Win STUPID CUPID, MILES TO GO, and an iPod shuffle!

My editor told me they were going to do a cross-promotion with Lipsmacker.com, but I wasn't quite sure what that meant...until I looked on their website this evening. And OMG, I am so freaking excited!!!

Lipsmacker.com is doing a giveaway of a copy of my book STUPID CUPID, a signed copy of Miley Cyrus' book MILES TO GO, and an iPod, among other prizes!! Click HERE to see the prize list and to enter.

CHECK IT OUT, you guys!!! This is the coolest. Whoop whoop! Yes, that is me shaking my butt--don't judge me. LOL

Breaking the writing rules--is it really a crime?

I was talking with a friend earlier today about some advice she'd been given regarding the "rules" of writing. I got really ticked off because the advice she got from another published author painted anyone who used this one particular technique as an amateur.

For those of you who write, I'm sorry to say there are no firm rules about writing. And I'm also thrilled to say there are no firm rules about writing.

Let's take a common example. One of the so-called cardinal rules is to not begin your novel with a prologue. Guess what--plenty of books begin with them. Yes, some are crappy. But some are amazing. Good and bad writing BOTH come with the territory. Is it fair to condemn all prologues as being bad for a story just because some people don't write them effectively enough?

Oh, here's another one--you must never headhop! But wait...there are authors who do this too, including Nora Roberts. I don't see her editor smacking her on the hand for this faux pas. LOL

Well, crap--what about not beginning your story with a dream, or not starting out your book by talking about the weather? You mean there are authors who do that too? Really?

What gives? How can there be all these schools of thought that think their way is the only right way?

The problem for me is, when you start issuing hard and fast rules about what can and can't be done in writing, you narrow writing down to what YOU think it should be. You remove the freedom and individual voice and talent and craft that other people bring to the industry.

As for me, I can give you guys all the writing advice in the world, but in the end, all I can tell you is what works for ME. You have to decide what works for you--and sometimes, you get great pointers or tips by seeing what authors do. But sometimes not.

And there is NOTHING wrong with that.

No, I don't head-hop. I don't typically start stories with a dream sequence, or with description of the weather. But I'll never say never, because every story is its own thing and requires its own special way of being told. And if I close myself off to possibilities because other writers say it's "wrong," how can I possibly grow and develop my craft?

So for those of you who write, I advise you to yes, take the time to learn what other writers do. See what works for them. Learn the guidelines and so-called rules just so you are aware of them, understand what makes them work and not work. But play around with your prose and discover what works for you and makes your writing most effective. And don't hold yourself to one set of rules. Because guess what--there aren't any.

To me, that's what is so beautiful about being a novelist.

Don't forget--I'm having a super-awesome launch contest for the second book in my Stupid Cupid trilogy, Flirting With Disaster. Check it out HERE (all you have to do is leave a confession in the comments!). You can win a signed copy of Flirting With Disaster, plus a $50 gift certificate to the bookstore of your choice!

Reading, reading, reading! Oh, and reading.

Did you know I'm having a super-awesome launch contest for the second book in my Stupid Cupid trilogy, Flirting With Disaster? Check it out HERE (all you have to do is leave a confession. OMG I have gotten some AWESOMELY funny ones so far--go check them out, and then leave your confession in the comments!).

Anywho, along with writing my little fingers off, I'm diving head-first into reading. I have about a billion books I'm reading at the same time. I'm normally a serial book monogamist--I like digging into one story and finishing it before picking another up. But for some reason I have started, no kidding, over half a dozen books (they're a mix of YA and adult).

Here's what I'm reading:

--Beastly by Alex Flinn

--Shine, Coconut Moon by Neesha Meminger

--The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe

--The Sky Always Hears Me and the Hills Don't Mind by Kirstin Cronn-Mills

--Clockwork Heart by Dru Pagliossoti

--Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

--Soulless by Gail Carriger

Are you reading anything right now? I'm always looking for good book recommendations. Not that my poor bookshelf can handle anything. Good thing I have a Sony Reader. Mwahahahaaaaaa...*rubbing hands together evilly*

FLIRTING WITH DISASTER launch contest--enter to win!

