As you can imagine, I'm knee deep in Christmas shopping along with work, youth basketball games, homework, etc. Hence the reason I haven't blogged in over a week. I'm also trying to write one WIP, revise another and there's a good book or two out there I'd like to read. So, what does one do.
It's a good problem to have. Too many wonderful things to choose from.
I find it really hard to write well when I'm not focused and even harder to revise. To ensure I don't tell instead of show in my writing, I really have to think, consider, muse, all of the above. I have to examine every word because it can be as simple as one word that makes the difference. I've written on my blog before about my struggles with time management. This time of the year is particularly hard.
In case I don't get here again before January 1st:
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!
Tis the season to be very busy;-)
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Sunday, December 8, 2013
The Info-Dump and When You're Writing Too Much
I'm knee-deep in revisions right now. I've gone through this particular WIP at least three times so far. Correcting grammar, fixing bad sentences and eliminating unimportant information. I have an issue with writing too much. My sentences are sometimes too long and I tend to "info-dump." I'm really working hard on this one trying to tighten prose and clip the dialogue.
Let's use men as an example. Men simply don't think or talk like women (at least based on my observations;-D). They speak in direct and short sentences. They're not typically detail oriented. A few of my chapters are devoted to the POV of my main male characters. I'm working hard to make this seem authentic. I write romance and I highly doubt most men would think about her "ebony locks" in colorful and flowery language. Instead, I believe he'd think about diving his fingers into her hair, feeling it against his chest, etc if he even thinks about her hair at all. We women might love to think they wax prophetic about our glorious manes but let's face it, it's not how they're wired. Men can be poetic and prophetic but I'm careful how and when I do this. I'm shortening their dialogue, clipping it, making it more abrupt.
Info-dump is another thing all together. We need to provide description. All the characters have back story. But, and this is a big but, we have to sprinkle these details in. Give clues and hints almost as if laying the foundation for a mystery (I admire you mystery writers because this is not easy to do). Chances are, when you see long paragraphs in a section with little dialogue, there is likely some info-dump going on. Check it out. Re-read. See if you can tighten the prose. Eliminate entire sentences or even paragraphs. That's what I'm doing now, or trying to at least.
It's important to note I'm still learning this. I'd love to know your thoughts on info-dump and how you avoid it. Revision, in my opinion, has got to be the hardest part of writing.
Let's use men as an example. Men simply don't think or talk like women (at least based on my observations;-D). They speak in direct and short sentences. They're not typically detail oriented. A few of my chapters are devoted to the POV of my main male characters. I'm working hard to make this seem authentic. I write romance and I highly doubt most men would think about her "ebony locks" in colorful and flowery language. Instead, I believe he'd think about diving his fingers into her hair, feeling it against his chest, etc if he even thinks about her hair at all. We women might love to think they wax prophetic about our glorious manes but let's face it, it's not how they're wired. Men can be poetic and prophetic but I'm careful how and when I do this. I'm shortening their dialogue, clipping it, making it more abrupt.
Info-dump is another thing all together. We need to provide description. All the characters have back story. But, and this is a big but, we have to sprinkle these details in. Give clues and hints almost as if laying the foundation for a mystery (I admire you mystery writers because this is not easy to do). Chances are, when you see long paragraphs in a section with little dialogue, there is likely some info-dump going on. Check it out. Re-read. See if you can tighten the prose. Eliminate entire sentences or even paragraphs. That's what I'm doing now, or trying to at least.
It's important to note I'm still learning this. I'd love to know your thoughts on info-dump and how you avoid it. Revision, in my opinion, has got to be the hardest part of writing.
Friday, November 29, 2013
Thankful for Writing
On this Thanksgiving weekend I'm thankful for a lot of things. I have a wonderful family and friends, a good-paying job and all the necessities. The people in my life are wonderfully supportive of me in my endeavors.
