Publisher's Review!

Hello all,

SO...The publisher finished reading my book "The Middle of the Sidewalk," and she sent me an email asking me to call her. Here's what she had to say:

"I think this book could win you some awards."

"This has the potential to become a classic."

"This story is a gem! It's so beautifully written."

"You're a literary genius. You've got such talent."

I will DEFINITELY publish this book!"

"Except...one problem...

...You completely botched the ending."

This isn't as devastating as it sounds. I'll admit it, the ending is the hardest for me to write. But it's also the easiest part to fix. She asked me to re-write the last 15,000 words (which is more promising than the complete re-write she asked for with my first book "The Sons of Luther"). That said, it's [partially] back to the drawing board, but it shouldn't take me very long (I'll probably be done before New Year's).

All in all, I'm SUPER ecstatic, mostly because she capped off the conversation with this:

"If you can create an ending as good as the rest of the book, It could be a bestseller. How soon can you get this back to me? I hope to have your book out as a summer read before you graduate."

Onward and Upward,

It's been awhile...

Hello all,

I know it's been awhile since I last updated this blog, but I've had so much going on lately.

That said, I did manage to finish reading A Clockwork Orange, and as soon as I find time, I'm going to read Life of Pi. As for my writing, The Middle of the Sidewalk is still with the publisher, and the book I'm writing for NaNo (The Sons of Luther) is only 7,000 words long (I know, I know, I have only 4 days left of November to finish it, but midterms ate away all my time, along with maintaining my Etsy shop, planning my wedding, managing the BU Creative Writing Club, and applying for jobs).

*Phew. Well now that I've listed out all of my excuses, I must find time to write somehow. Thank you all again for being so supportive of my work. The thing that most motivates me to write is knowing I have readers.

I hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving. Blessings.

Onward & Upward,

Off to the Publisher! "The Middle of the Sidewalk"

Hello all,

It's been awhile since my last blog post, but that doesn't mean I've been on vacation. I've finished the final version of "The Middle of the Sidewalk" (read a sample of it here), and I just emailed it to the publisher this morning! I want to thank my amazing editors for all their hard work and for challenging me to become a better author. I couldn't have finished this book without them:

Becca Boddy
Christopher Mikkelson
Ramona Fricke

I've also been working hard on maintaining the BU Creative Writing Club. It seems to be going well! The members have told me they're gleaning a lot from what we've been teaching, and I'm very excited about our meeting tonight (We'll be talking about finding an agent and getting published)!

Finally, since it's NaNoWriMo, I'm already 6,000 words into the re-write of my first book, "The Sons of Luther." Hopefully this version will be even more terrifying after the inspiration I've gotten from Anthony Burgess' "A Clockwork Orange." (Scary stuff, that book. I strongly recommend it!).

Thank you to all of you who read my posts and are there to encourage me. I have everything to thank you for.

Onward and Upward,

Writing Contest Score: The Results are In!

Hello all,

As you know, I didn't win the RWA Windy City Four Seasons Contest. However, I got some great feedback from the judges. They left me a ton of comments, but I won't bore you with the details. All three judges scored me in a number of categories. Here are the results:

Judges' Criteria:

Presentation: Formatted according to industry standards and contest requirement

Mechanics: Grammar, spelling, and punctuation meet industry standards

Hooks: Story opening grabs reader's attention with an interesting opening line or situation; starts at the correct place. Chapter ending makes the reader want to turn the page

Setting: Setting is clearly defined without extraneous detail; non-intrusive. Writer takes advantage of opportunities to ground reader by using the five senses and a sense of time and place

Characterization: Hero and/or Heroine display traits and flaws; character traits are shown rather than told. Goals and motivation create genuine conflict (not contrived), and secondary characters, if present, are necessary and non-intrusive

Plot: Plot is skillfully set up; believable (or reader is able to suspend disbelief). Plot, external conflict is realistic and not easily resolved because of misunderstanding. Sexual and/or dramatic tension is present or implicit.

Internal Conflict: What's at stake for the Hero and/or Heroine? Can the reader identify it?

Dialogue: Dialogue is balanced with narrative, is appropriate to the genre, moves the story forward, and sounds natural/realistic

Narrative: Narrative moves the story forward. Background information is presented at appropriate time and in character viewpoint rather than author--intrusive. Point-of-view is clear and transitions are smooth and unobtrusive.

Pacing: The entry flows well through the chapter, and every scene is essential to the story.

