Easy There, Girl.

Hi. My name is Tiffany and I'm a compulsive over-achiever and goal setter.

Hi Tiffany.

*insert nervous smile*

You see, all of my lofty goals were just that. Lofty. And so much was on my plate...and...and...
*breaks down in sobs*

It's okay. Let it all out. We are here to support you. Tell us how you really feel.

*quiet sniffles; wipes tears from eyes* It's just that when I make huge goals and don't succeed, I feel worse off than if I hadn't set goals in the first place.

*heads nod in agreement (or support - or for fear that the crazy sobbing over-achiever might hurt them if they don't)*

~~~

Blah. Blah. Blah. Whatever.

So basically, I realized that setting ridiculously high goals for yourself is not a good idea. Because when you fail (miserably, at that) it really, really, really sucks. Did I mention really?

I've made new (obtainable) goals for myself. They aren't able to be posted either, because they aren't daily goals. Some days are rougher than others. Some days my children make me wonder what type of species they are and why God granted them with the highest, screechiest voices in the world. Some days my kids fight from the moment they roll out of bed. Some days I don't feel like writing. (GASP!)

I had to remind myself that this is my summer. I work all school year to get to this point and it is ridiculous that I am stressing myself out even more than I do during the school year.

So, some days I will:

Not get out of my PJs

Spend 5 hours at the pool working on my tan

Play with my kids

Read a book

Which in turn, will let the words flow easier. Anyone else a chronic and compulsive overachiever that punishes themself for not meeting goals? Come on. You're a writer. Admit it. :)

Drumroll Please...

I have officially survived:

• The last week of school
• Taking and PASSING my 4-8 certification test
• 4th Grade Awards Ceremony
• Working on a Saturday
• Our first dance rehearsal and recital

And today officially begins the first day of summer! Woot! Besides a few maintenance type things around the house (AKA clean-the-house-that-has-been-neglected-for-weeks) and of course playing stay-at-home mommy for the next couple months, I am back to writing full time and with goals.

I figured that since I've been such a slacker in my favorite area of life, I should post goals for you all to hold me accountable to:

• Write a minimum of 1,000 words a day toward my WIPs
• Go back to DFW Writer's Workshop ASAP
• Get critiques back to critter buddies in a timely manner (24-48 hours)
• Start working on new WIP with Kristen
• Blog 3 times a week
• Read AND comment on at least 10 blogs/day
• Join the world of Twitter again

Lofty goals, eh? Yeah, well, maybe so, but I am determined. And when I get determined, things get done. Like, maybe a novel or two. Or winning tug-of-war? Because this is me when I'm determined:

WHAT?!? I like to win. There's nothing wrong with a little determination. You know, besides a burst neck vein. Pft. Like you've never looked like that before. Ahem, well, whatever.

I'm glad to be back! I'll leave you with a pic of K1 (who totally rocked all 3 dances) & K2 (who was the cutest dancing poodle EVER) and their epic weekend!

I'll Be Baaaaack.

I have been a TOTAL blogging loser recently. I'd like to add to that a writing loser as well. I've actually been quite embarrassed at the state of my blog and writing and I have reasons, but the reasons as valid as they are, don't make me feel any better about it.

I hate this feeling of BLAH that I am in right now. The end of the school year is the craziest time of the year. This is a small example of what I've been up to (AKA- my list of excuses as to why I suck so hardcore right now):

• 2 TAKS tests
• Play Day (think field day, but a competition against other 4th graders at different schools)
• 3 days at camp
• Field trip to the local library/eat at CiCi's
• Field Day
• Meetings galore
• Book Count
• Clean classrooms and move all furniture to middle of room
• Never ending checklist of To-Dos in order to get to leave for the summer

On top of that, I've decided that I wouldn't mind teacher the older kids, say 7th graders in particular. It would seriously be right up my alley. Getting to discuss YA literature with students would be one of the coolest things EVER. Don't get me wrong, I love my 4th graders and I heart my school, but it may be time for a change. So, in order to make that change I have to:

• Study for the ELA 4-8 test
• Take and PASS that test on Thursday

If that wasn't enough, my personal life has been a bit hectic too! Here's a few more excuses to chew on:

• My husband has got a new job that requires CRAZY amounts of hours he has to put in
• I have 3 kids (Yeah, I know, I've had them all along, but now as a semi-single mother, I feel all 3 so much more)
• The hubs sometimes works from home. This should be helpful, right? Um. No. My dining room table has turned into the most disorganized chaotic horrible mess of a desk. Ugh.
• Speaking of my house: It is a disaster. I swear there are goblins that creep up out from under the house and destroy it while I'm not looking. (Oh, wait. Those would be my 3 kids)
• My oldest is about to graduate from Kindergarten
• We have a dance recital for my two older ones next weekend
• And I'm a backstage mom

All of this has EXHAUSTED me. I'm talking, fall-asleep-at 8 kind of tired. This, coming from the girl who used to stay up reading/writing until midnight or later every night and then wake up at 5 for work the next day.

So now that I've filled my blog up with excuses, I am making a vow to be back after next week. It will be summer. I WILL have more writing time. More blogging time. More tweeting time. More reading time. More critiquing time. More writer's workshop time. More ME time. I will demand it.

This whole not writing thing is terribly depressing and I'm in this nasty, killer, sludgy slime of disgustingness that I can't wait to get out of.

SEVEN days and counting and I'll Be Baaaaaaaaaaaack. I know you'll be counting down the days, hours, and minutes to my return.

