. He wasn’t just “hunting and pecking” at the keys. His notes morphed together beautifully. He was inspired with a new game idea and he was able to communicate it as he played.

Cover of "Pretty in Pink (Everything's Du...

Cover via Amazon

I have sat for months trying to figure out how to jump-start my YA story idea. I’ve questioned myself and my methods—Do I need to read more? Should I hang out with teens? Do I need to revisit “Pretty in Pink” or “Say Anything” to grab hold of the innocent yet cheesy teen romance moment?

Something has held me back…lack of inspiration? Fear of failure? Procrastination? My own lack of self-esteem as a writer? Be it whatever, I’ve made hideous excuses for not writing—until I watched my son play the piano.

Hands down, my kids are my inspiration. I have had an adorable little idea for a children’s book series, all based on my experiences as a mom of ‘two little monkeys’.  The ideas are endless. The adventures are endless. All this time my inspiration has been staring me in the face. Yet I didn’t recognize it until my precious “ah-ha” moment.

I think as a writer we sometimes focus too hard on finding inspiration—

And we miss what is right in front of our faces.

I think sometimes we try too hard, make things too difficult. Some published writers are able to naturally create imaginative worlds and characters without any single detail relatable to their life experiences. And that is remarkable! But it doesn’t work for every writer.

Cover of "Hush, Hush"

Cover of Hush, Hush

The other day I was browsing Author Becca Fitzpatrick’s Website, and discovered that she draws from her experiences as a teen to create her masterpieces. (And I use the word ‘masterpiece’ because her “Hush, Hush” saga is absolutely that—a masterpiece.)

 I didn’t know this! This tid-bit of information was surprising to me. If you’ve read the “hush, hush” saga, I’m sure you understand. The suspense, romance, plot, and characters are tremendous—how could any of it have been pulled from real life experiences?

Yet that is the beauty of fiction—duh. We can pull inspiration from anywhere and twist it into what is necessary to “get the job done” and create the perfect masterpiece.

Inspiration can come from anywhere—

It’s what we do with it that is the most important.

So there it is. I finally opened my eyes and my heart to my inspiration. Now it is up to me to do something with it. No more procrastinating. It’s time to put these ideas to paper and create a masterpiece for myself and for my children.

Have you ever caught yourself  in an “ah-ha” moment of inspiration?

…as always, thank you for your thoughts :)

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My #Writing #Journey: Cleaning the Litter Box

Published February 11, 2013 by Jennifer Wagner

Writing a story is the equivalent to cleaning a litter box.

Do I have your attention? I bet you’re thinking: What the heck does writing have to do with cleaning a litter box? Have I awakened some nasty images in your brain? I sure hope so ;) .  The imagination is the BIGGEST golden nugget to successful story writing.  If you can see it in your imagination, you can write it (in my opinion). The trick is getting it all out.

Can you see where this is leading?

Allow me to continue: Over the past few days I have sorted through snippets of  writing produced last summer, and some produced nearly three years ago. A few I would consider “golden nuggets.” Many I wish to piece together for my “story-to-be.” And the key is to gather all the golden nuggets and pray they stick together to form the final product—much like cleaning a litter box.

Now, let’s get a teeny bit graphic.

A few weeks back I experienced litter box cleaning for the first time. My family and I adopted an adorable kitten. We named her Periwinkle (after the beloved cat from the children’s show “Blues Clues”). I took on the responsibility of cleaning her litter box. At first, I was a bit grossed out. There I was, a grown woman scooping cat crap.

A basic litter box and a bag of litter

A basic litter box and a bag of litter (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

For those unfamiliar, to clean a litter box you must put the scoop into the litter, dig around a bit, and filter out the “golden nuggets”—and most of the time you will come up with a big pile of…well, you get the picture ;) .  Everything should stick together nicely, and the goal is to find the big chucks and scoop them out—scoop them ALL out. And when you do—success. And of course the process continues the next day.

