Beauty out of Brokenness

Hello blogosphere! It's been awhile.

I am oh-so-slowly coming back to the YA world in terms of writing and reading, and it feels oh-so-good to be back. But before my blog becomes a YA one again, I want to share a bit about where I've been and what I've been doing

I've spent the past month hanging out at drop-ins, after-school programs, and on the streets of Halifax as a participant in an Urban Partnership. If you're interested in our work, you can read a blog post about it here, or feel free to ask me about it.

The Urban Partnership team venturing through Halifax.

On our last day in Halifax, everyone on the Urban Partnership team presented a creative project that represented our month. We called the night Beauty out of Brokenness because we wanted the pieces to reflect where we see hope in Halifax.

I wrote a polyphonic piece, which means that I wrote a piece and then wove passages from other works into it. The program is a Christian one, so I included scripture in my piece, as well as passages from Under the Overpass: A Journey of Faith on the Streets of America by Mike Yankoski, a book about a university student who chose to live on the streets for five months to understand Jesus's heart for the homeless.

As I transition from my time in the Urban Partnership back into my normal life, I thought I'd share that transition by putting my Beauty out of Brokenness piece on the blog. Yankoski's words are in italics, scripture's words are in bold, and the rest of the words are mine.

Beauty out of Brokenness

The men I was meeting were at the bottom--the worst part of their lives--and weren't afraid to admit it.

It's a bit surprising when it happens.

But their ruin opened the way for honesty.

The conversation shifts from the polite, the easy, the questions of where are you from, what do you do, and isn't the food great, into something harder.

You are searching for honesty.

But still something better.

Pretending didn't help anymore, and anyway, they didn't have the strength to keep it up.

It comes as confessions of mistakes, ignorance, pretending. It comes as an admittance of exhaustion, love, hunger, joy, actually feeling something and actually telling people that you feel it.

Look at those who are honest. 

It's a challenge. It tells you that something--somehow, somewhere--something is wrong and that thing isn't being fixed, so what are you going to do? What are you, as one person, who can barely even process this, going to do to fix it?

The wise listen to others.

And that's easier, to listen. You hear the words, you retain them, but your reaction is of a different kind. It's not for you; it's encouraging them to continue.

They just told it as it was, when it was.

Because you're learning so much.

Speaking the truth from sincere hearts.

Their feelings become yours and you want that, you want to keep them, you want to feel this way again. You want to know this again because you realize, so clearly, that what's been presented to you is not a confession or challenge, not really. 

But this is what you must do: tell the truth to everyone.

I found that part of their ruin to be refreshing.

It's truth. And it's all that needs to be known.

Hiatus

It seems a little silly for me to post an official hiatus when I've blogged, what, twice in the last two months? But, I'm participating in a community outreach program from May 1st-31st, so I'll be gone from the blogosphere during that period. I also won't be on Twitter, Facebook, tumblr, etc.

So, I will see all of you in June!

Road Trip Wednesday: One More Time, We're Gonna Celebrate

Road Trip Wednesday is hosted by YA Highway

This Week's Topic: It's almost prom season, and since we love to read and write about teenagers, we want to hear your prom stories!

My prom memories are not about boys, but about friends.

I remember searching for a dress. At the time, I'd lived with only my dad and my brother for seven years; I didn't have a mom or sister to take me shopping. I ended up going with a couple of my friends and their moms on a Friday night, watching both of my friends find beautiful dresses, and finding nothing that fit me (dresses aren't designed for girls who are short from the waist up, everything sat far too high on me), let alone that I loved. Still, my friend and her mom took me out shopping all day on Saturday until I found the perfect dress. It was a long, frustrating process that they didn't have to go through with me, but they did and I appreciated more than I could ever express to them. And when we finally found the dress? I was so glad to share that moment with them. 

I missed my mom like nothing else the day of prom. The worst moment was when I was getting my hair done by a cranky hairdresser, watching all the other girls with their moms, and having her ask me if my mom was coming. I nearly cried. 

But then I went to that same friend's house to get ready together, her mom did my make-up, and I knew that even if I didn't have my mom, I had incredible women in my life. Then I went out to dinner with my friends, took pictures with them, and drove to our prom (held in our high-school gym, what a classy school we were) in a mini-van.

