It’s good news/bad news time, Minions! Okay, the good news: I FINALLY have more Minion Bling! So all of you who have been waiting sooooooo patiently are about to get some, along with a lil extra something as an apology for taking so long/token of Auntie Heather’s affection for you. The bad news: I won’t be shipping for about two weeks, so that I have enough time to package it all, label it all, lug it all over to the post office. AND…I think I have to order more buttons already. This time, I’m thinking of going with blue, to celebrate NINTH GRADE SLAYS. Any thoughts on this? Should I stick with red? Do both? Have a different color for each book? It could be like a Vlad rainbow. 
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It’s been a while (if I’m honest with myself, it’s been a LONG while) since Auntie Heather passed on any writing tips to you guys, so I was thinking I might tell you about The Big Thing. See, every author has a Big Thing that they focus on when they’re writing. For some, it’s plot, for others it’s structure, for me…it’s character. My stories don’t come from an idea I have for an event that takes place or a particular way I want a story to come together. My stories come from my characters. Without Vlad, there would be no story for me to write.
Am I making sense?
Probably not. My point is, that you have to find whatever it is that makes you foam at the mouth to write…and then follow it. Do you find the thought of a particular situation intriguing? Or are you more intrigued by how a story fits together, how words flow? Or is it the people that get you? All of these things are important. But most writers are very passionate about one of them, and the rest follows. Find your Big Thing…and go with it.
By the way, Minions, tomorrow’s the last day you can win an ARC!
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I hope I win the ARC! :*)
Right now, my Big Thing is plot. Really, my Big Thing seems to change with every story. Don’t know why. It just depends… :*)
With me, it’s the climax. Slowly building up to the big shocker and turning point of the story.
Thanks for the advice! And thanks so much for all your hard work. Writing and packaging and mailing and giving away awesome stuffs! We Minions owe you a GREAT thanks. *bows*
<333
I say you should do different colors for the different books, now is there any chance I can get in on that? I think I’m going to be needing more pins soon, or at least I hope so!
Alright here’s my entry, this is just winging it right now and later when I finish the story it’s bond to change.
“FORD!” K8 screamed with unexplainable joy. “Did ya see it Vlad? Wasn’t it awesome?” She smiled at the part Vampire.
He shook his head. Out of everything he’s seen she’d have to be on his list of the weirdest.
“Yeah,I saw it. I still don’t get why you get so hyper about it though.” he replied.
“Oh come on Vlady! It’s a FORD! It’s only like the best thing ever, along with Skittles and Sharpies…” she smiled holding her custamized Sharpie.
He just shook his head and they walked home in the snow covered streets. Where they had only begun their journy into this strange tale…
Hope you like it =D
Have I mentioned how much I adore my Minions?
= You guys rock!
Okay, the winners of the ARCs are Ewoh, Vickie and Elladrid–CONGRATS, you three!!! (Now get me your addresses)
Also, we only have abut a month until the paperback version of EIGHTH GRADE BITES comes out. It’ll make a nice cheap gift for a friend and will further grow the Minion Horde, so go on out and pick up a copy (or two, or twelve) on March 13th! Hmmm…should I give a few away when I get my author copies? I’m thinking yes.
I agree Antie, I also go with characters first then the story pretty much comes to me after that. Also it would be cool to get a color for each of the books, if you don’t mind if I ask for the blue buttons when they come out, or the green (If TGB is even going to be green, idk) . Anyway, Congrats to the winners! And thank you Auntie for holding contests, they’re so fun (especially the writing ones ^_^).
You should so have different coloured minion bling!
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That would be awesome. And if you do decide to do that, i might need a blue pin to go with my red one.
i think you should have different colors for the books and bling!
my big thing is getting to the ending and working on the plot. i enjoy writing like breathing.
love your books!
Thanks for all your blogs, Heather! They are great for writers. I found your blog first, and then read EIGHTH GRADE BITES (which is great, by the way)… definitely go with different colored bling
For my stories, the characters are definitely the “big thing.” I envy the commenters who say that plot is their big thing. That’s what I struggle with most… sigh.
I’m so glad you all love the Bling so much. I love giving it to you! I’m just waiting for the day when I encounter a Minion in public. I’ll likely shriek and hug you a lot. So…don’t mind that crazy woman. It’s just Auntie Heather–I’m harmless.
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Anon (7:26)…I so hear ya
I don’t mind hugs. Yours surely can’t be as bad as my aunt’s. I get the life squeezed out of me every time. O_o Anyway, you should come down here to Louisiana Auntie! I would love to meet you in person!
Come visit your neighbors to the west! Kansas would love to see you, at least I would.
We need shirts. Oh my god, I realized how awesome an idea that’d be. Just have the Vampy-smiley on the front, and on the back… “One of the Horde”.
And my “big thing” is characters that stand for something. You ever read a book where you think “but he’d never do that!” and it goes against the whole character? I hate that. And Heather Brewer here has done such an outstading job!
(end fanboy rant)