Ally Writes

New Project Love!!

2012-02-08T23:07:00.000-05:00

So, I know I've been out of the loop, but I have a good excuse!!
I've been hard at work with a shiny new project I absolutely adore! It's all new and pretty and scary and... and... *dies* I just want to tell you all about it!
.....
But I can't.
I'M SORRY! I know, I'm a tease ;)
HOWEVURRR, I love ya'll so much and I'm so proud of this new project that I will post a little itsy bitsy part of it, just to get ya'll excited.
So, without further teasing, here is a tiny bit of scene in my new project:

“Have you ever had a secret?” I ask.
(CHARACTER NAME) pulls his face away. “Yeah, sure. Who hasn’t?”
I swallow the lump in my throat. “I mean, a big secret. So big that if you told anyone you could get hurt.”
“What are you getting at?”
******
(CHARACTER NAME)’s face goes completely still. He doesn’t say anything for a long time. We just stare at each other, him waiting for me to explain further and me waiting for him to say something, react somehow.
Finally, he reaches out and takes my face in both his hands. He looks at me, studying my face carefully.
“God, you’re not kidding,” he says, his voice trembling.
Tears well in my eyes as I shake my head.

THAT'S IT. No more. At least for now ;P
AGH! I'm teasing again, aren't I? Okay, okay. Enough of that. Back to business.
This new project is still in the early stages of life (a book baby? book fetus??). Whatever you wanna call it, it's still itty bitty. This is another Young Adult book of mine (totally separate from ENLIGHTENED SERIES) and I'm UBER EXCITED to share it...when it's finished.

Some people/followers/readers have been asking me about the ENLIGHTENED SERIES. When is book 2 coming out? How far along are you in book 3? Is this still a series?
1. I don't know when book 2 is coming out. I'm sorry, it's frustrating for me, too. But keep you chins up! It'll happen and you'll be the first I tell! :) :)
2. I am halfway through draft numero uno of book 3. It's moving slower, but it's not dead! :D
3. YES! I still plan on it being a series.

Okay, so hopefully this post wasn't too crazy and at least slightly informative. I love you all and thank you for all the support!!

Horrible Blogger :(

2011-08-26T22:34:00.000-04:00

Hey, everyone!

So, so, SO sorry for my extreme (and unannounced) leave of absence, but I'M BACK, BABY. And I'm going to try my very best to post at least once a week. If not, I'll do 20 push-ups.
"But Allyson, how will we know if you actually do them??"
Very good question, suspiciously familiar voice. This actually leads me to my next point. I have a couple of little announcements:
1. I'm setting up a channel on YouTube. It'll mostly be vlogs, but maybe (JUST MAYBE) there will be other fun stuff to do (HINT HINT). I'm not too sure how often these will be, but that'll be up to you guys. If you have a question you want answered or a comment shared, you can post it up on the Enlightened fan page (ENLIGHTENED Facebook fan page), hit me up via Twitter (@Ally_Writes001), or leave a comment on my channel. As soon as that's all ready, I'll make sure you guys are first to know! :)
2. On my website, sometimes people have trouble with the Paypal when ordering Enlightened. If you're having that problem, you can also order it from Amazon or from AuthorHouse's website (Ebooks can be found there, too).
3. I'm really want to have a contest for a couple of fans to win a free copy of Enlightened. If that's something you guys would like, send me some feedback! Don't be shy, feel free to post on the Facebook page or tweet me directly. That's what these things are for peoples. :)
Okay, I think that about covers it. Remember to leave a question on Facebook or Twitter! Or even here, if you wanna be difficult ;)

Love always,
Allyson

Sex and drugs in YA

2011-04-13T20:36:00.000-04:00

So, I have a question for you guys: Why do people flip out about stuff like sex and drugs in YA novels?

I mean, look at the title--YA=Young Adult. Young adults have sex. Young adults do drugs. Young adults live in a world where these things are socially acceptable.

Look at reality T.V., for example. What's on Jersey Shore? Sex, drinking, and fighting. What about movies? Music? A majority of these things include either sex or drugs. But do people freak? Not usually. Why is that?

My theory is this: It's not the overall broad subject of sex and drugs that has parents pulling their hair out. It's the fact that more and more younger kids are going for the YA novels, and sometimes the books do go too far with it--at least for the littles.

I mean, I've read my fair share of books with sex, some kind of drugs, frequent uses of the F-bomb, and even some with things like anorexia and cutting. As a 17-year-old (young adult) I've been exposed to it before and know the consequences with all these actions. But when I think about, say, my little sisters reading those types of books, I cringe. My second youngest sis, Avery, finds her next read on my bookshelf. What if she got her hands on something she's not ready to read?

