Monday, October 13, 2014

Five Year Anniversary of Night Writer

I wrote my first blog post on October 10, 2009. That little post had two commenters: Stephanie Perkins and the mysterious Q. I thought it was fun that some of our avatar photos in the comments are actually the ones we used back then.

Steph was one of the reasons I started blogging. I interacted with Steph through her blog for quite while before started my own. I still love Steph and her writing, so I'm giving away a signed copy of her latest novel, ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER, (and the three buttons in the pic) as part of my anniversary celebration. Steph's lyrical writing, the intense longing, awkward situations, hard decisions, and authentic voices make for an amazing read. Plan on not being able to put it down once you start.



Isla was so easy for me to relate to. I read blogs for a long time before starting my own because, as Isla states, "social networking has always felt like a popularity contest to me. A public record of my own inadequacies."

But after I jumped into it, I made the most amazing friends. All of my regular critique partners are people I encountered through blogging. I've met up with Krista, Jackee, and Q, but Amy and Adam live farther away. Adam lives much, MUCH farther away (Thailand). If the only benefit I ever received from blogging was the influence these five people have had on my life and writing, it would be worth it.

I could tell great stories about any of my CPs, but I'm going to single out Q for a moment because, like Steph, she commented on that first blog post. This time of year, last year, we (along with another friend) were engaged in a writing challenge where we reported to each other on a daily basis. It was awesome. We both finished first drafts. In March, we attended a writing workshop that Mette Ivie Harrison hosted at Sundance as part of Writing for Charity. The workshop included a critique and private conversation with Joe Monti, Executive Editor of Saga Press. That was kind of incredible. Joe Monti's questions and comments were intelligent and insightful, and I believe that anyone would be fortunate to have him for an editor. However, the best part of the experience was hanging out with Q, talking about writing and books all day. Discussing ideas in person is a completely different experience than a novel critique.

Although I often critique writing for others, I don't usually give away critiques on the blog. In fact, it's probably been three or four years since the last time. But if you've written something (poetry, PB, MG, or YA) for children or teens that you'd like me to critique, put a brief description in the comments. I'll pick the description that most appeals to me. I've written everything listed in parenthesis. I've sold several poems to Highlights High Five and lots of newspaper articles (mostly on assignment).

In fact, I have a poem coming out their November issue. If you'd like a copy (it's a preschool magazine), put that in your comment.

I'll choose winners of the Highlights High Five magazine and ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER randomly. You may enter all three giveaways if you'd like. Because of the nature of this post, I'll give a bonus entry to anyone who comments about how they found my blog. Comments must be posted before midnight (PDT) on October 20th. Also, I'm sorry, but this one isn't open internationally.

Thanks for reading!

20 comments:

  1. Count me in for the magazine and the signed copy of ISLA! If I can only win one, I want the magazine.

    I think I found your blog after you left a comment on mine. How crazy is it that we live thirty miles apart?

    I've been so blessed by our friendship, Myrna. Congratulations on five awesome years. Here's to five more!

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    1. Thanks! Right now your odds are excellent. ;o)

      That is exactly how you found my blog. I found you (and Adam) on Natalie Whipple's blog. And I found Natalie's blog because of Steph's. And now, you and Steph are agency sisters. It's the circle of blogging. o.O

      Love your guts! Haha!



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  2. Happy five year blogging anniversary! I would love to be included in the ISLA giveaway! I found your blog--just a few seconds ago!--through Krista, whom I met (and had the awesome fortune to be mentored by) during The Writer's Voice contest. She has excellent taste, so looks like I'll be following your blog from now on too. :)

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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    1. Thank you!

      Krista DOES have excellent taste, so I look forward to learning more about you. :o)

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  3. What a sweet post! You already know this––but I never would have made it through my book without you, and so I can unequivocally say that you have changed my life. Enter me in the Isla giveaway?

    I found you because you found me first! And it's been a lovely five years. :)

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  4. Happy Anniversary! I would like to be included for the book. My nephew is 15 months so he's too young for the magazine otherwise I would want that too. I just found your blog on twitter and I'm glad I did!

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  5. I saw a tweet from Stephanie Perkins and wanted to enter the contest, because my school library doesn't have her books yet. Fingers crossed and congratulations!

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  6. Happy blog Anniversary! I'd love to enter the Isla giveaway. I just found you through Stephanie Perkins twitter. :)

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  7. Happy 5 years! That's great!! I'd like to be entered for the Isla giveaway (I found you through Stephanie's retweet on twitter).

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  8. Happy blogoversary!! I would like to be entered to win ISLA and a critique! I wrote a poem a long time ago, it isn't very long, but I enjoy hearing people's thoughts on it. Sometimes I wonder whether I should write more, but I'm not sure that I am very good at it. The poem is about the relationship between my mother and I which often has a lot of tension. Also, I found your blog thanks to Stephanie Perkins retweeting one of your tweets!

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    1. You're the only one who entered the critique giveaway. Please send me your poem at myrnabobfoster at yahoo dot com

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  9. Hi! Happy anniversary!! I just discovered this blog because of the link Stephanie Perkins retweeted, and it seems so lovely! I'll definitely be having a look around :) (oh, and I wouldn't mind a signed copy of Isla! ;) )

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  10. Happy blogoversary!!! I found your blog on Stephanie Perkins Twitter. I would love to be entered into the ISLA giveaway!

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  11. I would love a chance to win ISLA, thank you so much. I found this blog through Stephanie Perkins, and it seems like a lovely place. Although, your name is definitely familiar, so perhaps I've encountered you on some corner of the internet before.

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    1. Katherine, you won Isla, but I don't have a way to contact you. Please email me your address. myrnabobfoster at yahoo dot com

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  12. Hi! I found your blog via Twitter, when Stephanie Perkins retweeted your post about this contest. I adored "Anna and the French Kiss" and can't wait to read "Isla"!

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  13. Happy Anniversary!! This blog is wonderful! I found your blog through Stephanie Perkin's twitter, and would love to read her new book! :)

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  14. Happy times! I found your blog through a retweet from Stephanie herself! I'd love to win :)

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  15. Hello!

    I've just come over and spent some time poking around your blog after seeing Stephanie's tweet. I've read Stephanie's first two books and loved them, but I haven't been able to get a copy of Isla yet, so I'd love to win a signed copy!

    Happy blog anniversary, and I saw that you recently finished a first draft, so congrats on that, too! If only I could be so productive. :)

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