And it was awesome. 

I don't remember much about the dance itself, just that I had a lot of fun with the people who'd been there for me for the past three years. I do remember the last song, our grad song, "One More Time" by Daft Punk (again, classy school), and being so grateful that I had one last chance to celebrate with my friends.

I didn't have the magical prom you see in YA. It rained. The prom wasn't held in a fancy hall, and we certainly didn't go to it in a limo. I didn't have a moment with a boy; I didn't even have a date. I kicked off my heels within ten minutes of the prom beginning, around the time my hair fell flat. It didn't change my life.

But it did give me a chance to celebrate the life, the friends, and the role models I had throughout high school, one more time.

Road Trip Wednesday: Visual Inspiration

Road Trip Wednesday is hosted by YA Highway.

This Week's Topic: What images inspire/represent your WIP or favourite book?

I have been a terrible, terrible blogger lately, but what better way to ease myself into the blogosphere than to share a bit about my WIP, Finding Voice, through posting some pretty pictures?

I've done a couple of posts like this before for other WIPs, but this was, by far, the most difficult it's ever been to find pictures. So, I cheated. Theatre is a big part of Finding Voice, so I took a trip to Hipster Theatre Pictures and used some of their pictures with lines from musicals that inspired Finding Voice. The rest of the pictures are from weheartit.

Finding Voice is Arianna and Derek's story. Any guesses as to what that story is based on these pictures?

Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars - John Green

This review contains (very minor) spoilers. John Green really, really doesn't want you to read spoilers. It's, of course, your choice whether or not to read on, but keep that in mind.

My initial goodreads review of The Fault in Our Stars was written almost immediately after I finished the book, before I'd cleaned up the pile of tissues and chocolate that surrounded me. That review read:

Halfway through this, I wasn't impressed, and wondered what I was missing that everyone else was getting. A few pages later, I was crying. Make of that what you will.

I review with my heart. The way a book makes me feel will always be more important to me than how well it is written. The Fault in Our Stars kept me on my couch for hours because I was so invested in Hazel's story that I had to know what happened next, I had to know what to feel next because there were too many emotions to make sense of on my own. Green did a great job of guiding his readers through those emotions.

However, that only happened once Gus and Hazel got to Amsterdam; that was the first moment that made me care about the characters.

Prior to Amsterdam (and after it as well, though to a lesser extent), my biggest problem with The Fault in Or Stars was Augustus, who was as manic-pixie-dream-boy as they come.

But, Hazel's aware of that. She knows that Augustus is putting on a show, that he doesn't always know what he's talking about despite his pretentiousness, and she says it's harder to fall for him when he's like that as opposed to when he's honest. That's realistic, and had Hazel followed through on that, this would review would be much less critical.

The problem is that Hazel's aware that Augustus is fake, and yet she falls in love with him anyway. It was frustrating to read--I really like Hazel and thought she deserved better, frankly--and it was impossible for me to believe in their relationship. Of course, Augustus does have one significant, honest, beautiful moment towards the end of the book, and it's one of my favourite scenes. However, it was too-little-too-late for me; Hazel was already in love with him at that point, and I wanted to see more honesty from Augustus.

My other issue with the first half of The Fault in Our Stars  was that it was simply too slow--at times, it felt like a chore to read on. The encounter with Peter Van Houten was the first moment I was interested in the plot, as well as the first time I became invested in the characters.

Of course, the book had other nice moments. Issac's great, and I almost wish the book had been written from his perspective like Green considered. The scenes with Hazel and her parents are wonderful. The plot-twist actually shocked me (though I appear to be alone on that), which is always nice. Green's prose is funny, poignant, and solid, as it always is.

The Fault in Our Stars is a frustrating read, but a good one. It made me laugh and cry, and at the end of the day, that's what I want from a book.

Tagalong

Colin D. Smith tagged me in a blog-chain where I have to answer eleven questions, create eleven questions, and then tag eleven people to answer them. Here it goes!

1. Which fictional character would you love to invite over for dinner?

Peeta Mellark, because of reasons. We'd break bread together.

