I submitted and received contracts on 3 books with 3 more waiting on submission.

I started a new MG series Stardust Warriors. It has its own website, so check it out.

I finished my YA series Seraphym Wars website. It’s awesome. I’m editing Book 2 Harpies and will submit it soon. Book 1 Odessa, comes out April 1, 2011 from MuseItUp Publishing. So be sure to pop over and download a copy. At $5.95, it’s a steal!  The print version will be out later in 2011.

I’m excited about a teen grog I’ve started with fellow YA/MG authors at Teen Word Factory. We post blogs and more about writing aimed at teens who write or those who write for teens. Check us out! We’re happenin’, man. LOL

I’m working on my Author Website – the Yellow Hat Author. You can find out about ALL of my WIPs there. I have quite a few MG books in the works.

And lastly, I moved my blog Plotting Worlds to a new site. I’m much happier with it. You should definitely run over and check it out. That’s where I blog these days.

Hope to see you soon at Plotting Worlds. Remember Write Often, Write Well.

Come over to rebeccaryalsrussell.com and see what else I have to say. I have pages of links–everything a writer could want or need.

I also have a new website for my soon-to-be published series Seraphym Wars. seraphymwars.com has an excerpt, illustrations, bio and more.

I could care less VS I couldn’t care less

What you think it means: “I couldn’t care less.”

What it actually means: You actually do care.

It begs the question

Would you think it means: To ask or raise a question

What it actually means: To use an argument that assumes as proved the very thing one is trying to prove.

Let’s table this

What you think it means: To discuss something later

What it actually means: In the United States, it means what you think it does. But it means the exact opposite — “let’s discuss this right now” — in most of the rest of the English-speaking world.

I did a 360VS I did a 180

What you think it means: Completely changing your opinion.

What it actually means: Your opinion changed, but then changed back to your original opinion.

PIN numberVS just PIN

What you think it means: A non-repetitive way to refer to your personal identification number

What it actually means: That you’re being redundant. Especially when you use your PIN number at the ATM machine.

Lion’s share

What you think it means: The greatest of multiple shares

What it actually means: The phrase originally comes from an Aesop’s Fable in which the lion took all — not the largest — of the shares.

I am nauseous.VS I am nauseated.

What you think it means: I have a sick feeling in my stomach.

What it actually means: “I make other people sick,” the correct term would have been “I am nauseated.”

Here are some words that you’ll see used incorrectly on a daily basis.

Irregardless

People think it means: Regardless.

Actually means: nothing.

Peruse

People think it means: To skim over or browse something.

Actually means: Almost the opposite of that.

Peruse means “to read with thoroughness or care.” If you peruse a book, you leave no page unturned. This makes sense when you consider the Middle English per use, meaning “to wear out or use up.”

Ironic

People think it means: Any kind of amusing coincidence.

Actually means: An outcome that is the opposite of what you’d expect.

Pristine

People think it means: “Spotless” or “as good as new.”

Actually means: “Ancient, primeval; in a state virtually unchanged from the original.”

Nonplussed

People think it means: Unperturbed, not worried.

Actually means: Utterly perplexed or confused. It comes from the Latin non plus (a state in which nothing more can be done).

Bemused

People think it means: Mildly amused.

Actually means: Bewildered or confused.

Enormity

People think it means: Enormous.

Actually means: Outrageous or heinous on a grand scale.

Plethora

People think it means: A lot of something.

Actually means: Too much of something, an over-abundance.

redundant

People think it means: useless or unable to perform its function Actually means: an excess of something, that something is “surplus to requirements” and no longer needed, or that it is obsolete.

Here are some confusing combinations:

your/you’re

Your means “belonging to you.”
You’re is a contraction of “you are.”

Whose/Who’s

Whose is an interrogative or relative pronoun.

Who’s is a contraction for “who is”.

Who/Whom

Use who when it is the subject of the sentence,                                                               whom when it is the object. Replace the word “who/whom” with “he/him.” If “he” is correct, “who” is correct. If “him” is correct, “whom” is correct.

To/too/two

To indicates direction.
Too means “also.”
Two is the number after one but before three.

Their/there/they’re

Their is a possessive meaning “belonging to them.”
There indicates position.
They’re is a contraction of “they are.”

That/Which

that is specific,                                                                                  whereas which is general.

than/then

Than is used when you’re making a comparison between two or more things.                 Then is used to indicate that something happens after something else, often with a cause-and-effect relationship. Also use after “if” clauses.

Sight/Site/Cite

Sight involves your eyes being able to see.                                                                    Site is a location.                                                                                      Cite is to give credit for a source

Sit/Set

When used as a verb, to set means “to place” or “to adjust to a value”,                                     whereas to sit means, “to be seated”.

