GAH also ;LJAGT;OSAHGT;LKSAJFT

Sup?

Musical practice is going to kill me. Seriously, I'm so tired by the time I get home it's ridiculous. But I managed to go through and make a list of six agencies that I am thinking about query-ing to.

The problem is that I'm a really bad query writer, even with the help of "Guide to Query Letters" by Writer's Digest. I just feel uncomfortable pitching my work and I never know exactly what to say. I tried to query in the fall of 2009, and got rejected three times before reconsidered and went the route of self publication.

Also, I'm going to talk to a school about writing! They gave me a 15 minute slot during their morning announcements, and so I'm setting that up now. I have no clue what I'm going to say, because if you haven't noticed, I'm kind of a rambler. I'll work it out. :)

I Consider Myself Kind of Awesome,

Moriah Jane

Study Hall, Philosophical Discussions with Friends, and Thinking About Stuff

Hola!

So I'm getting started on writing my next book, so of course I've been thinking about it a bunch. But the problem I've been encountering is with the character that might not even show up in the story. But he's the only thing that ties my character to her home, and when she runs away, she doesn't even tell him. I know all about how she feels: guilt, pain, what-if's, all that good stuff. But what about him? How is he supposed to react.

Not gonna lie, I have a boyfriend right now. And if he just up and left one day, and I knew he had his phone on him, I would text him every morning and every night. Even if he didn't text me back. Because I would want him to know that he could always come home. Or that he could come back and get me. I'm always up for a new adventure.

But boys are different than girls! They aren't hard wired the way that girls are. So, would he text her? And if he did, then for how long? Would he stay faithful or would he move on as soon as it was clear she wasn't coming back? Most importantly, if he has even an inkling of where she was going, would he go after her? Would a real life, teenage boy take such a risk?

Because when I write these kinds of stories, I try to keep my characters as realistic as I can make them. I am not here to coddle you and spin tales of beautiful girls who always get their boys no matter what. I'll leave that up to Disney. My goal is to take a normal girl and give her a normal romance. That's all I get, so why should my characters have more?

Not to say that I don't love my boy: I do. More than he knows. But let's be honest, he's no knight in shining armor and I'm no damsel in distress. We're just two average kids who have found something neat in each other. And that's more than enough for me! He once said to me, "You are a simple girl." I am. Because I know I'm lucky to have someone who is so good to me. I want this attitude to carry over to my characters because not everyone falls in love after one week and not everyone gets a happy ending.

So, what do you think? Would my boy text her, call her, even come after her? Can a teenager love that much, to make those kinds of risks and mistakes? What would YOU do for love?

Realistically in Love with Love,

Moriah Jane

Arguing about Mac's and Chillin in the Library

Hello!

So I'm thinking about putting out my book through eBooks, which I've heard can be amazing for self published authors. And I've been thinking about trying to do a book signing at my local B&N. Thirdly, I've also been considering trying to go to other schools during the day and talk about self publishing and just writing in general. This makes me really nervous, because I hate doing things I've never done before, alone. What I really want to do is ask my best friend if he'd like to come with me, to help me set up the presentation and, well, be my emotional support. But... long story, but he'd never be allowed to do that. Sucks.

Anyway, I put up a new YouTube video today. Just an update thing, nothing special, but it still felt good to do. I miss doing this kind of Internet stuff; it's something I really enjoy and know I'm sorta good at! All too often I let less important things keep me from doing the things I love. I've got to start making time to do what I really want to do. That's the only way I'm going to be happy with my life and my newborn, fetal career.

I think it's time for a goal! I always work best when I have something to look forward to. Hmm... My new goal shall be to get my book promoted on YouTube, either by Kaleb Nation (Author of the Bran Hambric series) or *gasp* John Green (Author of Looking for Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, Paper Towns, and Zombiecorns). And I'd like to do this by the end of the calendar year, please. :D

In other news, I'm sitting in my school library and I looked across the chair circle where I'm sitting and do you know what I see? My buddy Ryan reading my book. How freaking cool is that?

Excited for the Four Day School Week,

Moriah Jane

Procrastination and Very Large Sweet Tea's

Hello!

So, here I am. It's been a year since my final draft of my first published novel was completed. Since then, I've self published, but then my world got super busy and I had to put it back on the shelf. That is no more! I'm here to start doing what I should have done in the first place; make time for my dreams and start promoting!

Here is where you will hear all my whiny, kind of boring, but completely honest and real account of my journey into author-hood. And whatever else I decided to chatter on about. :)

Here's what you need to know about me: My name is Moriah (More-I-AH) Jane Howell (Howl). I am currently a senior in high school in central Pennsylvania. I am the daughter of two teachers, and have grown up loving literature and writing. I've always known I was going to do something with writing.

I wrote my first novel in 2008, but it is absolutely awful and needs to be reconstructed and rewritten. I put it on the back burner and started my second book that summer. I took the next year and a half to finish, rewrite and edit it. With the help of my favorite English teacher (Ms Farrant) and one of my best friends (Sharon!). That second book is titled SARA SIX STRINGS. Last summer, I self published it using CreateSpace.com, and have been trying to sell them ever since.

Other than reading and writing, I make my own YouTube videos, dabble in photography and play a lot of golf. Next fall, I will be starting college and majoring in English Writing. I'm starting my next book here soon, and I want to share this with whoever wants to hear it. :D

 Awesometown,

Moriah Jane