Overall Impression: Story has potential; reader wants to know what happens next. Writing is vivid, evocative, and appropriate to the genre. Writer uses humor and/or drama effectively. Writer is a "storyteller."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There was another category (not mentioned above) that was a tie-breaker in case I placed. The category was "Rate how likely you would be to read this whole manuscript." I received a 9 from Judge 2 and a 10 from Judges 1 and 3. I'm extremely proud of myself considering most of the contestants and judges are published authors! I'd say I handled myself pretty well! And the best news is that I made a ton of edits to fix many of these problems before I sent it to my final editor.

Anyway, I'm so excited for NaNoWriMo in 8 days, in which I'll be working on re-writing my first book, The Sons of Luther. Wish me luck!

Onward and Upward,

Writing Contest Results and Editing Update!

Hello all!

It's been awhile since my last post, but I have a few updates for you!

Unfortunately, I'm not a finalist in either writing contest. However, I lost to a group of very talented authors, so I don't feel too defeated. May the best author win! On a happier note, I'm almost done with the final editing on my second novel, The Middle of the Sidewalk! After I'm done, it's off to a very dear editor of mine and then straight to the publisher!

My goal is to get the book to the publisher by Nov. 1st so I can continue writing my newest novel, Mimbio for NaNoWriMo! I'll be posting weekly updates through November about my progress. My goal is to reach 100,000 words by Dec. 1st. Wish me luck!

Onward and Upward,

Editor Sneak Peek

Hello all,

One of my beloved editors, Chris Mikkelson, wrote a beautiful review of my book, and I wanted to share it with all of you! Here it is:

A Trip Down "The Middle of the Sidewalk"

Editor's sneak peek by Christopher Mikkelson

At a glance:
Author: Brittney Cooney
Type of Work: Novel
Date of Publish: In progress!
Genre: Literary Fiction
Synopsis: A young boy, recovering from the loss of his brother, struggles to learn to love himself.

                  It was not hard to draw me in to walk down "The Middle of the Sidewalk," and that's not just because I've known the author and seen her writing develop since we were both in the 8th grade.  No, what really kicked off the journey was my curiosity; her first 400 words (which can be found here) are spoken from one of the most exact perspectives I've read.  I felt as if I were traveling to an alien world, a world precisely like my own except that everything had a place.  As I read on, I learned that world was within the mind of 12-year-old boy Cory Becker.

                  As the story continued, that perspective became a personality, and that personality became a person, and an entire city fanned out around him.  Perhaps more impressively, the world went further inward than outward; Cory's mind, past, and personal flaws are all laid bare to the reader, inviting them not just into his life, but to live it.  Cory's tragedies and triumphs become the readers', and I found myself intensely involved in sharing one particular triumph: meeting Andy, the new girl in school whose brand of oddness threatens to break Cory's ordered world.

                  "The Middle of the Sidewalk" asks a lot of very, very important and interesting questions, and uses the incomplete perspective of a child to answer many of them.  Many, mind you, not all; Brittney respects the reader enough that she leaves many of them for the reader to answer for themselves.  Questions like, what is normal?  How do you define sanity?  And of course, what does it really take to be happy?  I seldom stopped to ponder these questions within the pacing of the story, and when they all hit me when I'd read the end, I found myself happy to be asking myself some questions I'd never pondered before (and as those who know me are aware, that is saying something).  In addition, I realized near the end of the book that while I thought I'd been reading about Cory's life the whole time, the themes in the book expand well as a metaphor for conflicts from a nation-vs.-nation scale, to the battles we all go through within our own minds.

                  The story is a work in progress still; I'm working with the author about letting the reader look past Cory's gaze a bit to see more of the periphery of his life.  As usual, Brittney had an answer for all of my questions, and in fact knows so much about her characters that she could write a separate book about each one.  If she did, I'd be happy to read them, after being allowed to see through Cory Becker's eyes as he walked down "The Middle of the Sidewalk."

Onward and Upward,

Main Character: Nonnie (PICS)

Hello all,

Introducing Nonnie and her pet cabbit Philomena! (Because every young warrior needs a sidekick, right?)

Nonnie and Philomena are two main characters in my newest book, Mimbio. In this book, I'm going for a fast-paced, action-packed plot with multi-demensional characters and a love triangle setup that hasn't really been done before. It should be both a challenge and an adventure, and I'm super excited to keep writing it tomorrow!

Onward and Upward,

First Glimpse at my Newest Book: Mimbio!

He was afraid for his life in his own house. He snatched medicines from the cupboards and stuffed homemade quilts into a large sackcloth bag, which was already laden with biscuits and dried fruits and meat and anything else that might sustain his family once they escaped.

If they got out in time.