One important thing I'm thankful for is writing. Right now, it's primarily a hobby, although it could be likened to a habit or addiction. I have never made a living from my writing and possibly never will. Financial gain is not why I do it. I do it because it makes me happy. It's an outlet. Cathartic in so many ways. I have no idea if my writing is really any good. People like it. I think it's good. But, again, I don't know for sure. Most people seem to measure writing success by whether they ever get published. For me, it's successful simply because it keeps me sane. Everybody needs an outlet. For some, it's running a marathon. For others, it can be eating. Still others use shopping. There are also gambling, smoking, drinking, singing, dancing, any number of things. We all need something.
So, on this most appreciative of weekends, I am thankful for writing.
What are you thankful for?
One important thing I'm thankful for is writing. Right now, it's primarily a hobby, although it could be likened to a habit or addiction. I have never made a living from my writing and possibly never will. Financial gain is not why I do it. I do it because it makes me happy. It's an outlet. Cathartic in so many ways. I have no idea if my writing is really any good. People like it. I think it's good. But, again, I don't know for sure. Most people seem to measure writing success by whether they ever get published. For me, it's successful simply because it keeps me sane. Everybody needs an outlet. For some, it's running a marathon. For others, it can be eating. Still others use shopping. There are also gambling, smoking, drinking, singing, dancing, any number of things. We all need something.
So, on this most appreciative of weekends, I am thankful for writing.
What are you thankful for?
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
A Successful Query: Part 1
Sometimes, I just have a hard time coming up with good ideas for blogging. As I've said, I started this blog to help others hopefully wade through the research faster. There's so much out there. So many helpful resources. I wish I could somehow list them all here. At least I can pass along one tidbit at a time.
Today's tidbit involves a good query letter. Lord knows I've yet to really write one I know for certain works. Here is a proven one on the Writers Digest site. The book is called Not a Drop to Drink and it's by Mindy McGinnis. I don't know much about the book but the query is considered successful because it got her an agent. The post gives the actual query and has a part at the end where the agent tells what she liked about it.
Queries are hard. I've talked about that in this blog before. It helps to know what strikes an agent's fancy. Good luck writing your own.
Today's tidbit involves a good query letter. Lord knows I've yet to really write one I know for certain works. Here is a proven one on the Writers Digest site. The book is called Not a Drop to Drink and it's by Mindy McGinnis. I don't know much about the book but the query is considered successful because it got her an agent. The post gives the actual query and has a part at the end where the agent tells what she liked about it.
Queries are hard. I've talked about that in this blog before. It helps to know what strikes an agent's fancy. Good luck writing your own.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Plot
Okay, this sounds simple. If you write a 100,000 word novel, it certainly has a plot. Right? Yes. I guess. I don't know.
I thought I did know. This can be tricky in the genre I write. Contemporary romance. Not to be confused with romantic suspense. Basically girl meets boy. Boy and girl don't click at first or they click all too well;-). Romantic tension builds. Something gets in the way. Resolution and happy ending. And there you have it. There are only so many ways you can go with this scenario and as usual, Janice Hardy says it better here.
The problem for me is now I'm doubting whether my work has enough of a plot. I'm a bit of a worrier in case you haven't figured it out already. I'm full of self-doubt. So, I now have two recently finished manuscripts just sitting and I'm not sure what to do with them.
Are you crazy? I can hear the words leaving your mouth as you read this. Submit already! There you are again. I know, but for some reason I'm dragging my feet this time. I want it to be perfect. I want to do it right this time. So, I keep researching and doubting and researching some more, hoping for the day when I know I'm ready.
When will that happen? We'll see. Meantime, I'll keep researching plot until my eyes pop out of my head.
I thought I did know. This can be tricky in the genre I write. Contemporary romance. Not to be confused with romantic suspense. Basically girl meets boy. Boy and girl don't click at first or they click all too well;-). Romantic tension builds. Something gets in the way. Resolution and happy ending. And there you have it. There are only so many ways you can go with this scenario and as usual, Janice Hardy says it better here.
The problem for me is now I'm doubting whether my work has enough of a plot. I'm a bit of a worrier in case you haven't figured it out already. I'm full of self-doubt. So, I now have two recently finished manuscripts just sitting and I'm not sure what to do with them.
