Writing, Meg Cabot, and Harry Potter

Wow, it's definitely been a while since I've written anything in here. Sorry about that!

Today I'm at work, and I'm not feeling to great. My throat hurts, and I'm over-heated for some reason. I couldn't stay home, though; Dad had things to do and people to see.

Anyway, I've been trying my hardest these days to write a book. I just...don't really know where to begin. I mean, basically, I've started about five or six books. One of them is a horror novel that I wrote four chapters for, but apparently only saved the first chapter, considering that's all I can find. The second one is a love story that I wrote when I was twelve. Yeah, that's how old I was when I figured out that I love to write. Then about three years later, I read over it, and realized it was the dumbest thing I've ever written. I sat down and started to write something else. Some other love story, I'm sure...that later seemed even more stupid than the first one. When I was seventeen, and a junior in high school, quite a few things happened to me. I met one of my best friends, I met my boyfriend (that I still have), and I finally grew up, and changed my view on life. I started to write a book about how I met this guy and then we broke up, and then I met Kevin. I talked about my best friend and my algebra class. I talked about how much I loved Choir and how much I hated my first English teacher. But then I lost my best friend about two years later (earlier this year) and it became difficult to write and continue on with this story about how much I loved her and having her in my life.
I realized later that this novel is supposed to be, um, FICTION. But basically, all I'm doing is writing about my life.
And what I'm wondering is...
Is that okay?
To write a "fictional" story about...my life?
Because I've always been told to write what I know. And I only know what's happened to me.
So, that makes sense, right?
I mean, obviously that horror story I mentioned earlier never actually happened to me...but it's like the Twilight series, and how Stephenie Meyer came to write about it. It came to her in a dream and she fell in love with the characters.
That happened to me, so I had to write it down.
The only difference is...I really don't have that much discipline to write THE WHOLE BOOK. Just, you know, a few chapters, and then set it aside because I get stuck.

As most of you probably know, Meg Cabot is my all time favorite author, and I only hope to one day be as great as her. A new Meg Cabot book is the best thing in the world, let me tell you. She makes me fall in love with the characters. If the character is sad or depressed, I'M sad. If the character is happy and starts with this random sarcasm, I laugh out loud. I love a book that makes me laugh so hard, and that's what Meg's books do for me.


Last night, I was looking at my bookcase. It's a small bookcase that's right next to my bed, and has Meg Cabot books galore. Well, the first two shelves, anyway.

<-- See the Princess Diaries and the Queen of Babble books?

Anyway, I was thinking about how amazing she is to have time to lead a normal life and write all of these books. And then some, because I cannot find the Patricia Cabot romance books ANYWHERE to save my life. So basically, yeah, I want to BE her. Or at least as amazing as her. I guess I really just need to sit down and write. I really need to have deadlines, though. I need to have that discipline and that...I don't know. I mean, it's fun for me and I want more than anything to get a book (or, you know, five thousand. Whatever) published. I just feel like I never will.

Anyway, I am obsessed with Meg's blog, and I read it everytime she posts a new one. And do you know what I found out? That it's easier than ever to get a book signed by her.
!!!!!!!!

How COOL would that be?
You not only get a book signed by her, but all of this too! (While supplies lasts.)
















Ahhh. My birthday is the DAY AFTER Princess Diaries: Forever Princess hits the bookshelves. And do you know how many people know that I LOVE PD, and everyone is going to buy me this book AND Ransom My Heart -- because I'm totally excited about that one, too.

Except that...Meg has videos on her website that says both of the books are coming out in DECEMBER. Why change the date?
WHY?

It's like the whole Harry Potter/Twilight thing.

Anyway, I have homework to do.
Update later.

-Lindsay