We Weren't Even Drinking When We Wrote the Acknowledgments

I found out today that I need to turn in my acknowledgments page. It's kind of fun, remembering all the people who've helped me with the research, writing, and editing of CHAINED, but I'm still worried about turning it in. What if I sound like a dork? Or I'm too wordy? Worse, what if I'm not wordy enough and I forget someone? I've kept a running list of people to thank, but I'm sure I didn't list everyone who answered a question or two.

I mentioned on Twitter that I'd like to just thank everyone I've ever met and call it done. Or I could submit my list of Twitter followers. There are some pretty awesome people.

A few of those awesome people joined in on the fun and offered more acknowledgment page suggestions.

Here are some alternatives to turning in my Twitter list or the "Thank you, everyone I've ever met" document.

Just imagining everyone's confusion would make these worthwhile.

This goes well with, "Any mistakes should be credited to people who told me wrong stuff."

Then we got even sillier, thinking about the thanks we owe to Cheez-Its and cupcakes and other refreshments.

Nothing gets done without the beverages. And chocolate.

Gah! How could I forget the elephants? And elephant keeper story would be really boring without any elephants. Ok, so it's everyone I've ever met, my Twitter list, random people, me, snacks, beverages, and elephants. That should be it.

Oh no. If we're including the air we breathe this could lead to an exhaustive list of Things We Need...

I'm starting to feel like Navin Johnson leaving home:


Ok, anyone else I could be forgetting?


Of course, the Romans. They want credit for everything.

Well, you know what's going to happen now. This'll just start a whole new debate.


So, writers who've been through this before, how did you decide who to include on your acknowledgments page? Were you able to list everyone you wanted to, or did you have to keep it short? Did you leave anyone out and regret it later? Any hints you can share will be appreciated. Really, I'd thank each and every one of you.

Running Around the Internet Like One of Those Leash Kids

At the beginning of the month I received my edit letter for the Book That Comes Out Next Year (and by "edit letter" I mean "the full manuscript with a bunch of writing in the margins and sticky notes throughout.") I've looked at the first few pages, but I'll get the bends if I dive into it too quickly, so for now it's sitting on my desk until we get used to one another. Plus, I need to wrap up the revisions for Book I Want To Submit To Agent Soon. Once I've sent that in, I can give my full attention to Book One.

Naturally, with two books to revise, I've been playing around on the Internet a lot. Besides the posts I've done here, I've been showing up in a few other places around the web lately.

When I read about the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival last month, I knew I wanted to send in a video, and right away I thought of the comic potential of a conversation based on the 2007 winner, The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron. See the post on James Kennedy's blog to find out more about the controversy behind the book, if you're not familiar with it. The video even has a mention of Snooki, in keeping with my unintentional Snookipalooza this month.

And over on the Will Write For Cake blog, I wrote a long Twitter tutorial post that should help if you're wanting to get started on Twitter or if you've already been using it but feel like you're still flailing and lost.

And I have a shiny new website! I meant just to reserve the domain name for now, but I started clicking on templates and couldn't stop myself. 

I'd better go for now. The edit letter is doing that Fatal Attraction "I'm not going to be ignored" bit. It thinks it's so funny.