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09:11 am
3/26/08

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writergrl
So riddle me this: why is it that I go for MONTHS with no exciting evening plans whatsoever, and then, I have two big things happening at the VERY SAME TIME on the VERY SAME NIGHT? Tomorrow night, I'll be at Barry Manilow while my Tarheels play in the Sweet Sixteen. I mean, honestly. What are the chances? How do you choose between Tyler Hansborough and The Showman of Our Time? You can't. You just can't. Which is why I am hoping that one of my friends will agree to text me the score periodically, so I can keep up while rocking out to "Copacabana" and "Mandy." (Rocking out may be the wrong word. Or maybe not?) At any rate, it should be an exciting night.

In other news, it's that time again, when the reviews start to come in for Lock and Key. So far, most have been really good, which is wonderful, but occasionally you get a not so good one, which kind of knocks the wind out of you. I won't post it here, as that's just too masochistic even for me, so I'll just do like the song says and Accentuate the Positive by posting the best line: "Dessen’s tone, however, is invitingly non-threatening and will reward patient readers." That's nice, right?

I have always been entirely too invested in reviews, all the way back to when Someone Like You got slammed in the Daily Tar Heel, the student paper at UNC. It got zero stars (or feet, I think, was how they measured them, but you get the picture). I carried that review around with me for months before my best friend Bianca seized it from me at a wedding and flushed it down the toilet. I like to think I'm a LITTLE bit better now, if only because I have that much more experience. Now, I get a not-great review, or a nasty comment somewhere, and I feel that initial twinge. It still hurts. But it doesn't last as long, and I move on faster. There's also the fact, these days, that between the hormones and ongoing sleep deprivation I cannot remember ANYTHING. It stinks when I forget my keys or lose my phone, but in this case, it's kind of nice. Again: a positive!

Okay, I'm off to think about what to wear for the Barry Show. Should I go Copa casual? Dress for a Weekend in New England? Hmmmm...

Have a good day, everyone!
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On March 26th, 2008 01:14 pm (UTC), [info]lkmadigan commented:
Go rock, girl.

"Music and passion ... always in fasshhhhhionnnnnn ..."

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On March 26th, 2008 02:49 pm (UTC), [info]popcorndiva583 commented:
Very cool about Barry!
I'm SO nervous about reviews like that. I'm in college right now and I'm in a fiction writing class and we're going to workshop everyone's work in front of class, and it makes me sick to my stomach to think of what people are going to think of what I write! Luckily, the same professor has read the novel that I'm hoping to send out, and he liked it so hopefully it will go well.
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On March 26th, 2008 05:28 pm (UTC), [info]boothyisawesome replied:
It should go well- it's generally not as bad as you imagine it to be. Good luck with it. I've been through several workshop classes, and they've all gone very well.

And what I always think is this- what really matters is what the teacher says because they're the ones grading you. So when you think of it in those terms, i.e. that you're only worrying about one person reading your work.

For Sarah *hugs* I'm glad you at least aren't terribly invested with bad reviews much anymore, but it does suck when bad reviews happen. But focus on the positive reviews- you have tons of fans who absolutely love your books. So always keep that in mind.

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On March 26th, 2008 03:08 pm (UTC), [info]special_karen commented:
I found it very interesting when I was starting out in the professional theater world that most actors don't read reviews. Even (especially?) on Broadway, many of the actors refuse to read their reviews until the show is done, if then. Discussing a review with an actor is pretty much verboten unless they bring it up themselves.

It has a lot to do with the idea of live performance (since they have to put on the same show that night and don't want to be thrown off track or second-guess themselves), but it's definitely something to keep in mind!