So, when you think about it, it's not the general topic for most people, it's the fact that sometimes YA books fantasize the idea of premature sexual activity or regular use of drugs. Most older readers know how these things work and (hopefully) realize that it's not that black and white when you break it down, but a 6th or even 4th grader? Not so much. No matter how mature they may be.

Really, this topic has many special cases and could be easily argued from both sides. But, overall, it comes right down to the individual.

Tell me your opinion!

Do you think sex and drugs should be cut out of YA? Why or why not?

What about classics such as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn? Should they censor them? Why or why not?

Where do you stand?

Until next time,

--A <3

How to turn one idea into a full blown novel

2011-03-27T22:20:00.000-04:00

I get asked a lot of questions when it comes to writing. How did you find a publisher? When did you decide that you wanted to become an author? How do you find time to write between school, friends, family, and planning for college?

But the most common one I get is: How do you stretch one idea into a whole 100 to 200 page novel?

First of all, putting one idea into a novel isn't the hard part. It's actually the easiest. The difficult part is taking that initial idea and supporting it with a lot of other ones.

Let's say I have an idea for a novel about a young girl living on a farm. Someone is sabotaging said farm. The girl suspects who is behind the crimes and is determined to prove who it is.

Not bad, huh? We've got a story idea, a protagonist, an antagonist, and conflict.

But this won't give us what we want. So, let's take it a step further.

Let's name our protagonist Sammi. Now, let's give our criminal a name: Sir Evildoer. How about a location and a name for the farm Sammi lives on: Arlen, Texas; Clearwater Stables.

Better, but not quite there yet. Let's brainstorm here for a second. Why would Sir Evildoer want to sabotage Clearwater stables and how would he go about doing it?

Well, maybe Sir Evildoer owns a farm of his own and is archrivals with Sammi's father (let's call him Mr. Ted). Maybe there's a barrel racing competition coming up and Sir Evildoer is tired of seeing Mr. Ted beat him year after year. So, Sir Evildoer decides that, to stop him, he should do everything he can. Whether it means breaking paddock fences, releasing horses from their pens, or drugging her father's champion barrel racing horse, Sir Evildoer won't stop until Mr. Ted is out of the competition.

Great! Our plot is coming together nicely now.

Normally, what I do after coming up with the basic idea of the plot is think of the ending to my novel. I find it easier to know where my story should end up before coming up with the beginning. After doing that, I kind of work backwards.

Let's say at the end of the book, I want Sammi to expose Sir Evildoer and have him busted. How am I going to do that?

I'll have to think of things to happen to get her to that point. Having Sammi just find out it's Sir Evildoer and going to the police would be boring. Plus, she's got to be like, what, 13 maybe 14 years old? For all they know, she could be making up the entire thing.

This is where we're really going to have to stretch our imaginations and put our writing to the test. Ask yourself: What would put zest in this plot? What if we made Sammi a bad kid?

Think about it: what if Sammi is known for being a lair and when she tries to warn people, no one believes her? Mr. Ted could think she just overfed the horse (making him sick), forgot to repair the old fences (causing them to break) and just left the gates opened again (letting the horses loose). That would make things complicated. And by complicated, I also mean interesting.

So, Sammi isn't trust worthy. Great. Now how is she going to convince Mr. Ted that--for once--she isn't behind the problems?

I don't know, you tell me. Leave a comment and tell me what you think could happen. Be creative!

Since we have the end of our story and some of the filling, all that's left to do is start it.

In the beginning of a novel, we must introduce our readers to the characters and the setting. We could think of a number of ways to start off this novel. Sammi could be working in the stables. Mr. Ted could be coming home from a competition. Sammi could even be sitting in detention when the book kicks off! These are all great ways to start. As long as it's natural, it'll be great!

One thing to always remember when writing a story is to stay determined! Even if you’re stuck in one place for a while, stick with it! It'll come to you.

Besides, just because Lady Gaga can write a song in 10 minutes doesn't mean you have to write a story that quickly. Stories take time and patience. How fast you can finish a book doesn't matter if the outcome sucks.

Until next post!
--A

Announcments

2011-03-11T17:28:00.000-05:00

Hey, everyone!

A few quick announcments:

1. My first novel, ENLIGHTENED, will be available for purchase March 16, 2011! On official release day, I will put up another post telling you how you can order and from where.

2. If you're a highschool student or a teacher who would like me to speak at your school or book club, I am available! If you go to my website http://www.allysonrichards.com/, you'll be able to find the contacts and get more info.

Last but not least 3. We have a new blogger we need to welcome! Some of you may know her, other may not. Her name is Alexis Randall! She's the star of my books and now has her own blog! Make her feel welcomed and visit her blog sometime! She's pretty cool and you'll be able to find some neat stuff there (maybe some sneak peaks to upcoming books???) She'll start blogging as soon as possible, but if you don't see anything yet, be patient and keep checking back!

