Wannabe Writers

This is a new Meme created by another Sarah at Confessions of the Unpublished. It is for unpublished writers.
Question(s) this week: Staying motivated? I've really been having a hard time staying focused lately. The end of my book is near but I keep finding myself struggling to just sit down and type. Any advice on ways to stay focused? What do you do to keep yourself going?
I have been having the same probelm lately. I ussually watch some of my favorite movies and just write.
Where I am in the Writing Process:
I have finished one book, Sister during NaNoWriMo 2009(Okay, it was written mostly during NaNoWriMo.) I decided that if I want to pursue that book, I would have to scrap over half of it and rebuliding all of those parts. I am working on my second book, which is currently Untitled. I am at about 10,000 words and I am really excited about this book.
My current probelm is:
Finding time to write. I have been extremely busy lately. In the last two weeks, I have written two chapters. I am blaming the end of quater here and just being busy in general.

In My Mailbox(Week of January 31st)

I'll add the list of books, when I am not under such heavy stress for school. Hope you enjoy.

2010 Dystopian Challenge

Time Constraints:
Jan 1 2010 to Aug 24 2010
Deets:
1. Open to everyone (if you do not have a blog, just
state in the comments section that you read the book and on what date)
2. Any book format
3. Books can be chosen throughout the year,
but must have been read within the timeline.
4.Sign-up
5.Post your reviews in the comments area
6.Three Levels:
•Level 1 - Experimental - 5 books
•Level 2 - Addict - 10 books
•Level 3 - Junkee - 20 books

I have read:
1. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.
2. The Line by Teri Hall

I'll add more as I go, I love challenges.

Winners

The winner of Uglies by Scott Westerfeld is Amber.
The winner of The Secret Life of Prince Charming is Brittlit.
You both will be emailed, please respond in the next 48 hours. If it is not answered by then, I will pick new winners. Sorry, but I am going to the post office soon and need to get everything packaged and ready to go.
Also, one of the winners for the Swag pack didn't respond, so it will be going to Erica at The Book Cellarx.

Going Bovine by Libba Bray

Rating:
Characters: 14/20
Plot: 15/20
Originality: 17/20
Writing: 17/20
Recommendation: 16/20
Overall: 79/100 or C
Cameron Smith is verily making it through high school. His sister overshadows him with his want for perfection. Then he contracts the human form of mad cow disease, which is Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. He becomes that center of attention for his family. While in the hospital, Cameron is persuaded by an angel to search for a cure that will save the world or maybe he is having a vivid hallucination that is from the disease. He goes on a road trip with Gonzo, who is a neurotic dwarf or Balder, a Norse god that is cursed to be a yard gnome. On the road trip to Disney World, they learn about things that they never though that they would know, such as true love and the string theory.
I found Cameron to be an interesting character. I liked how he grew over the book, as though he was on a epic quest. Dulcie was an awesome character and I loved her. She was such a fun character. Gonzo and Balder added the comedy and were fun and great characters. The plot was a bit slow, but it was fun. I got confused at the end and with that all of the hallucinations. It was also funny at times. Bray definitely created a original book that was one of a kind. Though I wasn't a huge fan of the book, Bray is a brilliant writer that created a fantastic story that was full of fantasy mixed with the contemporary world. I think you would like this book, if you like a book with an epic quest.

Waiting on Wednesday (44)

Title: The Six Rules of Maybe

Author: Deb Caletti
Publisher: Simon Pulse

Date: March 16, 2010

Scarlett Hughes is overly involved in the lives of everyone around her, and exceptionally interested in the habits of her neighbors. But Scarlett is thrust solidly into her own life when her sister, Juliet, returns home from school—pregnant and surprisingly married to a sweet, handsome man whom she seems to have no interest in, but who is hopelessly in love with her. Forced to take a look inward for the first time, Scarlett discovers the necessity of dreams, as well as the necessity of facing reality and speaking the truth.

I love Deb Caletti, so I am excited for this book and want to read it so much.

Trailer Tuesday (5)

I love Skins. It is so addicting. I miss the first cast a lot, hopefully I will become closer with the second cast.

Boys, Girls and Other Hazardous Materials by Rosalind Wiseman

Rating:
Characters: 19/20
Plot: 17/20
Originality: 16/20
Writing: 17/20
Recommendation: 18/20
Overall: 85/100 or B
Charlie Healey thinks that Harmony Falls is the berginning of a whole new life. She had a brutal time in middle school. High school is a chance to start over and stay away from the drama. One the first day of school, Charlie runs into Will. He was her ex-best friend that maved away. He is a varsity athlete and hotter then Charlie remembered, Will also hangs out with the people that run the social scene at school. Charlie doesn't understand their power, when they do something unforgettable to someone that is totally inocent. Charlie has to choose between doing what is right or doing something that she will regret.
I found this book to be honest. The characters were real. Charlie reminded me of one of my friends. Sidney was sweet and a great person. Nidhi was also awesome and I liked that Charlie had to face what she did to her. Will was sweet, and made some bad decisions, but he owned up to them. Micheal was also such a great character, that made me laugh a lot. The plot was really predictable, but I still found it to be a fun and a sweet plot. I laughed a lot during this book and found it real humorous. It wasn't the most unique book, but it had some unique componet. I also enjoied Wiseman's writing. It was casual, but descriptive. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes Elizabeth Scott or Sarah Dessen, because it had the tiny hint of romance that is commonly found in thier books. It was a book that about friendship, betrayal, and how far some will go to be accepted.

In My Mailbox (Week of January 24th)

This is my In My Mailbox for this week.
Ginger High is no ordinary school. It is a school for students with special powers. Many years ago people came to Earth from the Kingdom of Animist, a parallel universe. Two long time friends, Matthias and Amanta, attended the school and then returned home to Animist. The school has had many unexplained deaths. Daisy Fisher attends the school after her old school burns down. Matthias and Amanta are called back to the school to help solve the mysteries. What are powers? And what is with this crazy school? Welcome to Ginger High.
It sounds like an interesting book and it is for a book tour.
I also got a letter from Khy.

Random post...

This is a vlog done by my Unicorn loving friend. I am super busy with school work and don't have time to write a proper post. Since, I hvae an essay, 2 maps, 2 timelines, and a project on Claude Monet due on Monday. Rachel is my Unicorn BFF and she just finished the 1st draft of her first novel. You can wish her congrats, because I am sure that is as awesome as this:

I am going to do a similar vlog, when I am not rushing to finish two months of history in the next nine days....