This post doesn't have an interesting title. But it is interesting.

After finishing NaNo, the only thing on my mind was laying bed and watching copious amounts of television (as if this was different from every other day). For the first few days of December that's exactly what I did.

Then, a few days ago, Helen sent me her manuscript to critique. Last time she did this, I failed epically. I think mostly because I was so nervous that I wasn't going to be a good crit partner.

Since Helen is one of my best friends, I was determined to put her book at a higher priority than I had last time (sorry, Helen). This is definitely an interesting experience for me. Mostly because, as of right now (this being the first time I've read through it), with every chapter my only thoughts are:

• OMG! This is amazing.
• I can't believe Helen wrote a book... and it makes sense!
• 
• Can I just steal this main boy away from from her MC and keep him forever?
• I can't be friends with Helen anymore. It's just not fair.
•  

While those are not particularly critical (at all), they are a nessecary step for me in this critique partner process. Chances are, I'll finish it tonight, then take a few days to process, then re-read for a better and slightly more critical look.

I'll also probably still be watching copious amounts of television (I mean, did you SEE that Psych finale? I'm still freaking out about it, I think a Psych rewatch is in order), but mostly, I'm going to attempting to be a better crit partner. After all, what are best friends for if not to be brutally honest with each other.

(Starkid gifs are always appropriate)

Apologies and Authors.

Lets start this post with an apology.

I've been a terrible blogger over here. I could blame Harry Potter and going through Post Potter Depression, but that'd be a lie. I could blame Comic-Con and all the AMAZING panels that I watched over the weekend instead of reading, but again, that'd be a lie. Okay, maybe they're not LIES, but they are excuses. So I'm sorry that I've been so terrible over here.

On the bright side, I revamped my TV Blog called The Weekly Enthusiast and I've been able to keep up with it pretty well if I do say so myself.

Anywho, today I come to this blog to tell you about the new authors I've discovered in the past few months. I give a lot of credit to my book pimp Helen for introducing me to these books and authors. She and I have pretty similar tastes in books, like almost identical. So here are five authors that I've discovered this year and now love.

Kiersten White:
Author of Paranormalcy and Supernaturally(that came out on tuesday... you should go buy it). Helen and I discovered her at the same time when we went to our local independent book store. I had seen Stephanie Perkins (another one of our favorite authors), tweet to her and she mentioned that Kiersten was one of her crit partners. Based purely on that, I bought Paranormalcy. Granted I normally love paranormal books, and this one shot it's way all the way up next to The Mediator series on my list.


Caprice Crane:
Helen had been telling me that I need to read these books for a long time, as someone who doesn't exactly like change I protested at first. I enjoyed staying in my wonderful YA bubble. One day at the library, on a whim, I picked up 'Forget About It'. This book, is fantastic. I'd be reading it at work and actually burst out laughing, only solidifying the fact that I was weird to my other co-workers, but I didn't care. Even as I type this, I have her new book "With a Little Luck" waiting for me at the library. YAY!!!!


John Green:
I know, I know. I'm late to the party. Better late than never, right?
Discovering him through the Vlogbrothers channel was definitely one of the more interesting ways of discovering an author. The thing I love the most about John's books, is how real they are. When I would read them, I would think "Yeah, that's probably how I would respond". Not only are they real in the conversational sense, but when it comes to real life occurrences, they are pretty spot on. Chances are that that girl that you have been in love with since you were little, is going to slowly slip from your mind when she leaves. It may take a while, it may hurt like hell, but eventually it'll take a minute to remember her and think "Where's Margo?"

On top of all that, John is signing ALL first editions of his new book "The Fault in Our Stars". This man is just so good to his readers.

Natalie Whipple:
Okay, technically she's not published... YET! She just announced that her new book Transparent has been sold. I found this blogger through both Kiersten White and Stephanie Perkins (if there were ever a gang of women that reminded me of my own soul sisters, it would be these ones). Natalie, a fellow Utah blogger and author, is not only hysterical and adorable, but offers some really great advice to those of us just getting into the writing biz. Anytime that I'm curious about something in the writing business, I go to her blog. Her posts are helpful, funny and sometimes contain awesome drawings.

Lastly (but most certainly not least of all), Stephanie Perkins:
Technically I discovered her last year, but I didn't read her book until the very beginning of this year, so I'm counting it! Stephanie has not only led me to a bunch of other amazing authors, but when I read her debut novel Anna and the French Kiss, it was one of those books that made me want to write. Almost to the point that I stopped reading (but I couldn't do that, Étienne is too pretty). When an author adds to that fire that already burning for you to write, they tend to hold a special place in your heart, Stephanie, is one of those people now. Right up there with Meg Cabot.

I'm going to try and be better with this blog... Anyone wanna offer some advice to help, or maybe some ideas?
Or...

I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested...

I've never been a critique partner before.

It's a little nerve-racking to be honest.

My amazing friend Helen , sent me her story to critique. Now, I know that I need to give more critique than "Aw, Helen, that was a GREAT book!!!" because every author knows that it can only improve. As nervous as I am to be a critique partner, I'm also kind of excited. It'll be nice to feel like my opinions about a book might actually make it better.

Thankfully, I follow amazing authors who give advice on how to be a good beta. *hugs amazing authors* ilu. &hearts

As nervous as I am to try and critique my friends' novel, I'm more nervous about having them critique mine. I've never really let anyone read my stuff. Not only that, but I have yet to get past 30,000 words in one singular novel. Recently a new idea popped into my head and it's definitely in uncharted territory.

Most everything I've written is with a male main character. Which may seem odd to some people, but for me, it's kind of awesome. You see, when I was just getting into writing I would do online written role play. In these role plays there were always an abundance of female characters. So to ensure that I would have someone to talk to, I ended up making a male character. It always worked. I became so accustomed to playing male characters that its always been hard for me to detach myself from them.

Not only did written role playing introduce me to a different perspective of writing, it also made me more adept at writing in third person than in first. I've tried writing through a female perspective and it never seems to work out as well as the male. I've tried writing from first person, and I just end up thinking it's wonky.

Now comes my conundrum. You see, there are these characters that have popped into my head, they're chatty, and dorky, and everything I love in characters. But they seem to only want to talk to me when I write their story from first person. However, these characters have grapsed my interest enough that I keep trying. I end up writing in third person, then they stop talking to me (which may be a good thing when I'm at work), and don't start talking to me again until I change it to first person.

My characters are rude to me, but I love them.

(btw, I'm not crazy. Having characters talk to you is completely normal behavior.... for writers.)
Any ideas on how to cope with being outside your comfort zone? Or should I just dive head first into it?