Except for me it is. I suffer from Procrastinitis. In non-medical terms, it refers to the uncontrollable urge to not do what your supposed to do when your supposed to do it.

It can range from ignoring the pile of laundry that is staring at you from the corner until you realize you have no clean underwear, or in my case, writing and editing that really should get done but I just have one more movie to watch and THEN I’ll do it.

Technology has only enhanced my Procrastinitis. I can watch a movie instantly thanks to Netflix. I can chat with my friends in Ireland and Canada at the same time. I can play online games till my eyes cross. I can surf message boards for hours and have absolutely nothing to contribute at all. Then I look up and realize FOUR HOURS have passed and I have done nothing constructive. At. All.

Oh and let’s not forget Twitter! The newest and bestest way to completely waste an entire day by watching other people procrastinate too. It’s awesome!

(The fact that it is noon on Wednesday and I am just now getting to typing this post only proves my point!) In my defense I did have a dentist appointment this morning and I do work a full time day job, but really, I suppose I could have done this ahead of time. (Like some unnamed YA Highwayer who will not be named *coffKaitlincoff*) But there were movies to watch, and message boards to surf. I can’t be expected to remember everything!

So what is your favorite procrastination enabling tool?

Anyway, this week on Road Trip Wednesday, YA Highway is talking about your favorite places to read.

My answer is it all depends. Mostly on whether or not I have my 2 very-cute-but-rambunctious boys with me. If I’m alone, there’s nothing like a coffee shop slash bookstore to put me in the mood. Surrounded by words and coffee, OMG can it get any better than that? Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen often. So I compromise. I make a cup of coffee at home and curl up in a chair and tune out the screams of “He hit me!” and “Tell ‘youngest’ to stop trying to eat my toes!” (Umm yeah, I wish I were kidding. What? They’re boys. Everyone knows boys are just gross.)

I have a favorite chair downstairs that is right next to the T.V. that the wii is attached too. Yeah, I don’t read there often anymore. Mario is a loud lil bugger. Upstairs in my office slash library I have a huge chaise and another wingback chair. I can go up there and shut the door and block out everything. That’s where I go when everyone is home. With a steaming cup of coffee, of course.

But the truth is, I can read just about anywhere. I’m a mom, heck, I can read while cooking dinner AND folding laundry AND carrying on a coherent conversation with the hubs! That’s right! Superwoman move over, there’s only room for one superhero in this town!

So, where is your favorite place to curl up with a good book? The garage? The attic? A cozy chair with a throw in front of a crackling fire on a cold winter’s night? (I hate you if that is you, btw! LOL)

Man, if I could predict that I wouldn’t have to write books, I could just sell my uber-secret knowledge to desperate writers and be living the high life. Unfortunately, my abilities tend to lean towards finding one lost boot at 7:59 when the boys need to be out the door at 8:00 sharp. Not really a skill that will make me rich.

I heard a while ago that witches were the “next big thing.” Not really sure, but why not, right? So many possibilities. Evil witches. Good witches. It’s a trend we all could get behind I think.

I’d like to see unusual creatures. New takes on legends type of thing. I love reading a book where they have taken a common event and spun it into something totally cool. Yes, that’s vague, but it’s what writers do. We take a vague idea, what if it to death and come up with a fabulous idea.

Personally, I dislike trends. They are stifling. When you try to write something that is specific (for me anyway) it takes all the magic out of it. Common advice is to write what you love. That’s really what its all about, because if you do, it will come across on paper. And though trends matter, good writing pars overdone.

So your idea for a vampire who climbs to the summit of Mount Everest, then turns around and eats everyone in his climbing party, then tells everyone they died in a horrible avalanche and who wants to go next story? Write it! (Well, maybe not that story, there isn’t a plot.)

My point is, write whats in your gut. Keep trends in the back of your mind maybe for reference points, but be bold! Be creative! Put your spin on the words, use your voice, and hopefully in the end, it will be all you need.

So if you had to pick the next big thing, what do you think it would be?

See, I never wrote as a teen. I never had aspirations of being a best selling author. Heck, I hated schoolwork. I hated having to write anything down. I never even kept a diary. (Too incriminating, but that’s beside the point!)

Instead my high school years were spent skipping school (Almost didn’t graduate I missed so many days!), sneaking out the bathroom window at night (Not as easy as it sounds!), and drinking too many berry wine-coolers in gravel pits every weekend. (Man those were the days!) Oh and Mom, if you’re reading this-it’s not really true. I’m a writer, it’s called imagination. Just concentrate on that word and you won’t hyperventilate.