2. Think of one person you aren’t able to see for whatever reason (distance, availability, etc.) you would love to meet up with. Who is this person? This can be a famous person, a relative, a literary agent–anyone, as long as they are alive. Oh my gosh, I've met so many wonderful people on the internet that I would love to meet with, but I can't choose between them. Any of them would be my first choice, but if I have to pick one person, I'll go with Aaron Tveit so we could sing and dance together have an intelligent conversation about his Broadway career.

3. What "classic" novel do you think least deserves that title?

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce. The beginning was ok, but the book became a pretentious mess that I'd argue lacks any real substance. 

4. If you could be any historical figure, who would that be and why?

The first person that came to mind was Letitia Youmans, the founder of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union in Canada. I realize it's an odd choice, but I find her and the organization fascinating, and even though I don't necessarily agree with prohibition, it would be so cool to be inside the head of a woman who was an advocate for both Christianity and women's rights.

4. Where in the world would you most like to visit, and why?

 I've always been infatuated with New York because of Broadway, the bright lights, big city appeal, and what's left of Bohemia. It's weird to say that's the place I'd most like to visit because it's so, you know, close, but it's a city I'm so drawn to.

5. If you were a crayon, what colour would be, and why?

Blue--contemplative, peaceful, quiet.

6. Let's pretend you have J.K. Rowling's bank account. What's for dinner tonight? I would fly back to Kazakhstan to have shashlik again. While I'm there, I'd have to treat myself to plof and beshbermak, too. 

7. Coke of Pepsi?

If I want regular pop, Pepsi, but if I want diet, Coke. 

8.Tea or Coffee?

Tea, absolutely. It's so much more fun than coffee! In a day, I can drink Earl Grey, Chai, and Pineapple tea. (Uh, not that I drink that much tea. Of course not.)

9. Think of your favourite band or song from the 1960s or 1970s. What/who is it?

"Hey Jude" by the Beatles for so many reasons.

10. When you get "the call" from an agent, who will be the first person you tell?

Probably my roommates, because they'd hear the squeal and want an explanation. The first person I'd call would be my dad. 

Here are my eleven questions!

1. What author's writing style do you most admire?

2. Favourite guilty pleasure food?

3. Favourite guilty pleasure TV show?

4. Who's your biggest fictional crush?

5. What's one thing no one in the blogosphere knows about you?

6. Favourite thing about your bookstore/library?

7. Describe your first novel in one word.

8. What song always makes you go, "This is my jam!"? 

9. If you had to give your favourite book a different title, what would it be?

10. Favourite board game?

11. Do you believe in life after love?

Instead of tagging eleven people, I'm going to leave my questions open for anyone to answer :) If you decide to answer them, leave a link in the comments, and I'll check it out. I'd love to hear what you have to say! 

Valentine to Writing

I'm participating in the Valentine's Day Blog Lovefest over at YA Highway. Check out all the other wonderful Valentine's posts by YA authors participating in the blogfest! :)

Valentine to Writing  

Writing,

So, hi. It's been awhile.

Look, I'm sorry. I know all the playlists, inspirational pictures, and hours spent reading The Fault in Our Stars won't make you come back. What you need is for me to open the Word document and spend some quality time with you. 

But you know, 2012 has kicked my butt. I've let it. Sometimes I forget that you're what makes me feel better through all of that.

Thanks for everything you've done. Thanks for bringing the right songs and people and settings and stories to me. It's helping, really--it'll just take a bit of time. 

And hey, it was fun when we hung out on Friday, even if it was only for 500 words. I haven't been that honest with anyone in awhile.

It may feel that way, but this isn't the end. We'll get back together and it'll be beautiful; we'll break-up and it'll be terrible--over and over again. Thanks for being with me when I need you to be, and for waiting for me when I need you to wait.

We'll come back from this.

Love,
Brianne

Road Trip Wednesday: In a Land Far, Far Away...

Road Trip Wednesday is hosted by YA Highway.

This Week's Topic: Describe your dream writing retreat. Where would you go? Who and what would you bring?