Are you crazy? I can hear the words leaving your mouth as you read this. Submit already! There you are again. I know, but for some reason I'm dragging my feet this time. I want it to be perfect. I want to do it right this time. So, I keep researching and doubting and researching some more, hoping for the day when I know I'm ready.
When will that happen? We'll see. Meantime, I'll keep researching plot until my eyes pop out of my head.
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Word Count, Really Important!
You've written your science fiction or fantasy novel. You've polished it. Added and taken away. You set it aside with a sigh of relief. It's 50,000 words. Now what do you do?
It may not sound like a big deal but it is. It's all about business and money. Economics 101. It has to do with the cost of making a book and being able to sell it. People just don't by really long or really short books. There are exceptions of course as with anything but on average, this is true. As Janice Hardy said, "Readers won't pay $16 for a 2500-page paperback." This is a gross exaggeration but you get the point.
Rule of thumb is 80,000 to 100,000 words for a typical work of fiction. If you hit this threshold, you're likely good; although, the sci-fi and fantasy example above tends toward the longer side. There are genre rules and here's a breakdown. Sources I've used are Writer's Digest and Rachelle Gardner's blog, but there are multiple search results out there for this topic.
Science fiction and fantasy: 100,000 to 115,000 is thought to be best.
Romance: 80,000 to 100,000 words (although serial romance or certain publishers, such as Harlequin, have their own rules.
Middle Grade: 20,000 to 45,00 words.
Young Adult: 55,000 to 70,000.
Cozy Mysteries: About 75,000 words.
These are just rules of thumb. The shorter word count for Middle Grade makes sense as I've personally found younger kids don't yet have the attention span for the longer. While you'll see most others fall around that 80,000 mark. Even with Young Adult and Cozy Mystery, you'll likely be okay with 80,000. And again, there are definitely exceptions. The Twilight Series is considered young adult and definitely exceeds the limits above. An important note is the writing. Stephenie Meyer's writing was exceptional. It broke all the molds and set the bar higher. The prevailing wisdom is that longer books are the exception. As a new writer, I can't bank on being exceptional quite yet. So, I stick to the rules.
Janice Hardy does an excellent job of giving tips to cutting down a high word count or bulking up a short word count. Check out her blog if you haven't already.
One last thing to say about word count. This really stressed me out in the beginning but I also like to know what certain standards are. Do your best. If you're a couple thousand words short or too high, don't sweat it. If you're falling very low, you may want to take another look at your plot or see if certain things can be fleshed out. Also, remember longer doesn't always mean better. The last thing you want is for a prospective publisher or agent to turn you down on word count alone. Good luck!
It may not sound like a big deal but it is. It's all about business and money. Economics 101. It has to do with the cost of making a book and being able to sell it. People just don't by really long or really short books. There are exceptions of course as with anything but on average, this is true. As Janice Hardy said, "Readers won't pay $16 for a 2500-page paperback." This is a gross exaggeration but you get the point.
Rule of thumb is 80,000 to 100,000 words for a typical work of fiction. If you hit this threshold, you're likely good; although, the sci-fi and fantasy example above tends toward the longer side. There are genre rules and here's a breakdown. Sources I've used are Writer's Digest and Rachelle Gardner's blog, but there are multiple search results out there for this topic.
Science fiction and fantasy: 100,000 to 115,000 is thought to be best.
Romance: 80,000 to 100,000 words (although serial romance or certain publishers, such as Harlequin, have their own rules.
Middle Grade: 20,000 to 45,00 words.
Young Adult: 55,000 to 70,000.
Cozy Mysteries: About 75,000 words.
These are just rules of thumb. The shorter word count for Middle Grade makes sense as I've personally found younger kids don't yet have the attention span for the longer. While you'll see most others fall around that 80,000 mark. Even with Young Adult and Cozy Mystery, you'll likely be okay with 80,000. And again, there are definitely exceptions. The Twilight Series is considered young adult and definitely exceeds the limits above. An important note is the writing. Stephenie Meyer's writing was exceptional. It broke all the molds and set the bar higher. The prevailing wisdom is that longer books are the exception. As a new writer, I can't bank on being exceptional quite yet. So, I stick to the rules.