Well, that's all for now!

--A <3

Heart, Heart, Heartbreak!

2011-02-23T20:55:00.000-05:00

Let's face it, more than once in our young (or not so young) lives we've had our heart broken. Maybe it was minor; maybe the guy ripped your heart out and did a hat dance all over it. Either way, we've all been through it.

I just went through it not too long ago. Long story short: I liked the guy, thought he liked me, was about to go for it when I found out that he didn't like me that way. Apparently I can write all the books I want, but I still won't catch his eye. (I'll remember that when I'm rich and famous one day!) But, after that, I was able to move on pretty easily (after some tears and a little therapy/pep-talk from by best friend).
Even characters from our favorite stories go through heartbreak!
In New Moon, Edward left Bella (I don't care for what reason or if he came back, he still left).
In Fang, Fang left Max (jerk)
In Mockingjay, Peeta tried to KILL Katniss (talk about raging hormones)
and In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo and Juliet were kept apart (strict 'rents, much?)
But, despite the crushed souls, that's precisely what makes a good story.
Think about it, what story would there be if Edward just stayed and nothing bad happened? There wouldn't be a story at all! Unless you're not like me, where there has to be a romance, a mystery, or a fight scene going on to keep my attention.
The point is that conflict is what keeps a book interesting. Without something like a break-up, a coming of age story, or an epic battle for honor, what would authors have left to write about? Pretty flowers, sunshine, and gummy bears? No thank you.
So, if you believe in the theory stated above, then apply it to your life! Don't think that one bad grade is going to keep you from Harvard, think of it as a way to learn where you need to work harder. If someone starts a rumor about you, think of it as a reminder to be on your toes and trust the right people to be your friends. And if that cute basketball player ends up not liking you, don't let it drag you down. Instead, think of it as a way to expand your search on guys. (maybe replace the jock with the sweet, sensitive type?)
No matter what life throws at you, think of them as an exciting chapters to your life story. Hey, when you finally find Mr. Prince charming and get married, you can share those heart-pounding chapters with your teenage daughter!
So, keep your chin up and remember that whatever doesn't kill you, just makes you stronger. Trust me, I'm living proof.
Until next time,

--A<3

P.S. Leave a comment telling me what you thought! If you like this, tell me what else you would like to hear!

Update!

2010-11-12T22:30:00.000-05:00

Hey, everyone!

So, I kind of have big news. Actually, it's more along the lines of HUGE news!

I'm going to be published!!! :D AHH!!

Ha-ha! I just signed off with AuthorHouse (a self-publishing company) and I am now in the process of publishing my first book ENLIGHTENED: Book one of the Enlightened Series.

Yeah, I'm pretty pumped! I don't know exactly how long it'll take to get it out to you guys, but I'll definitely let you know as soon as I do!

And if that wasn't enough, I literally just finished my first draft for REVOLUTION: Book TWO of the Enlightened Series.

Mhm, I'm just a writing machine now. ;-P

Anyway, I'm so excited to finally see my book between two covers which have my name on them. I've been dreaming about this since the day I began writing and I'm so lucky that I am able to do this!

So, because I'm feeling all emotional, I'd like to take this time to thank some very important people:

Mom: Of course, not only for all the love and support you gave me, but for refusing to leave my side during it all. Thank you! <3

My first readers (AKA Grandma, Aunt Ann, and Aunt Bev): Without your encouragment, I don't think I would have the confidence I do now to share this story with the public. Thanks!

Dad: For believing in me and for teaching to be patient and to never give up when things got tough. <3

Travis: For also believing I was capable of something as big as this. Also, for providing comic relief.

My sisters (Kelly, Avery, and Emelie): For always keeping me on my toes and for being the best little sisters I could ask for. I love you!

Patti: For bringing out the inner artist in me that I didn't even know existed until you came along.

To all of my friends: who stuck by me through the worst, supported what I was trying to do, believed in me, and was there for when I needed a good laugh!

And, of course, a big thank you to my readers! I hope that you will all get a copy of ENLIGHTENED once it hits the bookstores!

Love always,

--A

Obsessions of the weekend

2010-10-25T12:44:00.000-04:00

Here are some things that I haven't been able to go a day since the weekend started (which will most likely continue into the week) :

1) IZZE (it's this crazy sparkling juice they sell at starbucks and Publix... it's okay taste-wise, but boy is it addicting!)

2) Writing (that's obvious... I haven't been able to part from writing since I started at 15.)

3) Rick Riordan's new book: THE LOST HERO (love, love, love it!)