Honestly, I wouldn't go far, far away. I'd stay in Nova Scotia, but I'd head to a small cottage by the ocean. Nothing inspires me quite like the ocean does, and I don't spend near enough time there considering how close I am to it. I'd love to go at the end of August/beginning of September, when the water's colder, but not so cold that I couldn't reward myself with a swim. That would also make it the perfect get-away before school/my real life starts again.

See? He wants to come!

The cottage is as important as the ocean, because many of my best stories come from time spent in cottages. It's a small, intimate environment--the same type of environment I like to set my work in--and that leads people to be more honest, more daring, and more magical.

In an ideal world, my cats would enjoy the drive, and I'd bring them. They're great company while writing, because they'll leave me alone, but still recognize when I'm crying over a scene feeling down and cuddle with me to make me feel better. I'd also bring books for inspiration, and music to listen to as I write (which would most likely be a mix of showtunes.)

What's your ideal writing retreat?

What's New in 2012

Happy New Year! I'm so excited to spend 2012 with you lovely people, and I can't wait to see what it has in store for the YA blogosphere.

I'm not one for new year's resolutions because 1. I break them 2. If you want to change your life, change it now! 3. The holidays are stressful enough, and 4. I break them, but I do love the promise of change the new year brings. In honour of that, I've made some (overdue) changes to the blog, which I'll briefly talk about. I'll also tell you what I plan to write and read in 2012, and then I'd love to hear your 2012 plans in the comments!

What's New in 2012

The Blog

The URL. This is the biggest change, and the one I'm most nervous about, because it inevitably leads to broken dreams links. The old url was briallison.blogspot.com, and the current one is bricarter.blogspot.com. If you link to my blog, you're awesome, and I'd appreciate it if you update the link. My blog should still appear in your dashboard if you follow me, and if you're noticing that's not the case, please let me know. Thank you!

The Layout. This was the fastest I've ever chosen a layout, which means it was a case of instant!love, which also means it could lead to a messy break-up. I'm not putting a ring on it yet, you know? But for now, I love it. What do you think, yay or nay?

Writing

Remember when I posted about the crazy story in my heart, and was all, "lolz I'll need to edit it if I want it to be a real story, get rid of the pregnancies and musical numbers, you know how it is."

Remember when I then proceeded to edit it and begin serious work on it? No? But come on, of course I did. I have a manageable story now that I still love, and the story's been so exciting to write so far. I'm reluctant to share the details, but I will say that it's the first time I've seriously tried to write from a male's point-of-a-view, which is definitely a challenge, but also refreshing to write. The plot's still a bit of a whirlwind, and I'm still getting acquainted with the characters, but hopefully I'll be able share some teasers from Arianna and Derek's story this year :)

The other big plan for 2012 is to revise Building Forts, and it's my first revision with awesome beta comments to take into consideration. I'm really excited to see what it'll become when all is said and done (before that, it'll look like me crying as I eat all the chocolate in my apartment, staring at a Word document), and I can't wait to check in with Callie and Chase again :)

Reading

Finally, these are all the 2012 releases I can't wait to read! 

Wanderlove - Kirsten Hubbard

This is Not a Test - Courtney Summers

Insurgent - Veronica Roth

Pandemonium - Lauren Oliver

Bittersweet - Sarah Ockler

The Fault in Our Stars - John Green

Tempest - Julie Cross

Beautiful Music for Ugly Children  - Kirstin-Cronn Mills

And that's not to mention all the 2011 releases I still need to read.

 What are you reading and writing in 2012?

Best of 2011: Books Published in 2011

Yesterday, I talked about the best books I read in 2011. Today, I finish the Best of 2011 series with a post about my favourite books published in 2011. 

As I mentioned yesterday, narrowing this list down to five books was easy. However, ranking those books? It was nearly impossible. Each book on this list is on my all-time favourites list, and they could all be tied for number one. 

5. Lola and the Boy Next Door - Stephanie Perkins

"Just because something isn't practical doesn't mean it's not worth creating."