Roll/role

A roll is:

a small piece of bread                                                                                             a piece of paper that has been turned into a tube                                                                             a verb meaning “to turn (paper) into a tube”                                                                                a verb meaning “to turn over and over”                                                                                a list of people in a group

A role is a part in a play or the function you perform in a certain group.

Piece/peace/peas

A piece is a portion or fragment of something.                                                            Peace is the opposite of war.                                                                                        Peas are small green vegetables.

Past/passed

Past is an adjective meaning “before now.” It is also a noun meaning “the time before now.”

Passed is a past-participle form of the verb “to pass” meaning “to give” or “to move”.

Some people also use it euphemistically for death; My father has passed.

More/most

More should be used when comparing exactly two things. For example: You have more ice cream than Martha.

Most should be used when comparing more than two things. For example: Sandy has the most ice cream in the room.

lay/lie

Lay means you have to lay an object.                                                                    Lie means that it does not take an object; it is something a person does.                                    However; lay is also the past-tense form of lie.                                                                  The past-tense form of lay however is laid.

Isle/aisle

An isle is a small island in a string of small islands.                                                           An Aisle is corridor through which one may pass from one place to another.

Imply/infer

Something is implied if it is a suggestion intended by the person speaking,                        A conclusion is inferred if it is reached by the person listening.

Its/it’s

Unlike most possessives, its does not contain an apostrophe.

But with its/it’s you need to remember that an apostrophe often replaces a letter. If the word is it’s, ask, “What letter has been removed?” The letter i from it is has been replaced by the apostrophe.

Hoard/horde

A hoard is a store or accumulation of things.                                                             A horde is a large group of people.

Historic/historical

historic describes an event of importance—one that shaped history or is likely to do so. Historical merely describes something that happened in the past.

Hangar/hanger

The airplane is in the hangar; the coat is on the hanger.

Hang

To hang something or someone in the present tense, one uses the same form. In the past, however, pictures are hung and criminals are hanged.

Good/well

well is an adverb; He did that well.                                                                  good is an adjective; That was a good dinner.

Farther/further

Both these words mean “more far.” Farther means “more far” in terms that can be measured.

Further refers to more abstract differences, like the difference between two people’s points of view.

Emigration/immigration

Emigration is the process of leaving a country;                                                         immigration is the process of arriving in a country.

Disinterested/uninterested

To be disinterested in something means to not be biased about something.                               To be uninterested means to not be interested in or intrigued by something.

Desert/dessert

A desert is a dry sandy place.                                                                        Dessert is the sweet stuff you generally eat after a meal.

Disburse/disperse

Disburse means “to give out”, especially money.                                                   Disperse means “to scatter”.

Diffuse/defuse

To diffuse is to disperse randomly, whereas to defuse is to remove the fuse from a bomb, or in general to render a situation less dangerous.

Diffuse can also be used as an adjective, meaning, “not concentrated”.

Dawn/sunrise

Dawn is frequently used to mean “sunrise”, but technically it means the twilight period immediately before sunrise.

Assure/ensure/insure

To assure is to intend to give the listener confidence,                                           to ensure is to make certain of,                                                                  and to insure is to purchase insurance.

Altar/alter

An altar is a table or stand upon which religious ceremonies are performed.                    Alter means “to change”

Acute/chronic

Acute means “sharp”, as an acute illness is one that rapidly worsens and reaches a crisis.          A chronic illness may also be a severe one, but it is long-lasting or lingering.

Affect/effect

Affect is a verb meaning “to influence” or “to cause change in.”

Effect is a noun meaning “the result or outcome.”

Accept/except

Accept is a verb meaning “to agree to” or “to adapt to”

Except is a preposition or conjunction meaning roughly “unless” or “if not.”

tamoor | @tamoor Astrologer, Metaphysician, EFT, Writer, Author, Award Winning Author, Young Adult Fantasy, Dragons, Fairies, Visionary Fiction, Juvenile Fiction, YA Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Books, Book Reviews, Editor, FREE Ebook, Publish, Publishing, Independent Publishing.  http://www.talesoftamoor.com Location: Umpqua Valley, Oregon

The Enchanted Inkpot | @EnchantedInkpot We are a community for writers and readers of middle grade and young adult fantasy.

