ChickLitGurrl:  high on LATTES & WRITING has a new look and a new interview!

Come hang out and read my latest interview with YouTube sensation, ScriptGirl – who talks about screenwriting, movies, and more!

Check out the excerpt below!

CLG:  Now that you are a YouTube celebrity, are you planning to use your ScriptGirl image to benefit your career, and if so, how?
SG:  Well it’s odd. A lot of opportunities have come my way due to ScriptGirl, but they don’t necessarily jibe with my career goals as a screenwriter. I’ve been offered some TV hosting gigs and those folks could not care less about some brilliant rom-com I have in my car. Likewise, the producers I meet with aren’t the least bit impressed by my Internet alter ego. In fact, I think it may actually diminish my credibility.  Well, that and the fact that I tend to show up at meetings late, inebriated, and wildly belligerent! (laughs maniacally)

CLG:  What are three pieces of advice you would offer to those wanting to break into screenwriting?
SG:  Make friends with rejection. The numbers are always going to be against you. That’s a fact, Jack.

Optimize all opportunities, big and small. Actually, just assume they’re all big.

Write from your heart. But get a good agent or manager to handle your business. Financially raping writers is a sport to producers. Like golf or polo.

Head to ChickLitGurrl:  High on Lattes & Writing now to read the rest of ScriptGirl’s interview!

About CLG:  Since 2005, ChickLitGurrl has been a place to talk to women writers about writing, craft, inspiration, and anything and everything else that falls into being a female writer. Nearly 70 women writers have been interviewed, to include Carly Phillips, Bernice McFadden, Lauren Baratz-Logsted, Mary Castillo, Jennifer Banash, and Paula Chase-Hyman. In ‘09, CLG branches out to include ALL women of words – scriptwriters, freelance writers, novelists, essayists, memoirists, and more! In addition to the interviews, you’ll also find information on writing-related news and tips.

ChickLitGurrl Talks to young adult author Coe Booth about her latest novel, KENDRA!

INTERVIEW EXCERPT

CLG: Both KENDRA and your debut novel, TYRELL are young adult novels – what initiated your desire to write novels for teens [and for those who love a good read]?

CB: I’ve always wanted to write for teens. Even when I was writing my little pretend “novels” in elementary school, the main characters were always teenagers. The teen years have always held a special place for me. I guess it’s because there’s so much going on then, so many important decisions and so many heightened emotions. I find it very exciting to write about teens because they go through so many experiences, and often for the first time.

CLG: You’re walking down the street and you feel like a million bucks – what song plays in the background?

CB: “Single Ladies” by Beyoncé. That song always makes me laugh!

CLG: Many people believe that good writers are also voracious readers. What are three of your favorite books, and why do they make the list?

CB: My favorite books are THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD by Zora Neale Hurston, THE SOUND AND THE FURY by William Faulkner, and OF MICE AND MEN by John Steinbeck. I love books with real characters and authentic dialogue, and in all three of these books the characters are unforgettable and the dialogue just jumps off the page. These books are REAL!

Check out the rest of Coe Booth’s interview @ ChickLitGurrl: high on LATTES & WRITING!

ChickLitGurrl: high on LATTES & WRITING

Chocolate-caramel lattes + Women writers = ONE GREAT TIME!

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A lot of people ask me how I came up with the name ChickLitGurrl as my online moniker.  Initially, it was for a girl (me) who was a fan of Chick Lit.  It soon grew from that to a girl (me again) who loved literature by chicks (women, obviously).  It has kept parts of both definitions and now adds to it a girl (yep, me again) who loves writing literature about chicks (yes, women).

With that love of reading and writing women’s fiction, I started the blog ChickLitGurrl:  high on LATTES & WRITING (CLG) where I have interviewed and promoted women authors since 2005.

That love of showcasing women writers branched into wanting to help all writers.  This can be seen in the editing I do for clients, the Writers Boot Camp class that I offer, and the columns I write on various aspects of writing – all of while, I hope, will aid writers in developing their craft and achieving their literary dreams.