Janice Hardy does an excellent job of giving tips to cutting down a high word count or bulking up a short word count. Check out her blog if you haven't already.
One last thing to say about word count. This really stressed me out in the beginning but I also like to know what certain standards are. Do your best. If you're a couple thousand words short or too high, don't sweat it. If you're falling very low, you may want to take another look at your plot or see if certain things can be fleshed out. Also, remember longer doesn't always mean better. The last thing you want is for a prospective publisher or agent to turn you down on word count alone. Good luck!
Friday, October 25, 2013
Still Learning How to Write
I feel like I learn something new everyday. It really pays to do your research. To see what others have to say about writing. I've stumbled across some amazing blogs during my searching. Some I've mentioned here before. The Other Side of the Story with Janice Hardy, The Book Shelf Muse, and Janet Reid, Literary Agent. All three provide a lot of good information for beginning and querying authors.
Take today for example. I stumbled on Janice Hardy's weak area words. It's a list of words that can signal telling or info dump in writing. I love it and read it here. She describes them as red flag words in another entry. On The Book Shelf Muse, there are so many helpful ways of describing characters and feelings. There's even an Emotional Thesaurus. Check that out here. Finally, Janet Reid is every querying author's best friend. She gives wonderful tips on that as the Query Shark and answers questions on her Janet Reid, Literary Agent blog. I love her wit and sense of humor. As aspiring authors, we have to learn to laugh at ourselves and with each other.
Moral of the blog entry is this: keep learning. You never know too much or enough. Now, happy research!
Take today for example. I stumbled on Janice Hardy's weak area words. It's a list of words that can signal telling or info dump in writing. I love it and read it here. She describes them as red flag words in another entry. On The Book Shelf Muse, there are so many helpful ways of describing characters and feelings. There's even an Emotional Thesaurus. Check that out here. Finally, Janet Reid is every querying author's best friend. She gives wonderful tips on that as the Query Shark and answers questions on her Janet Reid, Literary Agent blog. I love her wit and sense of humor. As aspiring authors, we have to learn to laugh at ourselves and with each other.
Moral of the blog entry is this: keep learning. You never know too much or enough. Now, happy research!
Friday, October 18, 2013
Blogging Is Necessary!
At least I think it is. Or some form of social media. Twitter. Facebook. Instagram. A website. All of the above. These are all ways to interact with people out there and to connect with would be readers. Or so I've been told. Every agent blog out there talks about it. Nearly every agent interview on the Writer's Digest website specifically discusses your ability to market yourself.
Why must I market myself? You may ask, as I have, this very question. I'm sure there are many reclusive and intensely private authors out there who've chosen not to. However, I'll just bet there is a website and possibly even Twitter feed devoted to said author run by someone else associated with his or her posse. It's simply a product of where we are today. Our world is an electronic one, whether we like it or not.
I'll admit part of me doesn't like it. I'm not on Facebook, Pinterest or any of the like. My husband and I, to the chagrin of our family and friends, agreed a long time ago not to be on Facebook. We have our reasons and our reasons are good for us. Doesn't mean I'm not intensely interested in things going on in my loved ones' lives. Doesn't mean there aren't people out there I'd love to hear about 20 years after leaving high school. But...so far, it hasn't been necessary to our lives and until it is, we won't be on there.
Blogging is perfect for me at this stage in my career. I'm still figuring everything out and I enjoy learning how to do this. I love connecting with others on their blogs and following to read what others have to say. Through blogging, I can narrow my topics and interests specifically to writing. That's what I enjoy most at this time and is what works for me in the moment. Still, I'm willing to explore other aspects of social media when the time is right or it's necessary for my career.
Just my opinion;-) Here is an interesting post on an upcoming webinar relating specifically to this topic. Might provide some insight.
