From the essay “How to write your second novel or, if you want to make God laugh, show Him your outline” by Stephanie Kallos:
… the best writing comes not from the part of you that writes an outline. The best writing comes from the part of you that feels, grieves, fails, flails, yearns, despairs, flounders, and prays. The best writing comes from the place where you dream.
(Scooped via Writer Unboxed)
*
Thank you so much to everyone who has read, rated & reviewed the excerpt of my novel The Good Daughters at Amazon for the Breakthrough Novel contest. Also special thanks to those of you who have helped promoted it, because that’s far beyond what I hoped or expected. (Like this? Seriously?) All of the positive response has really lifted my spirits and gotten me enthusiastic about writing again, even when it’s difficult.
Just a warning: I will probably leave the reminders up on my site and occasionally mention the contest until the semifinalists are announced (Apr 15), but I’ll try not to be obnoxious about it.
Also, I’d like to recommend my two favorite excerpts so far: Eden Lake by Jane Roper, and Kanako’s Foreigner by Amanda Kendle. Both are exquisitely written, and exactly the type of book I’d pick up in a store and buy. Hopefully I’ll be able to do that someday soon. ;)
New Twenty-Somewhere tomorrow coming soon. Obviously “every Monday” is a thing of the past, but for now I’m sticking with “every week.”
Filed under: 
Tagged with: 
Kristan, HUGE congrats on the Amazon Breakthrough Novel contest final! We are so going to brag you up on Writer Unboxed. (Friday looks like a good day!)
• Therese Walsh’s recent blog post: Trusting Yourself
Aw, thanks, Therese!
Thanks for the mention Kristan, it means a lot to me!
cheers
Amanda
• Amanda Kendle’s recent blog post: ABNA reviews and learning from a novel contest
CONGRATS, KRISTAN! That’s so huge! Fingers crossed for you!
• Kathleen Bolton’s recent blog post: The Pace of You
Holy crap congrats on being a quarter finalist! That’s great!
Thank you!
i reviewed! i used my real name though. i’m not good at reviewing so it was rather short.. :P
• floreta’s recent blog post: CD Release Party!
Hi Kristan!
Just saw your comment on my blog and thought I’d return the favor. Congrats on making the quarter-finals! I’m going to check out your excerpt sometime soon and I hope to see you/join you in the semi-finals!
Good luck!
~VK
• Vincent Kale’s recent blog post: Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Quarterfinalist!
Thanks, Floreta & Vincent!!
[...] . . for a big time squee. WU friend Kristan Hoffman is a quarterfinalist in Amazon’s Breakthrough Novel Contest! WoW! Kristan’s story THE GOOD DAUGHTER is garnering rave reviews. Go check it out, you [...]