So in essence, I was living the characters I write now. Lets just call it research. For something I never thought I’d be doing. I will say though, that I was a voracious reader. I loved books even back then, and I think that’s part of the reason I am able to write effectively now.

I wrote down my first words about 2 ½ years ago. I had been wanting to write for the past few years, but got too overwhelmed every time I tried. The writing books all say to outline, plan, plot, don’t write a single word until you know exactly what’s going to happen. And research every detail. It freaked me out. I would try and freeze.

But on the way to work one day I heard something on the radio that made me think. I made up a story to go around the story I’d heard. When I got to work I just started typing. And every day at lunch I just wrote without thinking too much.

It worked! I wrote a novella in a few weeks! And I also discovered the beautiful world of pantstering. (ie, writing off the cuff and letting the characters tell the story.) And that’s how and when I started writing on a regular basis. And 2 ½ years later I have an agent and have written 4 more full length novels. (And several more novellas.)

So I guess my earlier writing wasn’t that bad, and we’ll just call high school the practice before the implementing. Hehe.

Did you know you wanted to be a writer when you were a teen? Did you attempt to write? Share!

Thanks for reading!

Over here they have put together a compilation from bunches of authors who posted about their agents today. Thanks for the hard work ladies!!

My agent, Ethan Ellenberg of the Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency, is fantastic.

I knew going into the whole agent hunting thing that I wanted, no needed, an agent who would guide my writing. One who would help me to be a better writer. There are some agents out there who offer no editorial feedback and that is great for their clients. It works for them. I would be a total basket case if any book I wrote went out on sub with no revising!

Throughout the last year I have learned SO much, written two more books and we have talked about what needs to be done to make them great. My writing career is in his hands and I trust that he wants me to succeed as much as I want to.

This isn’t a fast business by any shot. It’s a slow grueling process that can test your resolve and try to break you, but with the right people in your corner, you can succeed. And that’s why I think that my agent is one of the best! I will get there one day, I know it, especially with his help along the way! He pushes me to write better with every idea I have. One of these days the next book will be the one.

So I just want to say thanks to Ethan, my fabulous agent, on agent appreciation day!

Oh gawd, this is tough. I read constantly, and am forever saying “this is the best book ever” after each one. I’ll try though.

Shiver – I JUST finished this one and I can say, it’s one of the best books I’ve read. It was also the first dueling first person books too! Everything about it was just fabulous. The tone, the pacing, the characters. It keeps you guessing right up to the end. Sam is one of the best heroes eva!

The ENTIRE Mortal Instruments series – See how I snuck that in as one book, hehe. Technically, it’s one story, just split up into three books. Okay, okay, so I broke the rules a little. I adored this series. Absolutely could not put them down. I read all three books in ONE weekend. Cassandra Clare can spin a story and make you ache for the characters (Okay, so I ached for Jace a little more than the rest, )

Wicked Lovely – Melissa Marr is a goddess. I would have chosen all three in the series, but I already cheated once. Her faery world is amazing, I love the characters and the love triangle playing out. Totally rooting for Seth by the way!

Honorable mentions that were .0001 away from the list.

Holly Black – Tithe, Valiant and Ironside.
Aprilynne Pike - Wings
Alison Noel – The Immortal Series
Christopher Golden – Poison Ink (Thrilling, terrifying and awesome!)
Christopher Golden – Souless (OMG, the ultimate zombie book)

2. If you could meet one author living or dead, who would it be?

This is tough because I am so not a fangirl. I have talked (On line) with Cassandra Clare and Alison Noel when they did a workshop on a board I talk on. (I also “met” fellow Mainer Carrie Jones who wrote Need among other things) The problem with meeting someone you idolize is that they can let you down. I’d rather stay in my own little world where my favorite authors are who I think they are. Call it naive I guess.

3. What book are you most looking forward to in 2010?

Radiant Shadows! (Book four from Melissa Marr in case anyone lives under a rock! LOL) Not sure when it’s coming out but Crescendo is on my “cannot wait” list too. Other than that, I pretty much just go to the bookstore, browse until a cover catches my eye and buy one (Or ten) new books to read. It’s a sickness I think! LOL

Hop on over to YA Highway and tell us what your favorite books are, who you’d love to meet and what books you’re looking forward to reading next year!