Read my full review here. If I were an objective person, this book would not be on the list. There are problems with it, and I recognize those. However, I checked this book out during midterm season, right before a weekend I spent locked away in room. This book became my study-break, and reading it was the highlight of my weekend. It's so easy to get swept up in the sweet love story Perkins creates, and I felt like I was right there in San Francisco with Lola and Cricket. Also, the Anna and Etienne scenes were such a nice touch. Unfortunately, Santa didn't bring me Cricket like I asked for, but there's always next year, right? ;)

4. How to Save a Life - Sara Zarr

Sara Zarr is the master of quiet stories that capture your heart. This book could have been melodramatic, but it never felt that way; it was heart-shattering in how realistic it was. But, after Zarr shattered your heart, she took the time to put it back together. Also, this book is probably the best example of dual-POV I've read. Mandy and Jill had unique voices, and I cared about both of them. I often skip POV's in dual-POV novels to read the one I enjoy more, but I was never tempted to do that with How to Save a Life. I also loved the way the love-triangle is handled in this novel. It's nice to see one where both boys are viable options.

3. Divergent - Veronica Roth

"A brave man acknowledges the strength of others."

You don't know how many times I tried to review this book, but gave up because all I wanted to say was, "I really liked it!" I'm having the same problem now. But, there's something wonderful about that. It's rare for me to read a book now without thinking about it critically for a review, or analytically for my English classes. Roth pulled me into her story in a way that allowed me to focus on and enjoy the story. So, to sum up: I really liked  this book!

2. Like Mandarin - Kirsten Hubbard

"A person's actions could be interpreted in a number of  ways, depending on who was watching."

Read my full review here. Honestly, I said it all in my review. This is another personal book for me. I've been Grace, and this is one of those books I wish I was around when I was fifteen years old. All I can hope is that teenage girls who feel the way I did find this book, because I have no doubts that it'll help them. I had high expectations for Like Mandarin, but Hubbard surpassed them. Her characterization is spot-on and her prose is beautiful without being pretentious. I recommend this book to anyone who's ever been a teenage girl. 

1. Where She Went - Gayle Forman

"I wait for the day that you'll resurrect me."

I didn't expect this. I liked If I Stay, but it wasn't a favourite of mine. I expected to enjoy Where She Went, but not for it to be my favourite book of 2011, and one of my favourite books of all-time. I still remember sitting outside, reading this, and getting so into that, to use a cliche, the rest of the world disappeared. I also listened to Adam-esque music while I read it, and I found myself turning the volume up as I read and feeling everything. Adam's not always likable, but oh my gosh, I ached for that boy. I listened to this audiobook on my commute to and from school in November, which was a mistake, because I nearly cried on the bus. The prose in this book was incredible as well; there were moments I had to put the book down because I was so excited about the prose. When I went through the goodreads quotes to find one for this post, each quote brought me right back to a moment in the novel, and the emotion associated with that part. It's my favourite book of 2011 because no book made me feel as much as it did.

Best of 2011: Books Read in 2011

…That were not published in 2011. I divide my favourite books of the year into two categories: The best books I read in 2011 that were not published in 2011, and the best books I read in 2011 that were published in 2011.

Both lists posed different challenges. I read a lot of books in 2011 which were published in different years, and I had trouble narrowing it down to five. It was easy, however ,to choose my five favourite books published in 2011, but impossible to rank them, because they’re some of my all-time favourites. Don’t worry, you’ll hear more about my angst over that tomorrow.

So, how did I solve the problem for today’s list? Well, I have six books on the list instead of five. I won’t tell if you wont.

                  6. You Against Me - Jenny Downham

"Do you want this to be a love story?"

Full disclosure: I finished this book yesterday, and it was the first book I read on my shiny new e-reader. So, I’m attached to it, and I’m not sure how I’ll handle it when the library copy expires and I can’t click on the steamy and sweet scenes anymore. Seriously, this was the first book in a long time I went into without expectations. Sure, I loved Before I Die, and I read reviews for it awhile ago, but I’d forgotten by the time I downloaded the book. I didn’t even remember what the plot was. And guys, that made for such a nice and surprising reading experience. I’m not a fan of third person, but Downham made me forget that the book was in third person (I didn’t realize it until I was a few pages in, honestly,) because she still brought my into the characters’ heads. The plot kept me turning the pages (and I’m not typically a stay-up-until-two-in-the-morning-reading girl) and the characters gave me a reason to care.