Linger

Okay, so I have to be honest. I will most likely throw down for a chance to get an ARC of Linger. I've entered several contests that I haven't won and at my writer's conference in April, I seriously considered meeting the chick out back who had won it to steal it from her.

I know, I know. A bit over dramatic, right?

Maggie Stiefvater is holding another contest in which I could win an ARC of Linger, therefore allowing me to not have to trample the little teenie-boppers to get my copy on the release date.

I usually don't do posts about contests, but I have to say between the fact that I REALLY want this book and the fact that sharing the Linger trailer with those of you who haven't seen it, brings me much pleasure.

Maggie Stiefvater is seriously one of the most talented people. Beyond being an amazing writer, she is an artist with mad skills, AND a musician. Ridiculous. I know. On one hand, I am beyond jealous of the fact that she is so multi-faceted, but more so I am just in awe of her abilities.

That being said, here is the trailer for Linger. You MUST go back to her blog to read the posts of how she made this. It is insane. So much time, dedication, and perseverance was put into this project and only goes to show the crazy talent this woman has!

Because I Have Nothing Better To Do...

I've been extremely busy tonight doing some oh-so important writerly things. I felt that it would be in my best interest to search for fun and different blog backgrounds, get lost on the internet for an undetermined length of time, and lastly find more music to add to my playlist. As you can see, all of the above HAD to be done so that I would be more inspired to write.

Pft.

I've been doing what I do best: procrastinating.

Soooooo. Now that I'm doing my writerly duties for inspiration, I am going to go write.

Right now.

Stepping away from the internet.

Opening MS...

and out.

Oh. But before I go, I have to share this video with you. :)

Spread the Awesome: Books That Deserve 10 Stars

Unwind by Neal Shusterman





Goodreads description:
In a society where unwanted teens are salvaged for their body parts, three runaways fight the system that would "unwind" them.

Connor's parents want to be rid of him because he's a troublemaker. Risa has no parents and is being unwound to cut orphanage costs. Lev's unwinding has been planned since his birth, as part of his family's strict religion. Brought together by chance, and kept together by desperation, these three unlikely companions make a harrowing cross-country journey, knowing their lives hang in the balance. If they can survive until their eighteenth birthday, they can't be harmed -- but when every piece of them, from their hands to their hearts, are wanted by a world gone mad, eighteen seems far, far away.
In Unwind, Boston Globe/Horn Book Award winner Neal Shusterman challenges readers' ideas about life -- not just where life begins, and where it ends, but what it truly means to be alive.

***

I'm not a huge fan of giving away too much about a book. I'm the type that enjoys picking up a book, having no clue what it's about, and devouring it in one sitting.
That would be what Unwind was for me.

I have a soft spot in my heart for dystopian novels, and this one was the definition of what one should look like. Complete with twists and turns and unpredictable on every level, I read this book in record time, trying to figure out what was happening.

The idea of being unwound is fascinating and keeps the plot moving quickly. And a part I will only touch on, but is one of my favorite things so much so that I wish Neal Shusterman would write a book entirely about it, is the Clappers. Brilliant, I'm telling you.

Two of my favorite quotes from Unwind:

"Stupid dreams. Even the good ones are bad, because they remind you how poorly reality measures up."

"Statistically speaking, there's a better chance that some part of me will go on to greatness somewhere in the world. I'd rather be partly great than entirely useless."

This book has also been optioned for film rights, so stay tuned for new developments along those lines.

I want to personally thank Neal Shusterman for inspiring me to write my own dystopian, which is one of my current WIPs. And I want to thank all of you for stopping by to see what an amazing book this is. I'll be holding a contest very soon, giving away a copy of Unwind, so check back soon for those details. (I'm working on trying to get a signed copy for the giveaway, which is why I'm not holding the contest during this post).
Unwind is not the only genius book that Neal Shusterman has written. His website has more information about his other books, three of which I've read and loved, so you should check those out as well.

And kudos to Elana Johnson who set this all up and constantly amazes me with her fabulous ideas at supporting fellow writers/authors. Thanks Elana!
Go check out all the other Awesome Books That Deserve 10 Stars here.

It also appears that I've forgotten to send you over to the next author to find out what book they chose. You can do that on Suzette Saxton's blog! (Sorry Suzette - I promise I try to follow directions, most of the time anyway!)

Epic Post Tomorrow

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post.

Yeah, yeah, I know I've been MIA, but you see, I have a perfectly reasonable excuse. The thing is, if I told you, I'd have to kill you. And I honestly don't want to go down as a murderer, so where I've been will remain a secret.

Elana Johnson recruited a slew of YA authors to post about their favorite book tomorrow. It's called Spread the Awesome: Books That Deserve 10 Stars.

Tomorrow I will reveal the book I chose to Spread the Awesome with and let me tell you, it is one of my all time FAVE YA books. Plus I will also be announcing an upcoming contest! So even though, I've been on the run and not around recently, you should totally stop by and check out tomorrow's post.

Epic I tell you.