Robert Jeschonek | @TheFictioneer Writer of urban fantasy, scifi, mystery, comics, Star Trek, Doctor Who, and more. Watch for upcoming Clarion young adult novel My Favorite Band Does Not Exist. Location: Johnstown, Pennsylvania

Carmen Bowles | @Cabowles2486 I’m writer who is a future bestseller from H-town. Genres: Young adult Romance, some sci-fi, and fantasy. I’m going for my degree in English.  Location: Houston, Texas

Marissa Miranda | @marissamiranda Current college student aiming to become a published young adult fantasy writer  Location: Florida, USA

Trulie Peterson | @TruliePeterson Writer of Young Adult fantasy and science fiction, among other things. Location: Florida

rrsmythe | @rrsmythe Young Adult Historical Fantasy Writer, therapist, taxi driver etc  Location: In the woods

Fiona Tankard | @writerinitaly British ghostwriter, writer and seo writer who has lived in Italy since 1994.  http://www.spiderywriting.com Location: Tuscany, Italy

Katherine Stillwater | @KStillwater Writer. Editing my first novel (Seventh Veil). Genre: young adult, urban fantasy, and paranormal-romance. Also, seeking an agent.  Location: West Hollywood, CA

Rebecca Ryals Russell / @vigorio Writer of MG and YA Dark Fantasy. In search of a publisher. http://rebeccaryalsrussell.wordpress.com Location: Wellborn, North Central Florida

If you know of additional awesome links, let me know and I’ll add them.

As I designed and thought about the characters for my current series, Seraphym Wars, I wondered what kind of people they were. Even my Majikals have personalities and appearances, so I had to discover who they were as well. In fact, I have several animals with distinct personalities and appearances for which I had to plan out.

In order to keep all of this straight throughout the books I devised a master spreadsheet, which I showed a picture of. I keep a copy of each spreadsheet in a massive binder as well as folders in my computer. Speaking of several copies, it is wise to keep and update several copies of EVERYTHING you create. You should keep:

• hard copy
• memory stick to carry with you, that way you can access all of your information from anywhere
• buy a separate hard drive that automatically backs up everything on your computer
• files on your computer

I even have an old hp computer that I keep my entire writing folder on in addition to all of the research, pictures, etc that are related. But I may be paranoid after having two computers crash on me and losing everything, including baby pictures for two of my kids.

Anyway, someone suggested that I post my master template for planning characters. Here is the best I could figure out how to post. Hopefully this will be helpful.

Before compiling the character information, it is helpful to know what options are available. Hence I designed a Character Design Planner:

After you’ve decided what traits, etc. everyone has it is time to track it all on an organizer spreadsheet:

After crashing into the back of a truck, Megan Jones told Florida state troopers that she had been shaving her “bikini area.” After she hit the truck, she continued on before being pulled over. And there’s more.  Her ex-husband was steering the car from the passenger seat, according to the FHP. Barnes was also driving with a suspended license, just one day after she was convicted of driving under the influence.

Trooper Gary Dunick, who referred to the trimming procedure as “landscaping,” provided an explanation.  “She said she was meeting her boyfriend in Key West and wanted to be ready for the visit,” he said. [CUDJOE KEY,  FL 3-2009]

A Bradenton man allegedly “donkey kicked” his girlfriend into a wall. Deputies arrested Matthew McCluskey on domestic battery charges Sunday night.

According to reports, McCluskey kicked his girlfriend so hard the impact flung her against a bedroom wall and cracked the drywall. When deputies tried to arrest McCluskey, he pulled away and ran. McCluskey was tased after continuing to struggle with officers. [BRADENTON, FL 3-2009]

A Eustis mother and her daughter physically fought over the same man landing both women in the Lake County Jail on battery charges. Officers responded to an argument between a mom, 46, and her daughter, 25, over a man who is having sexual relations with both women.

During the officers’ first visit to the home, police thought Johnson appeared intoxicated and told her to go to sleep, but about 20 minutes later they returned to find Johnson bleeding from her forehead. It was serious enough that paramedics had to respond, according to the report. [EUSTIS 3-2009]

A couple held a wedding in the chapel of Black Bear Cub Resort Wedding Chapel, Sevier County Tennessee. They rented a cabin at the same resort near the Chapel. An employee of the resort saw the couple’s car in the Chapel parking lot at 1:00am and reported to the police the Chapel had been burglarized. The police later located the car at a restaurant in Pigeon Forge where the couple was arrested. They gave incriminating evidence which lead the police to a lockbox in a trash can. The couple also had  a large amount of cash on them at arrest. [TENNESSEE 3-2009]

A 101-year-old Chinese woman has stunned her family and fellow villagers by growing from her forehead a horn than resembles a goat’s. The grandmother from Linlou village, Henan province, began developing the mysterious protrusion last year. Since then it has grown 2.4 inches in length and another now appears to emerging on the other side of the mother of seven’s forehead.

The condition has left her family baffled and worried. Her youngest of six sons, age 60, said when a patch of rough skin formed on her forehead last year they didn’t pay too much attention to it. But as time went on and a horn grew out of her head that is now 6cm long they became very alarmed. Although, it is unknown what the protrusion is on the grandmother’s head, it resembles a cutaneous horn.