4) Juicy pomegranate seeds (I keep thinking Hades is going to come and snatch me up because of it.) (If you have no idea what I'm talking about, go look up some Greek myths...the one about Demeter's daughter, Persephone, gets kidnapped by Hades and becomes Queen of the Underworld. It's some good stuff.)

5) The new playlist I made (consists of my favorite artists: Taylor Swift, Versaemerge, Allstar Weekend, All Time Low, Mayday Parade, ECT.)

6) Speaking of Taylor Swift... her new album = <3!

7) My book marks I got from Barnes and Noble! (Okay, I can probably go a week without them... but I thought you would like to know that they're magnetic and shaped like little penguins!) (I'm excited about them.)

ACFW conference

2010-09-22T20:02:00.000-04:00

Hey, readers,

It's Wednesday, which means the week is half over! YAY!!

Ha-ha. Anyways, I got back from the ACFW conference Monday and I'm still kind of recovering. I've been playing catch-up with homework and such, so I'm not having too much fun with that.

But, I've gotta say, it was TOTALLY worth it!!

I had such an amazing time! I was able to see my grandma and great aunts (which, we decided by the end of the weekend that calling them my aunts was a whole lot easier...great aunts just didn't seem to roll off the tongue quite as nicely), I learned a lot, met some awesome people, and I made great connections!

How cool is it that they had agents AT the conference?? It was such a great idea. I met with a few agents and got a lot of positive feedback from them. Some even asked for proposals! So now I'm feelin' good and ready to get Enligthened published and Revolution finished!!

Since I've been back, I've been hard at work with school AND making proposals for agents. I don't want to give that many details right now, just because I don't know how well this will all go. But I will say that I have a good feeling about this time! :)

Of course, it's all in His timing... I just need to be patient and wait (which is a heck of a lot easier said than done...especially coming from me).

One thing before I sign off, I want to say thanks to everyone! Especially to you who have been commenting on this! It means a lot! Keep it up, because I want to know what you guys want me to write about. Whether you have a question, a comment, or a concern, I'd be happy to put up a post! Just let me know.

Okay, that's it for now!

Keep it Real, readers!

--A <3

CALLING ALL TEEN GIRLS: A must-read book!!

2010-09-15T15:36:00.000-04:00

Hey, readers!

OH MAN, these last two weeks have been loco. I've been working non-stop, preparing myself for another writer's conference up in Indianapolis. Apparently, it's a big one... so I've been preparing proposal packages, writing marketing strategies down, and studying for non-writing subjects such as anatomy and math (yawn).

But, tomorrow is the BIG DAY!! :D I am so excited, but also very nervous because there are going to be agents there. I'm going to have to talk to them face to face (which seems a lot scarier than writing a query and just waiting for them to reply). I know that they're not going to bite me or anything--at least I hope not--but there's just something intimidating about the idea of talking to an agent face-to-face.

I'm not one to shy away from anything like talking or public speaking, but not really knowing how to approach an agent is scary.

I'm no good with business crap, in case you haven't noticed yet.

Anyway, I've got something else to share with you guys!!

Kristin recommended a book to me a few weeks ago called, HEX HALL. It's by Rachel Hawkins and it's a YA fiction novel.

OH MY GOODNESS!!! I loved it!! A LOT!

It was great: the plot, the characters, the voice... everything!!

I think what really drew me in was the narrator's voice. One thing was kind of scary was that I kept hearing my voice speaking as the narrator because the way she spoke and acted was a lot like me. But that wasn't entirely why I loved the voice. It was just amazing how well the author tapped into the mind of a teenage girl when she's an adult (I'm not saying she's old, because she really isn't).

I was fast-paced and full of mystery... and I did NOT see the ending coming AT ALL! I was so shocked.

I recommend this book to any girl experiencing:
A.) Sheer boredom,

B.) Blinding rage towards a classic Mean Girl,

C.) Boy problems, or

D.) The drawbacks of being a sucky witch

I know that I definitely have issues with D.... Ha-ha.

So, KUDOS to Ms. Hawkins for her fantastic display of teenage hormonal rage, mystery, and the wonderful witty sarcasm that comes with 9 out of 10 teenagers. Hats off to you!

Well, I'm off to finish some packages and pack up my things. I fly up tomorrow and won't be back until Monday, I think.

Check back after Monday to see what went down up North!

Keep it real,

--A <3

Update!

2010-09-01T15:48:00.001-04:00

What goes on, readers?

Things are really starting to pick up for me and my writing career! :)

1) I just finished critiquing someone's screenplay! (No details on who or what... sorry) But I can say that it is great and a lot of fun to read! This seems like a movie that would be a TON of fun to act in!