Well eventually I got used to the process and almost found myself excited when I’d discover the “golden nuggets” and was able to rid the box of the source of stink.

When you’re a writer, you have to sort through your ideas, constantly seeking the golden nuggets—the non-cat golden nuggets that is ;) .

You have to access your imagination. Because if you can’t, why should your reader? Reading a story is all about the imagination: words are strategically placed to allow a picture to form inside the reader’s mind.

Our imaginations allow us to build on those words and create a perfect moving picture as we read. (And that is how we find ourselves suddenly lost in a story: perfection. :) )

To conclude: as writers we have to constantly access the imagination and seek those golden nuggets. Some we have to filter out. Others we can put aside for later. And when we’re lucky, many will stick together and form the perfect story.

Right now I am filtering though my pile of nuggets and working towards my perfect story. Ultimately, my goal is the fuse the golden nuggets together and encourage the formation of a perfect moving picture within my readers imaginations.

What do you compare your writing process to?

…as always, thank you for your thoughts ;)

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The Beauty and the Beast that is #Freelancing

Published February 9, 2013 by Jennifer Wagner

My dream is to get published. Like many writers, I want to see my name on the cover of a book. I want to sit at a table inside a bookstore and greet the beautiful faces of those who read my masterpiece.

However, right now I just need to pay the bills.

Right before I started working as a freelancer, I had embraced a new beginning as a blogger and aspiring author. I had ideas for my YA book floating all over the place. I had also started writing a children’s book series. I was excited and I was connecting with so many other aspiring writers and published authors.

And then, I became ‘working mom’. I discovered that freelancing was wonderful in that I could work whenever I wanted; however, I also discovered that I could pretty much work 24/7 because there was always something to do.

I started to work as a freelance editor last July. I was able to quit my part-time job that consistently called me off or only scheduled me for only one or two hours a week. Best of all, I was able to work from home,  save money on gas, and not leave my kids.

I continue to feel the worth I bring to the company. I enjoy seeing the success my work brings and the connections it builds. I know that my devotion is helping another succeed.

This is the beauty that is freelancing.

However, as a freelancer, you can pretty much be “on call” 24/7, depending on who you work for–and if you’re needed, you have to just suck it up and do it.

I often find myself getting lost in my work. Each day I am able to get my daily stuff done, but I also know I can always do more, work ahead, etc.

There is ALWAYS something you can be working on when you are a freelancer.

Since I started in July, I have had two days off–both due to illness. I work seven days a week. I answer emails related to my job all day long. But I don’t hate it.

And now, seven months in, I am desperately missing the goals I was pursuing back in July. I am doing everything I can to find the time to finish what I started and catch my dreams. I know they are only a short distance away…I just need to find the balance.

When you freelance, there is no end in sight.

This is the beast that is freelancing.

If you are a freelancer, what are the biggest obstacles that you face?

…as always, thank you for sharing your thoughts :)

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#Bookreview Tiger’s Destiny: Wha?

Published February 5, 2013 by Jennifer Wagner

Tiger's Destiny by Colleen HouckI started reading Colleen Houck’s “Tiger’s Destiny” in October of last year. I finally finished it a few weeks ago. Two family members of mine also read the book and finished before me.

Both said the exact same thing when they ended the book. I won’t go into detail, because I am NOT one to give away endings ;) .

However, the main question floating around is: Where can the story go from here?

Have you read this series? If so, what were you left thinking?

My eyeballs started to drag a bit throughout the vampire scenes…it honestly took A LOT for me to keep reading. I was left feeling OK at the end of the book…wasn’t super excited, wasn’t terribly disappointed. In general, I just “wasn’t” anything.

I recently read on Author Colleen Houck’s Website that she is embarking on a new book, and is still currently writing “Tiger’s Dreams”. Perhaps she has lost some steam for the story and is ready to move on. I for one, am ready to move on.

The series started out great–I was hopeful, excited, eager for more. Then, I became bored and found myself saying,

“Well, no surprise there.”