My latest foray into helping support writers comes in the form of a new blog – All the Blog’s a Page (AtBaP):  where EVERYTHING relates to writing.  In this monthly blogging series, I play moderator to a group of writers.  I pick a topic, pose a question, and ask the writers to respond by tying the topic to their writing.  AtBaP began in August 2008, and has tackled the topics of faith, sex, and being male.  In November, we’ll look at being female, and end the year by looking at homosexuality and writing.

SO, at the end of the day, when it’s asked, “What is ChickLitGurrl?  Who is ChickLitGurrl?” I answer that ChickLitGurrl is a wordsmith who believes that one of her literary goals is to help other writers achieve their literary dreams – via interviews, features, and articles (all of which are free)…and editing and Writers Boot Camp (which aren’t free – lol – but are VERY reasonable!).

This blog site will offer information regarding my editorial and story development services as well as showcase the interviews, features, articles, and other things I’m doing to help writers.

If you’re a writer looking to connect with someone like me, then get to it!

http://chicklitgurrl.blogspot.com

Shon Bacon, aka ChickLitGurrl, started the blog CHICKLITGURRL:  high on LATTES & WRITING in 2005 to showcase the talents of women writers; she wanted to know what inspired them to write, she wanted to know the trials they faced to get published, and she wanted to know what they were doing to promote their published works.  She also wanted to know the “other” side – how they managed writing in their busy lives, what they did outside of writing.

In those four years, Shon has interviewed over 60 writers, and in 2008 alone, she’s interviewed nearly 30, to include Abiola Abrams, Diana Rodriguez Wallach, Jennifer Banash, Liane Bonin, Lisa Mondello, Lutishia Lovely, Marissa Monteilh, Niambi Davis, Paula Chase-Hyman, Shannon McKelden, Shelley Halima, Wendy Nelson Tokunaga, and Yasmin Coleman!

It’s never to late to check out the interviews; in the right hand column, the interviews are located by YEAR.

For 2009, Shon plans to spotlight TWELVE AUTHORS, one every month.  HOWEVER, she’s only spotlighting indie authors – those who are self-publishing or those who are published through small, indie presses.  Books have to be published AFTER July 1, 2008.

If you fit into those two categories, send her an e-mail at sdb6812@hotmail.com and provide her with the following info:

Book title:
Book genre:
Book description:
Publishing house (and url):
Publication date:

ChickLitGurrl Talks to young adult author Diana Rodriguez Wallach about her debut novel, AMOR AND SUMMER SECRETS!

INTERVIEW EXCERPT

CLG: YA is huge – there are so many books on the market that feature girls having to spend what’s to be their best summer away from home in a different place. There are a slew of books about best friends, new friends, and love – how do you make your series UNIQUE? How does it stand out from the pack?

DRW: I didn’t set out to write a “fish out of water” story. My goal for Amor and Summer Secrets was to offer a modern-day look at the reality facing many American teenagers who are torn between two ethnic groups. It doesn’t matter whether your half Polish and half Puerto Rican, or half Filipino and half Russian, people can relate to what Mariana is feeling.

But in terms of uniqueness, the novel also brings to light many secrets that would have stayed hidden in Puerto Rico had Mariana not taken that trip. It opens Mariana’s eyes to a side of her family she didn’t know existed, and I think many teens can relate to being kept in the dark about unpleasant family histories. Trust me, I know. I was the youngest. I practically lived in a bubble.

CLG: Do you think the multiculturalism is an aspect that helps to illustrate the series uniqueness?

DRW: Absolutely. I think it’s becoming rare to find many American kids who are 100% affiliated with just one ethnic group. And I find that many people, including myself, connect more to the culture that they “physically” resemble.