With trembling hands, he grabbed pairs of socks from the cabinet and crammed them in with the rest of the gear in his makeshift survival kit, avoiding the gaze of the woman at the door. His wife.

He would have to tell her the horror he had brought upon them. Why they were no longer safe in their home, where she’d given their son life seventeen years ago. They had to get out. And for now, there was no time to explain. Whatever was coming sent shivers through his spine.

And few things frightened Hermes Aurelius.

...to be continued.

Writing Goals 2012

Hello all,

I've decided to list out all the goals I have for the rest of 2012. I'm counting on YOU (my faithful supporters) to hold me accountable!

1. Finish editing The Middle of the Sidewalk by October 15th. (Read the first pg.)
2. Place 1st or 2nd in the Suess's Pieces Writer's Week contest on October 22nd.
3. Re-write The Sons of Luther at 80,000 words for NaNoWriMo in Nov.
4. Place 1st in the Windy City Four Seasons Contest in Dec.
5. Finish writing Mimbio by New Year's at 100,000 words. Make it:
          - Action-packed from the beginning
          - Centered around a strong female lead who is also feminine (not sexualized)
          - Unpredictable

As always, thank you for your continued encouragement. I love you all!

Onward & Upward,

Publisher Request!

Hello All,

I can barely contain my excitement! Remember the publisher who gave me the harsh review of my first novel, The Sons of Luther? She just asked me to call her. She said that she couldn't get my book out of her head, and that she wants me to rewrite it so she can critique it again! She gave me SO much good advice, mainly about strengthening my plot and character development. This is what she had to say about me as a writer:

"I think you're a really good writer, you've got talent, there's no doubt about that."

I was surprised to get such a nice critique from her, considering what she said before. But then she continued:

"You're definitely a Kurt Vonnegut or Stephen King kind of writer. You like shocking twists, and yours are well done!"

Did she just compare me to Vonnegut and Stephen freakin' King?! I do believe she did! Just when I thought the conversation couldn't get any better, she capped it off with this:

"If you can pull off these edits and strengthen your character development, I would definitely publish it."

MY ENTIRE WEEK HAS BEEN MADE. Just when I was about to resort to self-publishing, I got the best news of my life! I have hope again, not that I ever felt completely hopeless. Now I know there's a publisher out there who believes I have what it takes! Thank you, everyone, for all your support!

Onward and Upward,

Want to Read the First 400 Words?

Hello All,

I'm posting the first 400 words from my book The Middle of the Sidewalk, because I'm entering it into the Seuss' Pieces 2012 Writer's Week contest! Feel free to let me know what you think. (I LOVE feedback!):

The Middle of the Sidewalk: First 400 Words

Onward and Upward,

The Middle of the Sidewalk: Writer's Week 2012

The following is my entry in Seuss' Pieces 2012 Writer's Week. The prompt I chose was "I'm not..."

I’m not aware of another 12 year old who woke up at 7:26am during summer break like I did. It wasn’t because I had anything important to do. I was supposed to be sleeping in, lazing about, forgetting to brush my teeth, and playing with my brother. Except the voice in my head didn’t tolerate laziness.

And I no longer had a brother.

I had started two school years without him already. This morning, my first day of middle school, marked the beginning of a third. As I stood in front of the bathroom mirror looking down at the two sinks in the counter and the lonely toothbrush in the ceramic cup, starting the day without him didn’t seem right. I looked up at my reflection, at the blonde mass of curls that spiraled from my head in all directions. Casey and I used to be a matched set, with identical hair and crystal blue eyes. But now there was only one brush on the counter, one towel on the rack, and one person I could confide in: myself.

In accordance with my strict morning routine, I went back to my room in my blue cotton pajamas that I wore every night and washed every two. I slipped the shirt off over my head and tossed it in the hamper, replacing it with a solid white one from my dresser. I exchanged my pajama pants for my brown corduroy ones, soft, comfortable, and worn at the knees. Then I sauntered down the stairs and sat down in my rickety chair at the head of the dining table where my mother had my coffee waiting for me.

My poor mother.

There she stood, leaning against the chipping kitchen counter and whisking a bowl of eggs with disinterest, although I’m sure she was making something exciting. A cake perhaps. She used to bake only when she was under unbearable stress, but she had turned out the most beautiful desserts since the accident. I dreaded to see her every morning, quietly going about her routine as she had every day since she lost her youngest. She was an empty shell, a graying spirit, distant and unfamiliar to me.

And yet, somehow I supposed we understood each other because she always had my coffee ready for me at exactly 7:29, and she washed my pajamas at noon every 2 days. She understood my need for routine, and I understood her need for silence.