We're less than 3 weeks out from my next release, so it's time to kick off my Flirting With Disaster book launch contest! Here's what's up for grabs:

--a copy of Flirting With Disaster, signed by yours truly
--a $50 online bookstore gift card to the store of your choice

What do you have to do to enter this contest? Simple--confess something to me. It can be anything, from dishing about a person you like (feel free to use pseudonyms to protect the guilty, haha), to baring all about how you totally stole your sister's clothes as you were growing up (I'm looking at YOU, Lisa). In Flirting With Disaster, Felicity is DYING to confess her feelings to Derek, the guy of her dreams. But something always holds her back.

So, enter my contest by leaving a comment in this thread with your best confession and an email address where I can reach you.

Here are the contest deets (aka, the fine print), subject to updating as needed--so please check back often:

--Entrants must be at least 13 years of age.
--The contest is open worldwide.
--One comment entry per confession, but please feel free to enter as many times as you like (include an email address with each entry). Entries must be made in this post, or they do not count toward the contest.
--Confessions must be 100% your own original material.
--By entering, you grant me permission to display your confession. Sooo, you may want to be careful about what you confess. And PLEASE keep it clean. I reserve the right to delete confessions that are icky or inappropriate.
--Contest winner will be picked by a panel of judges (not me!), who will decide which confession wins, based on creativity/uniqueness/earnestness/etc.
--If you are chosen as the winner and do not respond to me within 7 calendar days, I reserve the right to have another winner chosen.
--Contest begins today and ends Sunday, March 7, 2010, 11:59 PM EST.
--Feel free to email me with any questions: rhonda at rhondastapleton dot com

Please pass this on and tell everyone you know! And thanks so much for entering. I am greatly looking forward to reading your deepest secrets. :D

The World's Least Romantic Dates

Earlier this morning, my mom overheard the funniest conversation at work. This guy was talking about Valentine's Day on Sunday, and he was so disgusted because he has to take his girlfriend to see the movie Valentines Day. But he wants to see the Wolfman movie instead.

The guy was griping, "WHAT IS NOT ROMANTIC ABOUT A WOLF MOVIE? Come on, you have guys in it, you have girls in it, you have kissing probably."

This made me die laughing when I heard it (especially since he was apparently very earnest in his logic), but it got me and my mom thinking. I'm sure some of us have been on dates where the other person thought it was romantic, but we didn't.

For example, I remember back in college how this guy asked me out on a lunch date. As we were eating our sandwiches, he proceeded to tell me about a time he was busted by his mom with a girl he was, uh, getting busy with (who just so happened to be a stripper, of course!). I have no idea what in his mind made him think that was a good first-date conversation topic.

So, how about you--have you been on a so-called "romantic" date that you thought was a dud, but the other person thought was awesome?

Be Our Valentine--winner!

We have a winner! Beverly Stowe McClure, please send an email to rhonda at rhondastapleton dot com -- include your mailing address so we can get your signed books and valentines out to you.

Thanks to everyone who entered!!

Valentine's Day is coming soon!

Check out this graphic that my darling friend Chrissy Olinger made for me--isn't it cool? Valentine's Day is just a couple of weeks away. And nothing says lovin' more than a bunch of romantic gifts: candy, flowers, and of course, a copy of Stupid Cupid. :D

Also, don't forget about the awesome Valentine's Day contest I'm participating in! You can win signed copies of Stupid Cupid, The Espressologist (which is ADORABLE), and A Match Made in High School (which is HILARIOUS)!!! PLUS, we'll be including homemade Valentine's Day cards, just for you. Seriously, it'll be awesome. Enter HERE soon--you only have until Feb 7!