Blog Makeover

I'm sure you notice that it looks a little bit different around here...

Well, it was time to kick it up a notch at Wastepaper Prose. I know many of you loved my old layout, as did I, but it never screamed me. If you know me, I'm out there. I'm colorful, vibrant, and funky. As one of my fellow bloggers once described me, I'm "Alice in Wonderland gone Tool." And that just about sums it up.

I'd been wishy-washy about a makeover. I had several people toss around ideas with me. I talked to several designers. I looked at countless images and spent just as many hours contemplating what I wanted. Afterallm how does a personality translate to HTML code?

Turns out that an old adage held true. Simplicity rules. Nicole at Word for Teens found me the header image, which was sufficiently funky, and crafted the rest around it. It was colorful without being too happy or cutesy. No other frills were necessary.

There is still tweaking to be done. Not everything is linked yet and some posts may be a little messed up as a result of the conversion, but I'll be fixing it up over the next few days, so bear with me. I appreciate your patience.

So here it is! I know it's a big change, but hopefully you like. If you're averse to change and are having trouble adjusting, counseling will be available between the hours of 9am and 5pm.

Happy Reading!

Tweet News (15)

What did you miss on Twitter this week?

Author Melissa Marr discusses the Wicked Lovely series and its thrilling conclusion... TWEET.

Harper Teen reminded you to check out the trailer for Courtney Allison Moulton's Angelfire... TWEET.

Author Brenna Yovanoff's debut novel, The Replacement, debuted at on NYT Bestseller List... TWEET.

Author Laurie Halse Anderson shared the ad Penguin took out in the New York Times in defense of her novel Speak... TWEET.

Penguin Teen told you where you can learn more about The Julian Game... TWEET.

Author Veronica Roth sells new trilogy to Harper Collins... TWEET.

Scholastic revealed that Forever won't be the only Maggie Stiefvater title released next year... TWEET.

Harper Teen showed you where you can watch the first official I Am Number Four movie trailer... TWEET.

Author Jackson Pearce's Sisters Red is now available for pre-order in paperback... TWEET.

Penguin Tee gave you sneak peeks at characters from its five Breathless Reads... TWEET, TWEET, TWEET, TWEET, and TWEET.

Harper Teen let you browse inside The Unidentified by Rae Mariz... TWEET.

Author Insight: Getting an Agent

What was the agenting process like for you, and what's your best advice for someone seeking representation?

"I would never EVER recommend that someone go about getting their first agent like I did mine. Do your research and above all, query more than one agent, even the ones you think will never, ever notice you. Also, remember agents get hundreds of query letters. HUNDREDS. And that's on the low side. Keep your query very short and to the point--look at it this way--if you have to read tons and tons of emails, what will grab you? The endless email, or the one that comes right to the point? As someone who once had to deal with over 300 emails a day, I can tell you that the emails that get right to the point, that don't dance around or go on and on--those are the ones that grab you because so few people can do it!"- Elizabeth Scott, author of Grace.

"Ask around. Authors may tell you straight up most of the time who reps them and why they like or dislike them." - Heidi Kling, author of Sea.

"My hunt for my first agent was very short and boring, about six weeks from start to finish.  I got a lot of "just didn't fall in love with its" from people who read, and two offers from agents who did.  My advice is to start writing your query letter early.  A good query should go through as many drafts as your book does.  Never submit until both are perfect." - Scott Tracey, author of Witch Eyes.

"I found the agenting proccess both exhilirating and frustrating. I am lucky that I made a real connection with my agent but I received plenty of rejections too. I would tell aspiring authors to really do their research and find out what an agent is looking for and while you are waiting for an agent, don't stop writing, keep on honing your craft." - Danielle Joseph, author of Indigo Blues.

More Author Insight: Reread, Revise, Rewrite!

How do you know when a scene needs rewriting?

 

"I usually know as I’m writing it that something’s off, but I give it until morning and reread with fresh eyes." - Leah Clifford, author of A Touch Mortal.

"If I cringe when I read it." - Daisy Whitney, author of The Mockingbirds.

"When I’m bored reading it or can’t clearly answer the question 'what’s the point of this scene?'" - Jen Nadol, author of The Mark.

 

 

"Every scene needs rewriting. The trick is to know when to stop." - Jon Skovron, author of Struts & Frets.

Author Insight: Reread, Revise, Rewrite!

How do you know when a scene needs rewriting?

"Because all my scenes do!"- Elizabeth Scott, author of Grace.

"When it sucks." - Heidi Kling, author of Sea.

"If I keep nitpicking at a scene, changing a word here or  a phrase there, I know there's something wrong.  Something in my subconscious keeps sending me back to that scene, and until I fix it, I'm going to keep tweaking." - Scott Tracey, author of Witch Eyes.

"I know a scene needs rewriting when I read it out loud and it lacks emotion." - Danielle Joseph, author of Indigo Blues.

The Great Escape Contest Winner

And the lucky winner of ARCs of Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel, Paranormalcy by Kiersten White, Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare, and a signed hardcover of The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller is...

   

   

ThrouTheHaze!

Congratulations! I have sent you a notification e-mail and will ship your books out as soon as possible.

Thanks to everyone who entered and stay tuned for more!