This is a funnel-shaped growth and although most are only a few millimeters in length, some can extend a number of inches from the skin. Cutaneous horns are made up of compacted keratin, which is the same protein comprising hair and nails, and forms horns, wool and feathers in animals. They usually develop in fair-skinned elderly adults who have a history of significant sun exposure but it is extremely unusual to see it form protrusions of this size. The growths are most common in elderly people, aged between 60 and the mid-70s. They can sometimes be cancerous but more than half of cases are benign. Common underlying causes of cutaneous horns are common warts, skin cancer and actinic keratoses, patches of scaly skin that develop on skin exposed to the sun, such as your face, scalp or forearms. Cutaneous horns can be removed surgically but this does not treat the underlying cause.

(But isn’t it fun to believe she’s a demon? Who really knows? Maybe our literary images of demons came from such an encounter.) [LINLOU VILLAGE, HENAN PROVINCE 3-2009]

A 68-year-old grandfather accused of punching children in a Northwest Side Walmart appeared in Franklin County Municipal Court. He was ordered to stay away from his victims and Walmart while the case proceeds. Columbus police have charged Conone with two misdemeanor counts of assault but said they expect that more victims will come forward as their investigation unfolds.

He was caught Wednesday night at the Wal-Mart after a 6-year-old boy complained to his mother that he’d punched the back of the boy’s head. The woman followed the grandfather out of the store, grabbed his arm, led him back inside and notified security. Police said a review of the surveillance video in the store confirmed not only the assault on that boy but other assaults on his 7-year-old brother and two other children who haven’t been identified.

The grandfather told police he would put his keys between his fingers and strike the children when their parents weren’t looking. He said he’d been doing it since January because he liked the excitement of getting away with it.

He would wait until a parent wandered briefly out of sight before striking the child with his keys between his fingers. The child would cry out, and he would slip away unnoticed. Investigators said he doesn’t appear to have a criminal record and told them he’d never tried to abduct or otherwise harm the children. He told police that he would commit the assaults while shopping. But police said he didn’t appear to shop for anything Wednesday night, and he later admitted going into the store with the intent to strike the children, Hurst said.

Police suspect there have been other incidents that were not reported, likely because parents weren’t sure what had caused their children to cry. Conone told authorities that he’d committed the assaults since January and that all were at the Bethel Road Walmart. He selected only little children.

He chose youngsters because they were unable to defend themselves. [COLUMBUS 3-2009]

Unfortunately, we can’t sit inside a reader’s brain. But we can ask readers what they like and don’t when they read. And we can tell via sales whether a book lives up to a reader’s expectations. But while being written, is there some way a writer can try to zero-in on ways a reader reads?

After giving this some thought and investigation, I came up with the following list:

1. According to reader desires, a good novel contains these elements, in this order:

Story-must be interesting

Characters-must have dimension

Theme-must be current

Atmosphere/setting-must seem genuine to story and genre

1. Characters are the reason readers read. If the characters are boring or flat a reader will put the book down and pick up another with interesting, intriguing characters.

The main character must want something specific. Strong desire of a goal defines a strong character.

The main character must do something within the story. If all of the plot situations ‘happen’ to the character a reader gets bored. Sometimes the character must instigate the situation.

1. Humor helps any story and readers love it. You don’t have to create a comedy, just insert some humor, especially where it’s not expected.

1. Lastly, style is not nearly as important to a reader as it might be to a writer. The days of ‘purple prose’ are gone. Today’s readers want quickly flowing story with little narration and less description. Don’t eliminate either completely, just be judicious.

1. Look at titles from your genre in the bookstore and online (Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble.com). Jot down your favorites.

1. Keep it short and simple – one to three words works best. You may use a subtitle, but it’s not a requirement.

1. Create a list of as many titles as you can think of that relate to your story’s theme, genre, characters, plot, setting (especially if you world-built). Use a thesaurus.

1. Survey family and friends to choose their favorite three titles from your list. Narrow the list and resurvey until you have about five to choose from.

1. Make sure it relates to the genre of your story.

1. Use the title in conversation. Create a title page. How does it look and sound? If you don’t like it, change it. (I went through about four titles)

1. Create a mock-up book jacket. Place the title on the spine and front. How does it look? Try this with the other four until you find one that displays well.

1. Try using this link but don’t rely completely on it; use your own judgment. http://www.lulu.com/titlescorer/index.php (mine got a ‘22.9% chance of being a bestselling title!’ Which was the highest ANY of my suggestions got.)

What are some of the best titles you’ve come up with for stories?

What are some you came up with but didn’t use because they didn’t fit at the time?