5. I Know It's Over - C.K. Kelly Martin

"How many times can a person break your heart?"

Read my full review here. Martin’s such a rockstar. I’d argue that she writes the most realistic books in YA today, and I Know It’s Over is the perfect example of it. Nick’s voice is smart and poignant and so real; it almost feels like he’s your brother, the way you grow to know and care about him. The plot could’ve been melodramatic, but it wasn’t; Martin told the story in an honest and heart-felt way, which made it feel like the story of your brother. Also, this book is so Canadian, and I think this is the first time that a book which isn’t about mining in the maritimes (you guys don’t understand how many of those I had to read for school,) has felt Canadian to me.

3. Twenty Boy Summer - Sarah Ockler

"I'm heavy, like there's too much gravity on my heart."

Read my full review here. Ugh, this was the perfect summer read. Not because it’s a light-hearted romance—don’t let the title fool you—but because it captures the magic of summer so well. This was the book I wish I read when I was a teenager. This book deals with so many themes I could relate to—loss, summer love, how to handle temporainess—and I’m sure others relate to, as well. It’s become a really personal  book to me.

3. Anna and the French Kiss – Stephanie Perkins

"Is it possible for home to be a person and not a place?"

It’s true, I didn’t read this until 2011. It’s the only book I read twice in 2011, actually; I read it for the first time in February, and for the second time when I went to Kazakhstan in July. I brought it to Kazakhstan because it’s the ultimate comfort read. Anna’s voice is perfect, self-deprecrating but still smart, and always funny. And, of course, there’s the Boy Wonder himself: Eh-tienne. I’m more of a Cricket girl myself, but St. Clair still made me swoon. This book is cute and poignant, and I think it’ll be my comfort-read for many years to come.

2. Please Ignore Vera Dietz – A.S. King

"If we're supposed to ignore everything that's wrong in our lives, then I can't see how we'll ever make things right."

To quote my goodreads review, "This is the kind of book that makes me wish I was a high school teacher so I could assign it to my students. It's just really, really good." And honestly, I don’t know what else to say about it. It’s just so good. But I’ll try anyway: It’s insightful but never pretentious. It has characters unlike any other characters I’ve read in YA that you care about. Its plot is page-tuner. It takes risks. It’s good.

.

1. A Blue So Dark – Holly Schindler

"Sanity is a sonnet with a strict meter and rhyme scheme-and my mind is free verse."

Read my full review here. Honestly, there’s not much more that I can say that I didn’t say in my review. This book caught me so off-guard. I didn’t expect to like it. I definitely didn’t expect it to get inside me the way it did. But, it joins Sarah Dessen’s The Truth About Forever in being one of the few books that I’ve connected with in a way I can’t even describe. Not only did this book help me deal with some issues in my personal life, but it also made me write again. That’s a pretty powerful book.

My connection to is why it’s number one, but don’t think that means it’s any less brilliant of a book. The charactertization and portrayal of relationships is spot-on and the prose is brilliant and poignant. Of all the books I read in 2011, this is the one I’ll take the most from.

What were your favourite books read in 2011?

I'll post my  favourite books published in 2011 tomorrow! 

Music to Write to in 2012

When I made my lists of the best writing songs of 2011, I mentioned that most of them were released earlier in the year. This is the list of songs that didn't make the cut solely because they were released later in the year, and I haven't had a chance to write to them. These are the songs of 2011 that I'll write to in 2012!

5. The War is Over – Kelly Clarkson

All I have to say is you don't deserve me.

While I adore Kelly Clarkson, I was underwhelmed by Stronger. However, I fell in love with “The War is Over” the first time I listened to it. It’s a great anthem for characters realizing they deserve to be treated better than their partners are treating them.

4. Safe and Sound – Taylor Swft ft. The Civil Wars

Don't you dare look out your window darling/Everything's on fire.