I want to love it and keep loving it. I’m just not here anymore :( . I love the characters…but feel there could have been more…there SHOULD have been more…specifically more depth.

We are in the 4th book. Has Kelsey grown as a character? Yes. I think she did…but in my opinion, she should have grown A LOT more. There were times I wanted to slap her for her arrogance and whiny mouth.

Did she really deserve either Ren or Kishan? Maybe…maybe not.

Thoughts?

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#BoutofBooks 6.0 Goals and Updates

Published January 7, 2013 by Jennifer Wagner
It’s finally here!  Bout of Books 6.0 Read-A-Thon kicked off today, Monday, Jan. 7th (which made its debut in August 2011).
Bout of Books Read-a-Thon
The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda (On a Book Bender) and Kelly (Reading the Paranormal).  It is a week long read-a-thon that begins at 12:01am on Monday 7 January and runs through to the end of Sunday 13 January in whatever time zone you are in.  Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week.  There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 6.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog.
- From the Bout of Books 6.0 team
My Reading Goals:
Jennifer Wagner
1. Michael Connelly’s “The Black Box”
2. Becca Fitzpatrick’s “Finale”
3. Comment on many of my fellow book blogger’s goals/challenges/updates
4. Participate in at least ONE challenge
Monday Update: I am getting a super late start, as it is currently 9 p.m. on Monday evening. I have done quite a bit of reading today; however, it’s been for my freelance job ;) .  I wish I had the motivation to read “for me” right now, but I don’t.  I’m just going to call Monday a “wash” and start fresh tomorrow. Plus, I have 35 minute of Downton Abbey to finish from Season 3′s Episode 1 which aired last night, and I am dddyyyyinggg to finish it!  ;) . Best of luck fellow readers!!
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The Evolution of Mara Dyer: Holy Freaking Awesome!

Published December 31, 2012 by Jennifer Wagner

Reading En Vogue Gives this book 5 Stars!

didn't like it it was ok liked it (my current rating) really liked it liked it (my current rating)

First, if you haven’t read “The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer,” do so. And do it now. Second, this book is ridiculous! Michelle Hodkin is hands down one of my new favorite authors.

It’s probably safe to say that I read “The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer” nearly a year ago. I thought that book was fantastic. I honestly didn’t expect to be as impressed with book #2. I’m sure you all can relate. You read #1 and fall in love with the storyline, characters, setting, etc. The you read #2 and something leaves you with that bad taste in your mouth, never fully satisfied and sometimes wishing you didn’t even open #2.

YA Book The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle HodkinThis sequel does NOT leave that bad taste in your mouth. This book leaves you craving MORE!! And dang it, Hodkin, I want more. Like NOW! I haven’t even looked into when/if a #3 is coming out. But if I have to wait another year, I think I may start dreaming creepy nightmares about this book!

OK, here is the synopsis for “The Evolution of Mara Dyer“:

Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past. She can’t. She used to think her problems were all in her head. They aren’t. She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets. She’s wrong. In this gripping sequel to “The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer,” the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?

Continuing with the review:

Mara and Noah: This relationship has it all and not enough. Read it. You’ll know exactly what I mean!

Dolls: I will never look at dolls again in the same way…and burning hair…lets not even go there ;) I am forever creeped out.

Psychologists/psycho-therapy: I have never been comfortable with aspect of medical treatment. And now, even less so!

The storyline flows beautifully and there is never a dull moment. Read it and you won’t want to put it down! If you’ve read Becca Fitzpatrick‘s “Hush, Hush” series and enjoyed the thrill-tastic storyline of Nora and Patch, you WILL love this!

Recommended Reading Level: Ages 15 and Up (language, sexual content, creepiness (ha!))

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My Writing Journey: Flash Backs and Resolutions

Published December 30, 2012 by Jennifer Wagner

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for my blog. And how very lovely of them to do so!  Monkeys, thank you for your hard work and your review! You have successfully encouraged me to keep on keeping on!