Tears drip down over my cheeks, mixing with the bile. The pain churns in my gut, twisting and tearing at me until I feel less than human. When it becomes too much, I throw back my head and scream.

The Dormant’s, excited by this raw emotion, crowd around me, fighting to take some of it for themselves.

All of them, every single one had to have been a person. It has to be why there were more and more. Even after we killed so many.

My stomach lurches again. Oh God, we killed them. What if they were someone I had known? A neighbor? A teacher?

The low moan of despair escapes from between my lips and I curl up into a ball. Let them kill me. I can’t do it anymore. Not knowing what I know.

A searing pain radiates from my scalp. James is lifting me by my hair, dragging me towards the far door. My feet scramble on the floor, trying to find purchase to get away from him. His hisses of warning make the Dormants around us claw at the floor, and they retreat to watch me with hunger in their eyes.

Max hasn’t said a word. He just stares at me through eyes that don’t really see me. I want to scream, I’m sorry, but the words die on my tongue. He won’t care. It’s over.

“James, there’s still time to stop this madness,” Gran says as we walk past her.

He stops. Hope flits inside me. Maybe he will let me go. If he cares at all about me, maybe he will do the right thing. He looks straight into Gran’s eyes and smiles.

“Bring two dozen hostages to the cave. Everyone else is fair game. Including her.”

It takes a moment to realize he has just given an order to the Dormants around us.

Permission to kill everyone.

I yank on my arm, desperate to free myself. To help Gran. To try and save Max and Devon. James holds me like I am nothing more than a mad kitten. As he drags me out the door I hear the snarls of pure glee.

The very last thing I see is Max and Gran watching me before they are lost in a writhing sea of blackness.

1. I have two writing BFF’s that I have known for a couple of years and without them, would never have gotten where I am. They listen to me bitch, moan, groan, complain, and of course, help me celebrate. They are my plot buddies, the ones who tell me I’m crazy, or who just lend an ear when I need to cry. Ruth and Dayna I could not live without these guys! I love you both!

2. When I first started writing, I joined an online writing community, and without the amazing support there, would never have sold the very first thing I wrote. Romance Divas is the most amazing group of people you could hope to meet online.

3. Gotta get my hubs in the top three! LOL His support means everything. He “gets” it, I can talk to him about plots and characters and he has never laughed at me. He helps me brainstorm and work out problems, and listens when I bitch. What more could a girl ask for! ;P

4. YA Highway’ers. OMG. When I got asked to eat lunch at the cool girls table, I almost died. They like me, they really like me! LOL A more awesome group of girls would be hard to find. And they are all so uber cool too. That makes me cool by default!!

5. My muse. I have to give her a shout out, because without her, I’d be walking in circles talking to myself. Oh wait, I do that BECAUSE she gives me ideas, but never enough information to write the whole story. She likes to make me figure it out for myself. Which sort of defeats the point don’t you think? I mean really.

6. My day job. I love my job. I really do. Its flexible and pays well and I am able to pick up my kids when they get out of school and we come home and I have several hours a day that I can write. (In theory I admit) But my job enables me to pay the bills, and not worry so I can concentrate on the fun things. Like writing.

7. My Agent. Gotta give him a shout out because, even though my debut book didn’t go anywhere yet, has given me feedback and encouragement to rewrite another that I love, and to really push the boundaries of the one I’m doing now. And I love it! He takes “good” and pushes to make it “great.” I am so very thankful for that guidance and support.

8. My laptop. I know. But I bought it last year specifically to write. I gave my old one to the kids. Now they can play games and I can have my very own computer where all my books are stored, and that won’t be destroyed by viruses from game downloads. Most importantly, I have a computer with a S and W. Yeah, has anyone ever tried to put the letters back on a keyboard? I mean, like, all of them? Not.Easy.

9. My family. Seriously. At every family get together they ask how my writing is going, when they can buy my books, and what I’m working on now. I just wish I had something to show them that hard work really does pay off! One of these days. (And they have all volunteered to follow me around to do book signings so it looks like a crowd! LOL)

10. The Internet. For giving me the access to all the above! Including number 3! LOL (Okay, excluding number 9 technically) Technology is an amazing and wondrous thing.

So there you are, 10 writing related things I am thankful for. Now I tag my two girls, Ruth and Dayna.