When this song appeared on my Twitter feed, I thought I’d imagined it. Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars are two of my absolute favourite artists, and they colloborated on a song for The Hunger Games? Come on, that’s too good to be true. But the song was everywhere within hours, and I fell in love. I always write to Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars anyway, but since I associate it with one of my favourite books, hearing it makes me want to write. It’s the perfect song for those romantic scenes when the characters escape from the chaos arround them, and focus on each other.

3. Over You – Miranda Lambert

But you went away/How dare you/I miss you.

It’s both exciting and frustrating to discover a song that’s perfect for your novel when you’re not working on that novel. So much about this song reminds me of the climax in my novel, and I know I’ll have this on repeat when I revise it in 2012. But, this song is appropriate for any novel in which characters miss someone. The emotion that Miranda sings with in the chorus captures the feeling of being left perfectly.

2. No Light, No Light – Florence and the Machine

I never knew daylight could be so violent.

Again, while I love Florence, I was underwhelmed by Ceremonials. Honestly, the only songs I like on it are “Shake it Out” and “No Light, No Light,” but I love those songs. This song is so dark and dramatic, which makes it perfect for any climax.

1. This Isn’t Everything You Are – Snow Patrol

Just take the hand that's offered and hold on tight.

Oh guys, this song. I’ve never seen to many writers tweet or blog about a song before, which tells me that you all love to write to it, too. The lyrics are the perfect anthem for any character who’s defined by something that, well, isn’t everything they are. The music fits well, too; it’s hard not to feel empowered when that music kicks in. The song is both subtle and dramatic, and listenting to it helps create both kinds of moments. It’s a great anthem for writers, too. Your word-count, number of followers, pile of rejection letters? It’s not everything you are.

What songs will you write to in 2012?

The next lists will be my favourite books of 2011, so look out for that! :)

Best of 2011: Fifteen Writing Songs - Part Two

Here's the second part of my countdown of the best writing songs of 2011! You can read the first part here.

7. The Lonely - Christina Perri

Dancing slowly in an empty room/Can the lonely take the place of you?

I usually write to songs because of their lyrics, but it's the mood of this song that inspires me. It evokes this haunting type of sadness, which helps me get in the mood to write the more depressing scenes.

6. He About to Lose Me - Britney Spears

I feel it burning and I know I'm standing far too close.

And yet again, I hear a Britney Spears song as full of angst. Cheating, or even being with the wrong person at the wrong time, has been a common theme in what I've wrote this year, and this song captures the feeling of the cheater perfectly. They know that they're doing something wrong, but they "can't overcome this chemistry." And, as they cheat, they know that their partner, or the person they want to be with, is slipping away. It's hot and heart-breaking at the same time. 

5. Skin and Bones - David J. Roch

So don't try to save me, and please God forsake me/I'll suffer alone, I just want to be left.

I posted a dance for this one because it's where I first heard the song, and now I always associate the two. I cried the first time I watched this dance, because to me, it and the song are all about giving up, even (or especially) when there are people who will do anything to help you. It's the song I play in my characters' darkest moments.

4. Bird of Winter Prey - William Fitzsimmons

We're more than just the blood of what we've done.

This song is on the list because of the lyric I quoted. This CD came out when I was writing a part of my novel where my characters were just destroyed by guilt. The reassurance that they were more than their actions was exactly what they needed and, ultimately, what they gave each other. Guilt is almost always a theme in my work, so there's always a use for this song.

3. Someone Like You - Adele

We were born and raised in a summer haze/Bound by the surprise of our glory days.

Well, obviously. This is the angst anthem of 2011, so of course I wrote to it. Much like the other Adele song on this list, I wrote to it because I danced to it. My characters are really too young to relate to the lyrics, but they understand the emotion behind it, and when I danced to this song, I was able to put that emotion into my writing.

2. Poison and Wine - The Civil Wars

I don't love you, but I always will.

I wish I had the space to quote all the lyrics, because they're all perfect and poignant. Joy and John Paul didn't waste a single word when they wrote this song, which makes every line feel like a punch to the gut. The song is a messy love story, and those are what I strive to write. I could put this song on for almost every scene I write, and either the lyrics or music would be appropriate. It's beautiful in how it's both heart-healing and heart-breaking.