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On March 26th, 2008 03:32 pm (UTC), [info]spunky1031 commented:
I think the biggest obstacle for me with publishing my writing is when people don't like it. It's hard not to take it personally! At least you have experience now so it isn't so bad.
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On March 26th, 2008 03:50 pm (UTC), (Anonymous) commented:
Someone Like You got zero stars?! That is crap. Did the reviewer even read the book? Someone Like You is definitely one of my favorite books ever. I give it 5 stars out of 4!
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On March 26th, 2008 04:03 pm (UTC), [info]chincyinspiration.blogspot.com commented:
Concert attire...
I would suggest dark jeans with those cute boots from your video, and a vintage-glam (as lorelai would do) tshirt with rhinestones and possibly wavyish hair. :)

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On March 26th, 2008 04:15 pm (UTC), [info]cougar_cowgirl commented:
Hey, it's okay! Manilow will be much better than watching the Tar Heels lose to the Cougs tomorrow! =)
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On March 26th, 2008 04:38 pm (UTC), [info]chrisfaithalin commented:
I understand what you mean, but I wouldn't put so much stock into reviews. I mean its the fans opinion that matter. I always feel that reviewing movies, music, and books is so subjective and that really what they think is not what I'm going to think. How to Deal is a good example. I love the movie. Although I don't think its perfect, I think it really captured your tone of writing and I think the acting was amazing. Plus I love Mandy Moore. I'm sure Lock and Key is going to be great and I can't wait to read it.
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On March 26th, 2008 04:46 pm (UTC), [info]kris0l0gy commented:
most reviewers are just unsuccessful novelists/writers themselves, right? ;)
i'm 23 and still love your books. i got hooked in high school and i can't stop. screw what those damn reviewers say!
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On March 26th, 2008 05:28 pm (UTC), [info]bonsai_aizawa commented:
Just Listen comment
This isn't any part of the blog that you posted but i just wanted to say that i loved how in "Just Listen" you put characters from "This Lullaby" in it. I was so excited to see them again. "Hate Speinerbate" im sorry but i thought it was really cool!!!!!
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On March 26th, 2008 05:45 pm (UTC), [info]lindsiecmarie commented:
Best of Both Worlds!!!
What you do is:
Go to the concert and completely immerse yourself in the amazingness of it.
DON'T get scores texted to you!!!

Record the game while you're gone and once you leave the concert,
DO NOT listen to any media sources that might give away the results. I suggest cotton in your ears :)
Then you can watch the game with no expectations of what good or bad twists might be coming!

Just a suggestion!

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On March 26th, 2008 07:00 pm (UTC), [info]drea12301994 commented:
thats good
thats good that most of the reviews are good!!!! congrats!!!
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On March 26th, 2008 07:52 pm (UTC), (Anonymous) commented:
Just listen
I have recently finished reading your 'Just Listen' book and i really got into it and i really found it difficult to put it down. This is the first book i have read written by you and i know want to read more especially 'The truth about forever' because 'Just listen' was a very gripping story and i suppose realistic for some people!thank you!
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On March 26th, 2008 08:21 pm (UTC), (Anonymous) commented:
First of all, anyone who would give "Someone Like You" zero stars is seriously sick in the head. Who would do that? I know I cannot be the only girl who instantly felt a connection to the book and the bond between Scarlett and Halley.That seriously distrubs me that someone would give the book zero stars. Second of all, I just finished reading "Just Listen" which I absolutely loved!! I knew that I would, as I love all of your books and I really can't believe it took me this long to read it. I did love how you put Remy and Dexter in the book. (I saw someone posted about that earlier.) Anyways, I love love love "This Lullaby" and I loved it when they were in "Just Listen." Kudos for that. Thanks for being such an amazing writer and staying loyal to your fans through your blog. I love reading it!
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On March 26th, 2008 08:32 pm (UTC), [info]rcrgirl commented:
Your Book
I just finished it a few days ago. I like carried it around with me for a little while, looking at it, still in a daze with it. That's seriously what happens when I read one of your books. I won't go into great detail, as not to give it away but Sarah, it's amazing. Seriously. One of your best yet. I'm going to go out and buy it the day it comes out and read it again!

I think I finished the first 250 pages within a day and a half. It's that good.