For much of my life, I had a hard time connecting to my Puerto Rican roots because I didn’t fit the stereotype. My picture’s posted here, take a look. Would you look at me and think “Puerto Rican”? But as I grew older, I chose to seek out those connections. I studied Spanish in school, took a semester abroad in Madrid, and visited my family in Utuado.

So I purposely sent Mariana on a journey that it took me much longer to take. After all, Mariana’s a smart cookie, I knew she could handle it.

ChickLitGurrl: high on LATTES & WRITING
Chocolate-caramel lattes + Women writers = ONE GREAT TIME!
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Come check me out at BLOGGING IN BLACK [LINK] today where I’m sharing QUICKIE EDITING TIPS!

If you have some of your own, share them with the other readers.

See you there!

Shon

Blogging in Black

[http://www.blogginginblack.com]

Today, I talk about DEVELOPING SCENES @ The Blood-Red Pencil: http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/.

Come check out the piece and leave comments!

ChickLitGurrl™ and author Brenda Janowitz are asking you, “Why do you love Chick Lit?”

From October 1, 2008 to October 31, 2008, you have the opportunity to answer this question in 250 words or less! Be funny. Be heartfelt. Be creative. Be engaging. Take the question and develop a response that truly shows YOUR love for the genre.

On November 7,2008, ChickLitGurrl will announce the three best responses, and winners will receive an autographed copy of Brenda Janowitz’s latest novel, JACK WITH A TWIST!

Contest submissions must be e-mailed to sdb6812@hotmail.com and be received no later than 11:59 p.m., October 31, 2008. Only ONE submission per participant.

Looking forward to reading why YOU love CHICK LIT!

Today at All the Blog’s a Page (AtBaP), we end September with one final juicy taste of our SEX & WRITING discussion as best-selling author Kayla Perrin offers us a glimpse into her latest novel, OBSESSION!

When Sophie Gibson’s husband confesses to an affair, she is enraged and devastated. And when her husband suggests that she settle the score by having an affair of her own, Sophie isn’t interested.  But soon the idea of sex as payback intrigues her, and out on the town she meets Peter. She soon begins an affair with him, but Peter’s love turns obsessive. And when Sophie ends their affair, Peter won’t take no for an answer. Because if he can’t have her, no one can.

So, what does Kayla think about sex and writing?  Head over to ALL THE BLOG’S A PAGE today to read her take, and check out the OBSESSION excerpt!

Also, make sure to check out authors Will Belegon, Rachelle Chase, Lauren Dane, and Zetta Brown on AtBaP, too, as they both offer their thoughts on sex & writing!

ALL THE BLOG’S A PAGE (AtBaP) – Where everything relates to writing:

[http://alltheblogsapage.blogspot.com]

Today at All the Blog’s a Page (AtBaP), we finally bring you a MAN’S perspective on SEX & WRITING as erotic author Will Belegon holds court.

For the month of September, AtBaP authors are talking about SEX; here’s the question that was posed:  Is sex an important component to develop in your writing? How are you able to weave it into a work AND also have a strong plot development?

Sex is a primary force, Will states. It always will be. So it can be used as motivation and therefore be intricately tied to plot. And of course, in erotica, sex may actually be the plot.

Sex is also a very good way to reveal character. A Romeo Void song from the eighties says “I might like you better if we slept together” but in writing I use a variant. I might know you better if we slept together. A person or character who is literally naked is often metaphorically so as well. Small actions can be magnified to reveal larger truths. For example, think of the differences that can be revealed by a light switch. In many situations, the most you might be able to reveal about a character through the use of a light switch is whether or not they feel it is important to conserve energy. (Of course, having said this I can now think of many other ways to use it… but we’ll address that another time.)

What ELSE does Will have to say about sex and writing? Head over to ALL THE BLOG’S A PAGE today to read the rest of his response, and check out an excerpt of his latest work!

Also, make sure to check out authors Rachelle Chase, Lauren Dane, and Zetta Brown on AtBaP, too, as they both offer their thoughts on sex & writing!