2) The pitch book will be sent out in a couple weeks or so... and I am PUMPED!! Ms. Cobb says that I have a really good chance at getting an agent. I really hope I do. That would be awesome!

3) The whole gang from the UNF writer's conference is going to meet once a month for a critiquing meeting! I'm so happy that I'll be able to see all of these wonderful people again!

4) I've been seriously considering the option of self-publishing. It sounds like a great way to get my book out there and finally begin marketing. But since I'm being told I have such a good shot at getting an agent, I just may wait until I get any nibbles from the pitch book. It's nice to have options, though!

It's kind of weird being 16 and trying to get a book published. That reality just kind of hit me.

The fact that adult writers value my opinion is so great! It's very refreshing and makes me feel pretty darn good. :) I love being around writers because it just feels... right. Like I'm where I belong.
Again, being 16 and feeling like I know what I want to do with the rest of my life is a very strange feeling. But it's true!

Well, I just wanted to update ya'll on what's going on!

Keep it Real,

Allyson <3

The War Raging in the Antarctic...

2010-08-20T22:01:00.001-04:00

What's up readers?
TGIF, am I right?

I'm so looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow!

My second week of school went really well. It's definitely been hard work--lots of homework and a lot of studying-- but I like hanging out with my friends :).

I've gotten some of Revolution done, but, like I said, school's been tough and it's hard to balance them together. But once the school year rolls on I'll get into some kind of rhythm.

Random discussion topic: Does anyone watch Whale Wars?

I DO!! It is so awesome!

For those who don't watch it-- basically there are these Japanese whalers who are out in the Antarctic and are ILLEGALLY killing whales.

Now these people called the Sea Sheppard’s go out and try to stop their hunting in any way possible.

The Sea Sheppard’s say that the whalers are violating a law saying that the whales are protected from commercial whaling (which they are), but the whalers say that they are "performing researching on their behaviors before packaging their meat".

I've loved whales and dolphins ever since I was a kid and so does my sister. So you can imagine how strongly I feel about what these Japanese whalers are doing to the ocean's most beautiful animals.

It really pisses me off.

But these Sea Sheppard’s are amazing. You can really see how determined and passionate they are about protecting whales.

Next time you're bored or want something new to watch, go to Animal Planet and watch it!!

Check back tomorrow for another post!

Keep it real,

Allyson <3

Drawings! :)

2010-08-13T21:18:00.001-04:00

Pic #1) Chapter 2:

A small park in Tennessee.
Alexis and Taylor hang out here during this chapter :)
It's a nice, cute chapter that introduces you to the Taylor character. :)
(not my best picture, but the point gets across.)

Pic #2) Chapter 6ish?:

This is a dream sequence that Alexis has after the accident at school.
She dreams about a coyote and a native american woman that looks like her.
*HINT HINT*: it's a symbolic message!

Pic #3) This is actually the prologue for my second book: Revolution.
This is a dream sequence about her running from a cloaked man. She somehow manages to find an old, abandoned warehouse in the middle of the forest.
Things take a turn for the worst when she finds that Taylor has come to meet the man who was chasing her.
*HINT HINT* FORESHADOWING!!

Pic #4) Chapter 19ish?

Alexis wakes up after running away and can't remember anything.
The finds herself in the middle of a destroyed forest in Tennessee (obviously, her doing).
This sets up for the big, life changing scene for Alexis in the next chapter!

Being Sick Sucks.

2010-08-13T21:01:00.001-04:00

Hey, readers,

Sorry for not posting in a while, it's been one BUSY week.

First of all, school started Tuesday. The first day of junior year went better than I expected... it was nice to meet some new people and I like all of my classes.

How did the second day go? I wouldn't know, because that dang flu bug finally caught me. :(

My mom had been sick with it during the conference, so it was only a matter of time before I got it too. The biggest problem is that I was sick for 3/4 of my first week of school. Not cool.

I'm finally out of bed now, at least.

In other news, I got an e-mail from a couple of the ladies from my critique group from the conference.

They're trying to get the gang together once a month to do more critiquing! I'm so excited for it! I really love the people in my group, they are so cool and really helpful.

Also, I've been looking into a self-publishing company that has been recommended to me by a friend. It looks pretty legit, but I still have to talk to one of the publishing consultants there before making any decisions. So, fingers crossed that it'll work out!

Well, I'm going to retire to my room for the night :p... but before I do, I've got something to show you guys.

When I was writing my book, I did a lot of drawings of scenes from my book. It was a cool way to get the image from my head on paper so that I could reference it later when I needed to.

I don't plan on illustrating for my book, but I thought you guys might like them. I'll also post what they're about so you guys can get a feel for my book too. Post your comments! (But be nice. They're not the greatest, but I did my best :p) You can find them on a separate post.

