Celebrating Bloggers

Where would I be without blogs and bloggers? Maintaining a book blog and reading a ton of other book blogs and author blogs is what originally sparked my interest in YA lit – and in writing my own YA novel.

By keeping up with blogs, not only do I keep up with the zeitgeist, but I also learn what readers love and love to hate (insta-love, red-headed best friends, inaccurate college application timelines to name a few) as well as a ton about craft and how to improve my storytelling.

Let me give you one example of a blog event that directly impacted LEVEL 2. Frankie Diane Mallis (writer, blogger and member of The First Novels Club) puts on an event in January called the No-Kiss Blogfest, where participants are challenged to find or write an "almost kiss-- the rising, crushing, excruciating, longing, tension that comes when two characters get oh-so-close to kissing that you can just feel it, want it, NEED it....and then...they don't!"

Well, it just so happens that in January 2011, I was about to sit down to revise chapter 1 of LEVEL 2 when I stumbled upon Frankie’s post. My first draft of LEVEL 2 had my main character reliving one of her favorite memories with her boyfriend and it involved a kiss. But Frankie got me thinking … could the scene be even better with an almost kiss? So I tried it out. And guess what? It upped the excitement factor tenfold – and had a profound effect on the plot going forward too.

So thank you Frankie, and thank you book bloggers and writing bloggers who continually inspire me with your insights, passion and love of literature. I am proud to be a part of the conversation.

PS: For more tales of blogger love, check out YA Fusion.

Lenore's Blog

6 comments:

Frankie Diane Mallis said...

AAAH! That is awesome, I love this story! I'm so glad it helped you and now I seriously can't wait to read Level 2 because A) It's YOUR book! And B) There's a NO KISS!!!

:D

Lenore Appelhans said...

Thanks Frankie :) I hope you'll enjoy the book and the NO KISS!!

Donna Gambale said...

Seconded! Can't wait!!

Lenore Appelhans said...

You two!!

Shooting Stars Mag said...

Nice!! Book blogs really do help with my own writing, especially with what you said about things that people are SICK of seeing. It's very interesting!!

-Lauren

Lenore Appelhans said...

Yes, when you see something complained about enough, it helps you steer clear, doesn't it?