Here’s an excerpt:

600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 4,400 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed my blog, it would have taken 7 years to get that many views. Yowza! That’s pretty crazy!

Click here to see the complete report.

Now, on to more important things–The future of Reading En Vogue, 2013  :)

My last post was a bit “whiny” and depressing, to say the least. I was in a rough spot. As a mom of two little boys, now working from home, I often find myself pulled in eight million directions (usually all at once ;) ). And like most, I get frustrated when my super human mom powers fail me.

However, by some divine intervention, the  very next day after my “help me I’m stuck in the wormhole” post, I received word that I was selected as one of 25 VIPs for the Sony Reader Book Club. Whoop whoop!

To summarize: Sony gave me a free Sony Reader with cover, 4 free digital books, and an all expense paid trip to L.A. (three days, two nights) this coming February, and I will meet author Michael Connelly for a live book club discussion.

Needless to say, my writing/reading slump was quickly turned around! Finding out this info. reminded me WHY I started this blog. I LOVE reading YA and working towards completing my own YA and Children’s books.

And so, this leads me to my New Year’s Resolutions 2013

1. Find the time, once per week, to update Reading En Vogue: This is where my writing baby started, and I need to keep it going!

2. Read at least one book per month: I know this seems ridiculous, but I have found it so difficult to find the time to read these past few months. And I know the more pressure I put on myself, the less likely I will make the time to read the books I love.

3. Write about my Sony Reader Book Club experiences: This is an opportunity of a lifetime, and I can’t let myself forget any of it ;) .

4. Continue working on my novel and children’s book:  Even if it is only for a few minutes, a couple days out of each month, I have to do this for myself. End of story.

5. Meet new blogging friends and stay in touch with the ones I have: I have met SO many dear friends this past year because of my blog: Audrey over at Ink and Page, Maryellen Brady, Raewyn Hewitt, Gaby over at Two Readers Writing, Ellie Potten over at Musings of a Book Shop Girl, Becca at Becca’s Book Bug…and ohhh so many more!  These ladies have all kept me going and have been an endless source of encouragement. THANK YOU ALL!

Now, please tell me, what are your New Year’s Blogging Resolutions for 2013?

Cheers to 2013 My Dear Blogging Buddies!

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My Writing Journey: Inside the Wormhole

Published November 24, 2012 by Jennifer Wagner

Image courtesy io9.com

It has been far too long since my last blog post. Friends, I promise I have not fallen off the face of the earth. However, I may have fallen into a wormhole, and perhaps got stuck. For that, I apologize.

For weeks I have dedicated myself to work, and when I’m not working, I’m thinking about how I could be working.  The guilt caused by these thoughts then generates to “I need to spend less time working and more time with my kids.”

Naturally, I now long for the days when the majority of my day was spent entertaining my two boys, and my free time was spent reading and writing.

For months I have felt like my existence includes a laptop resting on my lap. My eyes are consistently exhausted from hours spent on the computer. However, my income has given me the opportunity to send my oldest to the school my husband and I feel is best for him. Not the one that was chosen for him.

With all of that said, I still miss the old me.

I miss the excitement of new followers, blog traffic, and Twitter responses. But most of all, I miss my creative moments and all the self-contained ideas I had bouncing inside my mind, not yet exposed to the outside world. I have yet to figure out the balance. The time just isn’t there.

It is beyond frustrating to feel as though months of work, brainstorming, and progress have been flushed into a black pit, and when something is spewed to the surface, it’s a bill or an unexpected medical expense. These are rancid reminders that work is an absolute, not an option.

How do other writers do it? Where in the world do you find the time? Do you sleep?

What do you do to keep from falling into the wormhole?

I need to get back into it. I miss my passion. Ignoring my intrinsic need to read and to read is no longer an option for me. I am spinning inside my own personal wormhole and I desperately need to be spewed back to the surface. Something has to give. Help.

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