Keep it real,

Allyson <3

2010 UNF Writer's Conference = AMAZING

2010-08-09T00:00:00.000-04:00

Hey, everyone,

Sorry I forgot to post something yesterday... but I have a lot to say about this conference I went to!

Oh, my gosh. It was AMAZING!

My workshop leader, Kristin Harmel, was really cool and taught me so much stuff about agents that helped me out a lot! The whole group in the workshop (the ladies critiquing Enlightened) were so amazing and really supportive. I've actually come up with a new way to write the beginning of my manuscript thanks to everyone's suggestions! Not only did I love the people in the group, I loved their work. They all were super creative and I can't wait to hear more of their books!

On top of all the new ideas and new friends that I made, I was offered to come back next year... FOR FREE. :D It was so cool and I wasn't expecting anything from them... nothing like a scholarship! It was amazing.

Anyway, with all of this new information and fresh motivation, I now have: a new start for Enlightened, a new marketing strategy, new friends, and a ton of new connections! :)

It just goes to show that when you apply yourself, you can accomplish anything!

Why did that sound like something I would find on a fortune cookie?

But seriously, if there's something you really want or something you really love to do, don't let anything hold you back. Sometimes, the only one who is standing in your way is you. Sometimes we don't do what we really want to do because we're afraid of what others think.

Hey, I was 15 when I started my first book; don't you think that people gave me weird looks? Don't you think that a lot of people thought I was just wasting my time? Don't you think that I was afraid to show people my book-- since about 90% of it pertains to things that I've actually experienced-- and hear what they had to say?

Yes, yes, and heck yes.

But I couldn't let that stop me! Following my gut instinct and my heart's desire worked for me... why not you?

It's something to think about....

Keep it real,

Allyson <3

Feel the Character... Be the Character!

2010-08-06T21:12:00.001-04:00

Hey, everyone,

Quick question: How do you bum yourself out?

I'd like to know, because I'm working on chapter 14 of Revolution, and I can't seem to really get enough emotion into one of the sequences.

I just got done re-reading a book from The Maximum Ride Series. It's the last one in the series, where Fang leaves the flock (sorry if I ruined anything for you guys!) and those last few pages can really make me shed some tears. It takes a lot for a book to make me cry, even just a little bit. But I love Fang, so I was pretty bummed out (if you're laughing... then thanks). ANYWAYS.

So I read it to get some inspiration going for my own book, but I keep getting distracted.

This post is my way of procrastinating.

Well, right now I'm listening to some sad/slow songs, so maybe that will help out a little.

A lot of people can't work with a TV on or even their iPod on... but I can't work without one or the other. My iPod is better for writing because it's less distracting and more inspirational.

If you're a writer like me, you need to not only KNOW what emotion to put into your work, you have to FEEL the emotions. Hence me reading, listening to music, and crying.

Ah, is there anything I won't do for my books?? :p

Well, if you're wondering about the conference, it was pretty good.

My mom and I got some good info for marketing and such, so that was good. I'm mostly looking forward to tomorrow and Sunday’s critique workshops! :)

My mom and I are starting to consider going into the self-publishing business. After hearing all the information today + my mom's proposal, I'm pretty convinced that it might be the best way to do it.

But who knows? Maybe an agent will e-mail me soon..... BIG maybe.

Well, I'm off. Another early start in the morning.

Keep it real,

Allyson <3

Just Another Day in Paradise!

2010-08-05T16:44:00.001-04:00

Hey, readers!

Who's ready for the weekend? I AM!! :D

I'm waking up bright and early tomorrow for the writer’s conference! :) Have I mentioned that I'm excited about it? ;p Ha-ha.

I'm so exhausted from the beach. It was a lot of fun. I almost drowned a few times because I was laughing too much! I swear, my friends and I could be locked in a cellar together, each in a straight jacket, and we would still manage to have fun together! Ha-ha I love my friends. Right now I'm just killing time until I go out to dinner with Allie, Sammi, and possibly Sam.

Update on my second book, Revolution:

I finally finished chapter 13, and the action is really picking up. I won't spoil anything for those who haven't read it yet, but let's just say that Alexis has a little more on her plate than she ever dreamed possible.

Well, I'm going to go get ready. Check back tomorrow if you want to hear about my first day at the conference!! :D

Peace and love,

Allyson <3

As The Summer Stops Turning...

2010-08-04T13:23:00.002-04:00

Hi, everyone!

I trust that this week is going well for everyone. I know it is for me (Minus the fact that I thought I was getting sick).

Turned out I just needed a good nap and a full 9 hours of sleep to feel good as new :)

This is good, because I’m going to need energy to enjoy my last few days of freedom!