Agent Reply: The Results are In!

Hello All,

I got a letter today from Sara Megibow at Nelson Literary Agency. Here's what she had to say:

"After a careful reading, we are sorry to say that we don't believe this project is right for our agency."

...That's it.

Months of work brushed aside. And the worst part of all is, I feel like I've let my readers down, you who were so excited to see my progress, my journey, to hear good news about my fruitful efforts. I'm sorry to disappoint you. I'm sorry to disappoint myself.

With a heavy heart, I'll continue researching agents tomorrow when I have more energy. No matter what happens, I won't give up my dream.

Onward and Upward,

New Character: Elpida (PICS)

Hello all,

You're the first to meet my newest character, Elpida! Resourceful, strong-willed, and a little bit crazy, Elpida is a take-no-nonsense huntress who wields a bowstaff and lives in a cave. She became the 'mom' of the family when her parents died and left her to care for her little brother, Lux, and her baby sisters Ghita and Thisbe.

Elpida is my favorite character so far. She'd fit right in with the Lost Boys in Peter Pan. She's depicted below, holding the sword she uses later in the book, a sword belonging to rebel leader Calix (who I will post about next).

Onward and Upward,

Romance Writers of America Contest!

Hello All,

I'm a contestant in the Windy City Romance Writers of America's Four Seasons Contest! My book The Middle of the Sidewalk will be scored on all of the following:

Presentation
Mechanics
Hooks
Setting
Characterization
Plot
Internal Conflict
Dialogue
Narrative
Pacing
Overall Impression

The best part is that I'll get feedback on ALL categories, whether I win or not. I couldn't be more excited! The top prize is TBA. I'll learn if I'm a finalist in the next few months, and the final judging is in December.

Onward and Upward,

Review from a Publisher!

Hello all,

Today is a big day! I'm submitting the first 30 pages from The Middle of the Sidewalk to the agent who requested it. It will take up to 2 months for them to get back to me, but I'll keep you posted on my most recent project, a sci-fi romance novel called Mimbio, which will be the first book in a trilogy.

As for my first story, The Sons of Luther, the publisher replied with a not-so-positive review that said the book was well written, but the plot was too simplistic, the characters were shallow, and that I hadn't convinced her that the story was plausible.

So it's back to the drawing board with that one, which I'm fine with. I'll re-write it one day. Until then, I'm going to keep my head up and start writing  Mimbio, a story with one of the most action-packed plot-lines I've ever come up with!

Onward and Upward,

Scribendi: The Results are in!

Last week, I sent my manuscript to Scribendi (a professional editing service) so they could edit the first 1,500 words for free. This is what they said about the selection:

"The plot is intriguing so far, and readers' curiosity about what is to come is piqued. Additionally, the writing style is engaging, the story is well paced, and the protagonist appears to be well developed. The readers will definitely be interested from the very beginning, especially due to your use of suspense regarding the circumstances surrounding Cory's little brother. The story is certainly not too wordy. Rather, the writing is well paced and descriptive, with very good attention to detail."

So far so good!!

Onward and upward,

Progress: The Middle of the Sidewalk

Good morning, world! I thought I'd take this moment to summarize what's been going on with my newest project, The Middle of the Sidewalk. I've sent a query letter to three agents this week. One turned it down yesterday because she's not looking for any books in the "Young Adult" genre, but another agent (who I'm VERY excited about) requested the first 30 pgs.! This is a huge deal since last year that agency received 36,000 query letters and only requested samples from 898 people. Hopefully they'll be impressed with the first 30 pgs, and I won't need to self publish.

Just in case they aren't, I'm prepared to leap head-first into the world of self-publishing. Here is what the process would entail:

Becca (editor) - In Progress
Chris (editor) - In Progress
Ramona (editor)
Naomi (published author who has graciously agreed to be an editor)
Scribendi (professional editing service)
Me (final edit)
US Copyright Patent
ISBN number
Amazon cover design
Amazon first copy print
Amazon and Barnes & Noble online distribution!!

The journey would be scary, unfamiliar, and expensive. But with your moral support, I know I can succeed. Thanks for being there, everyone. You mean everything to me.

Onward and Upward,

Welcome!

Welcome to my writing adventure! My young adult romance book, The Middle of the Sidewalk, is complete at 60,581 words, and I aim to publish it by the end of this year. I'll update this blog with noteworthy happenings throughout my writing journey, writing tips and tricks, and (hopefully soon) book signings and promotions!

Onward and upward,