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On March 26th, 2008 09:24 pm (UTC), [info]andriadayna commented:
Oh, no.
I don't know how anyone could say anything negative about ANY of the books you have written. I think each and everyone of them is amazing. Seriously, I've never read every one of an author's books and liked every book. But I definitely like every book that you have written. (That is out, excluding Lock & Key, of course.) Basically, you are just an amazing writer, and that is my two cents. =]
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On March 26th, 2008 10:52 pm (UTC), [info]alabasterduch commented:
students are far too overcritical because they compensate for their lack of experience, in my opinion - and i say that not even a year out of college. i always hated our student paper reviews, they tried way too hard.

i'm glad you're getting great reviews and hope you thoroughly enjoy mister manilow! :)

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On March 26th, 2008 10:53 pm (UTC), [info]alabasterduch replied:
p.s. have you checked out more "jezebel james" yet? i'm interested to hear another die-hard ASP fan's opinion. :)
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On March 26th, 2008 11:20 pm (UTC), (Anonymous) commented:
question.
i was wondering if all your books had the same theme which after reading 2 books i found one. I found that there is a guy that helps turn their life around. dont get me wrong i like it i was just curious. i just ordered 5 more books of yours and can't wait. i just wanted to know. and also is waffle world an actual place because i found it in two of your books: The Truth About Forever and Just Listen. well please email me back at whoababi92@yahoo.com because i'd like to know. thanks..
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On March 26th, 2008 11:34 pm (UTC), (Anonymous) commented:
i LOVE someone like you, and i also LOVE all your other books, so i have no doubt i will LOVE lock and key.
have a fabulous weekend!
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On March 27th, 2008 01:04 am (UTC), [info]krazyklutz commented:
All of your books are amazing, Sarah. Someone Like You is actually my favorite of yours. That reviewer was a moron, seriously. Anyone who can't appreciate and love the friendship, other relationships, other aspects of the book, PLUS the meaning/lessons the characters learned from it is just stupid. That reviewer has the maturity of a monkey. One thing I can tell you right away: I read all the time. I read tons and tons and tons of books every year; I first read Someone Like You six years ago, and no matter how many friendship books I read, there is nothing that compares even remotley to the friendship in Someone Like You. Seriously. I mean it. And Lock and Key, I'm sure, is going to be absolutely amazing as well as your other wonderful books.
Thank you for your books, Sarah. Your books have really changed me in so many ways I can't even begin to describe. So thank you. Keep up the great work. =)
- Chelsea (Chel see uh)
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On March 27th, 2008 04:37 am (UTC), [info]dancin_kare commented:
Have fun at the concert tomorrow night!

I'll be watching the game and sending you score-knowledge power.

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On March 27th, 2008 04:57 am (UTC), [info]zeldappa commented:
'Just wanted to add that the reviewer sounds like an asshole. "Patient reader"? WTH? He/she is probably one of those people who must have everything right.this.instant and who doesn't even stop to think about whether he/she is actually enjoying the journey.

I agree with the above poster about recording the game and avoiding the news. That way you can enjoy it like you were watching it live.

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On March 27th, 2008 02:20 pm (UTC), [info]jettssy commented:
Mom-nesia!
Of coures you can't remember anything! You've got mom-nesia! I need to write lists for everything otherwise I completely forget -- and always make a note to hang my keys on the hooks on the wall. I am still waiting for mommy-brained syndrome to disappear but doesn't seem to want to happen (and my 2 are 3 years and 17 months old).
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On March 27th, 2008 02:24 pm (UTC), [info]jettssy commented:
Barry on Colbert
Have fun at Barry Manilow! Did you ever see him when he was on the Colbert show? OMG, too funny! Go to comedy central's site (then Stephen Colbert's site through that) and you can search for Barry Manilow. Them singing together was unforgettable!

Or just click here: http://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/video_search.jhtml?searchterm=barry+manilow

I used to be a huge concert go-er in high school! Saw The Stones, No Doubt, Incubus, as well as a ton of other alternative rock bands whose names I don't care to remember anymore -- ha! You're so lucky you got to see Pink Floyd!

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On March 28th, 2008 12:09 pm (UTC), (Anonymous) commented:
I think all your books are amazing. I don't see how someone can ever think that your books are bad. I think every girl should read them because they teach so many things about becoming who you are. Don't fret to much about Lock & Key, because I know so many people who are anxiously awaiting its arrival!

~Tasha
http://andanotherbookread.blogspot.com

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