Today I just got done working with my friend, Lindsay, on some summer assignments (and by work, I mean watching YouTube videos). Ha-ha. Later, me and my other friend, Sam, are going to hang out. We talked about also working on summer assignments... but fat chance we'll get to it. Who knows what we'll end up doing...

Anyway, I'm looking forward to the beach day I have planned with my girls, Sammi and Allie. It's going to be loads of fun! :)

In book related news, my mom has been e-mailing my workshop leader for the conference, and my leader told me that she was impressed with my book! :D It's such a relief to hear that, but I also know that she will probably have some things to mention or suggestions to make to make it even better. Which, of course I'm totally fine with. Every author needs to hear the truth and every author should listen to it. If you can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen, right?

I can't wait to meet other authors, too. Because I know most of them are in the same boat as me. Whether they're trying to find an agent or a publisher or having major writers block, we can all relate to each other.

I can't wait to see the look on some people's faces when they see that I'm only 16! ;-p

This conference is going to last Friday through Saturday, a.k.a. the last weekend of summer. Oh well, totally worth it!

Come Monday, it'll orientation then Tuesday back to school. As said in a previous post: VERY bittersweet.

But I think this year will be fun regardless. I hope yours is too!

Come back tomorrow for another post... OR ELSE. Ha-ha... but seriously. Do it.

`Till next time,

Allyson <3

Me Writing + No Sleep = This Wimpy Post

2010-08-03T17:19:00.000-04:00

What goes on, readers?

I'll tell you, running on only a few measly hours of sleep is no bueno.

Usually, I'll knock out a few pages--or even write a full chapter-- of my book to help me sleep. But last night I couldn’t manage it. I hate feeling tired.

Anyways, on a better note, T-minus 3 days until the 2010 UNF Writer's Conference! WOO!! :D

I can't wait for the workshops!

Basically, these workshops are like one giant book club. Except you read everyone's submission (the first 10 pages of their work) and critique each other. I'm excited and nervous for the critiquing part. I wonder what people will think about my book....? It's kind of hard to judge a book by its first ten pages, in my opinion.

But hey, some authors are able to pull it off quite nicely.

I feel like I should say more, but I'm drawing a major blank in my head. Must be the lack of sleep.

So on that note, I think I shall take a nap :)

I might put up another post tonight, once I feel more energized.

Until then,

Allyson <3

Back To School... Yay or Nay?

2010-08-02T14:51:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year again. Time to set those alarm clocks, crack open the textbooks, and say goodbye to freedom, because school is back in session.

I envy those who still have another few weeks to enjoy themselves. My school got out really early for this summer--which was nice--but that also means going back earlier than everyone else.

Going back to school is such a bittersweet deal.

Sure, now you get to see your friends five times a week for seven hours a day, but that also means you have to deal with that girl who annoys everyone and can't seem to control the volume of her voice.

Yeah, a new school year also means new people (hopefully CUTE ones), but there's that guy from last year who honestly thinks he's some kind of Greek god and that one girl who would give ANYTHING for male attention.

There's also that really cool teacher you hope to get again--the one who practically gave you the answers to the test and let the class play a game once a week, but you're also dreading that one lady who can somehow suck the fun out of anything by lecturing you to death.

Like I said, very bittersweet.

The thing I'm most worried about is that if school will get in the way of my writing.

It took me a year to write Enlightened because I was in school when I started it (plus, I was new to writing), but since I started Revolution during the summer, I was able to finish more than half of it already.

Maybe I should just drop out and pursue my writing career...

I'm totally kidding.

Stay in school, kids... Crack is whack... Eat your veggies... And just say no.

Ha-ha, anyway, I'm looking forward to meeting some new people this year. Because my school is so small, I've basically been looking at the same faces since the sixth grade... it's time that my school got some new kids. PLEASE.

For those of you starting off as a freshman here are some words of encouragement:

It's a big step, but it's not one that'll kill you. Stay positive, not everyone's freshman year starts off with getting teased by seniors. You'll hear a little of it, but it's nothing personal. It's just tradition.

To be honest, I had a little trouble at the start of my freshman year. But after all the transitions settled in, the second half of 9th grade was the best! Truth be told, I favor my Freshman year more than my Sophomore year.

Actually, 10th grade sucked pretty bad.

In a nutshell, I lost two friends (one who was my best friend for about 3 1/2 years), rumors were spread about me, backstabbing was experienced multiple times, and most of the time I wanted to scream at someone.

But I don't regret anything.

Because now I see why it happened. Sure it was pretty crappy, but because of the decisions I made for myself, I am now closer than ever with my TRUE friends (love you guys!), I've matured a lot from it, and it gave me some good stuff to write for my book! ;D

Some Advice: If you guys are going through something with friends and you end up having to make a choice like I had to, all I can say is do the right thing and choose what is good for YOU. It may not feel too hot at first, but trust me; it will feel great in the long run if you choose right.