1. Falling - The Civil Wars

Tell me it's nothing/Try to convince me/That I'm not drowning/Oh let me tell you, I am.

This is, by far, the most scene-specific song on this list. But, it was such a significant scene, and the song was so important to it, that now whenever I think of that novel, this is the first song that comes to mind. My character, Callie, danced to this song, and it was her first real breakthrough, the first time she realized there was something seriously wrong with the way she'd been treated. And her boyfriend, Chase, guided her through it. While I never explicitly stated this was the song she danced to in the scene itself, I described it, and   danced to it as though I was Callie to know what she'd do. This song brought me closer to my characters, reminds me of the novel I spent most of the year working on, and is the one closest to my heart. 

And that's it! I'll post my 2012 songs closer to the new year. If you celebrate it, have a wonderful Christmas!

Best of 2011: Fifteen Writing Songs - Part One

I’m obsessed with end-of-the-year countdowns, so from now until the new year, I’ll be talking about what I believe the best of 2011 was in terms of entertainment, which may take the form of music, television, celebrities, and of course, books.

I knew I wanted to post about music, but there was so much incredible music released this year that it was impossible to create a list of my favourite CDs or songs. So, instead of talking about the best music of 2011, I’m talking about the best writing music. This list features fifteen songs that were released in 2011 that I loved to write to. They’re not ranked in order of how much I like the song themselves, but in order of how much I wrote to them. That means most of the songs were released earlier in the year, because I haven’t had a chance to write to some new releases. So, when I finish this list, I’ll post a smaller list of songs I know I’ll write to in 2012. Here's the first part!

15. Housewife’s Prayer – Pistol Annies

I’ve been thinking about setting my house on fire.

One of my characters, Tiffany, is only seventeen, but already feels like a housewife. Though she’d never admit it, it’s her anthem. But, that’s not the only reason I write to this song. The theme of it, the desire to do something crazy and wrong that comes from dissatisfcation, appears in most of what I write, in one form or another.

14. Tough – Kellie Pickler

There ain’t nothing wrong with a woman that got a little backbone.

Like most writers, I torture my characters, and they come out stronger for it. This is their theme song when they realize that, and are ready to fight for themselves.

13. Learning to Love Again – Matt Kearney

That was the real you running through the fields of gold wide open.

 I write to every Matt Kearney song, and it’s always because of moments in the songs rather than the songs as whole. This one’s a little  different, though, because its theme of the real you is why I love to write to it. The theme of someone revealing their true self to someone else and then falling in love either because of or through that is always present in my work.

12. Every Teardrop is a Waterfall – Coldplay

I turn the music up, I’m on a roll this time/And heaven is in sight.

Ever since this song was used for the final montage on So You Think You Can Dance, I’ve heard dance in it. The two projects I’ve focused on this year feature dancer, and I hear everything my characters feel when they dance in this song.

11. She’s Dope – Down With Webster

Girl you’re a star, attention’s nothing new to you.

This is such a jam, and sometimes you need to write to music which pumps you up and makes you go, “Yeah, I’m awesome.” It’s also the way my male love interests see my female MCs ;)

10. Inside Out – Britney Spears

You touch me and it’s breaking me down.

 Oh gosh, I don’t even know how to explain this one. Basically, the song’s story of break-up sex is quite similar to a storyline I wrote this year, except mine was full of angst and didn’t involve dubstep. So, because I associated the song with my story, I started to hear it as full of angst, and I had it on repeat when I wrote one of the saddest scenes in my novel. Seriously. Also, believe it or not, this is not the only Britney Spears song on the list!

9. Turning Tables – Adele

Under your thumb, I can’t breathe.

I write to this song because I dance to it. It’s one of my favourite songs to dance to because it forces me to break down, and I’m able to write in that emotional and honest state it brings me to.

8. Beautiful Girl – William Fitzsimmons

Beautiful girl/May the weight of world resign/You will get better.

I always write to William Fitzsimmons because he’s so honest in both his lyrics and his voice, and it makes me honest. My characters always need to hear that they’ll get better, and this song promises them that.

What do you think of these songs? Any guesses as to what songs will appear in part two? What songs did you write to in 2011?