Well, I hope your guys' school year starts off strong and ends off memorable.

Leave a comment! Tell me what you want to hear in my next post!

Keep it real,

Allyson <3

Intro :)

2010-08-01T20:42:00.001-04:00

Hey, everyone!

Thanks for checking out my blog! For those of you who are not familiar with me… today’s you’re lucky day! Because this post is going to be all about me, me, me! (I promise I’m not really that conceited.)

Well, I guess I’ll start with some basics—

Hi, I’m Allyson (or Ally, whatever works for you). I’m sixteen and I live on a farm in Florida. I have two sets of parents, 3 younger sisters, and a bunch of animals—2 cats and 12 horses, to be exact. I’m a junior at a high school about five minutes from my house—the name of said high school is irrelevant.

I love to have fun, just like any other teenager. Hanging out and making videos with my friends is the best! Besides film making and acting, I like to sing, paint/draw, read, listen to music and especially write.

Which brings me to say why I started this blog: I’m an author! I haven’t been published yet… but I’m working on that! I’ve already written my first book, Enlightened, and I’m more than half-way through my second book, Revolution. I wanted to start this so that you guys could:

1) Get to know me as an author and a person,
2) Learn about my books, and
3) Just be entertained or even relate to what I put up here!

I’ve got to be honest with you, being an author was probably the last thing on my “what I want to be when I grow up” list. When I was younger, I was convinced that I had a phobia of books with more than 200 pages. But during my freshman year, I took this class at one of my old schools that had you read anything you wanted the entire period. So one day I went to Barnes and Noble with my dad to look for a good book. The problem: I had no idea what to get.

Before then, I had only gone to a bookstore for two reasons: to buy a book that was specifically assigned to me for school or to go to the little starbucks inside and get myself some frozen coffee.

Regardless, I had to find something to keep me busy in that class and because I didn’t really know what kind of books I liked, I grabbed the first one I saw. Guess what it was…

Twilight.

I had had a bunch of girls from school telling me about it and heard a lot of “Team Edward” and “Team Jacob” talk, but other than that, I wasn’t sure if I’d like it.

Despite my doubt and my strong urge to put down the 400+ page novel, I bought it.

AND I LOVED IT. I couldn’t get enough of it. I finished it in a matter of days! I know some girls say they read it in one night, but sorry… I was still new to the whole “I love reading” thing… and I guess I’m not as cool as them.

Anyways, a couple of weeks went by and I had pretty much eaten the entire Twilight Series. After I was done, I was completely shocked at what I did next.

I bought ANOTHER series.

Forget Twilight… Percy Jackson was my next victim!

After reading the Percy Jackson and The Olympians Series (which I liked a little better than Twilight), I started talking to one of my friends about it. Turned out he loved them too, which meant we had the same taste in books. So he ends up offering me a couple of different books to try out for size (and when I say a couple, I mean a LOT). I wanted to read them all, but I only chose one that I really LOVED.

Two words: Maximum, Ride.

Sorry Twilight fans, but nothing is cooler or more original than a 98% human, 2% bird genetic hybrid!

Plus, I would choose Fang over Edward and Jacob ANYDAY!

As I was working through the first of the Maximum Ride series, I was on the lookout for more books that I could read, but nothing really seemed to catch my eye. So I started thinking to myself, “What am I supposed to do once I’m done with this series?”

At that exact moment, this idea just pops into my head. As more and more thoughts begin flooding my mind, I quickly grab my notebook and a pen so that I could write it all down. Hours passed before I took a break and read what I had written.

It was then that I realized I was writing a book!

From then on, I haven’t been able to stop writing. Whether I’m working on The Enlightened Series, jotting down ideas for more books to come, or just venting some emotions through a little dark poetry, I can’t go a week without writing.

True story: Once I had an amazing idea for one of my books, but I didn’t have any paper with me to write it on or my phone to type it. I ended up writing all over my arms. It was smudged a little bit, but I was still able to read it enough so that I could write it down later.

That’s how committed I am to this book, people! Or maybe it just shows how obsessive I am… eh, you can decide.

At the moment I’m on the lookout for an agent to represent me. I’ve submitted to a couple agencies so far and have gotten some positive feedback. Unfortunately, I have yet to be accepted. But I’m no quitter! I plan to keep at it until I find the right agent for me. As I’ve been saying since my first rejection: If the agent can’t hear your voice, they’re not the right one.

Well, I think that should do it. Not bad for a first timer, huh? If you want to know more about me or the books I’m writing (or plan on writing), leave a comment! I’d love to answer any of your questions!

Until next post,

Allyson <3