Would love to hear what others think about this or your personal experiences;-)
Why must I market myself? You may ask, as I have, this very question. I'm sure there are many reclusive and intensely private authors out there who've chosen not to. However, I'll just bet there is a website and possibly even Twitter feed devoted to said author run by someone else associated with his or her posse. It's simply a product of where we are today. Our world is an electronic one, whether we like it or not.
I'll admit part of me doesn't like it. I'm not on Facebook, Pinterest or any of the like. My husband and I, to the chagrin of our family and friends, agreed a long time ago not to be on Facebook. We have our reasons and our reasons are good for us. Doesn't mean I'm not intensely interested in things going on in my loved ones' lives. Doesn't mean there aren't people out there I'd love to hear about 20 years after leaving high school. But...so far, it hasn't been necessary to our lives and until it is, we won't be on there.
Blogging is perfect for me at this stage in my career. I'm still figuring everything out and I enjoy learning how to do this. I love connecting with others on their blogs and following to read what others have to say. Through blogging, I can narrow my topics and interests specifically to writing. That's what I enjoy most at this time and is what works for me in the moment. Still, I'm willing to explore other aspects of social media when the time is right or it's necessary for my career.
Just my opinion;-) Here is an interesting post on an upcoming webinar relating specifically to this topic. Might provide some insight.
Would love to hear what others think about this or your personal experiences;-)
Monday, October 14, 2013
Blogging Is Rewarding Too
When I wrote the last post about blogging being hard, I began to think about all the aspects of blogging. I'd been having trouble with my writing lately and that included the blogging part too. When I started this blog, I was really nervous. It involves putting myself out there. Something I'm only gradually becoming comfortable with. My thoughts and words are out there floating on the world wide web for everybody to see. A daunting thought for me at times.
Why has it been rewarding? Many reasons but the biggest of which is the trolling I've done of other blogs. I would search out blogs before but not on a regular basis. I wasn't a follower of any particular one. Now, I'm a regular follower of at least five blogs. I get on my page and connect to those other sites several times a day. I feel like I'm learning a lot in doing that. Looking at these other blogs often provokes a thought in me leading me to an entry here or leading to something with my WIP.
In many ways, this blog is like my writing journal. I'm able to pour out all my thoughts, good and bad, about this most difficult of processes-writing a novel. I love writing and I find I love blogging as well. To keep going through the hard times is one of the hallmarks of a real writer. I like to think that's me.
Blogging is rewarding. I promise;-)
Why has it been rewarding? Many reasons but the biggest of which is the trolling I've done of other blogs. I would search out blogs before but not on a regular basis. I wasn't a follower of any particular one. Now, I'm a regular follower of at least five blogs. I get on my page and connect to those other sites several times a day. I feel like I'm learning a lot in doing that. Looking at these other blogs often provokes a thought in me leading me to an entry here or leading to something with my WIP.
In many ways, this blog is like my writing journal. I'm able to pour out all my thoughts, good and bad, about this most difficult of processes-writing a novel. I love writing and I find I love blogging as well. To keep going through the hard times is one of the hallmarks of a real writer. I like to think that's me.
Blogging is rewarding. I promise;-)
Friday, October 4, 2013
Blogging Is Hard!
Lately, I've had trouble coming up with witty and wise blog posts. I feel like I'm repeating myself, talking about the same topics over and over. Blogging is hard! So is writing. The fact something is hard is not an excuse not to do it, or so I tell my children. So, bear with me if I'm a bit off my game lately.
I'd gotten in a comfortable place with my writing and my blogging, following certain rules with each. Write romantic fiction in third person POV and blogging once a week. There are others but these seemed to be the main rules for each. Lately, I've been exploring more with my writing and I think because of that, struggling with what to blog about. I don't know the answers. I don't yet know what works. You, as my readers (if I have any<grin>), are going through this with me. I would love it if someday I can look back on this documented process as a published writer and relive some of the things I went through. I would also love it if along the way, I impart some hard won wisdom on others breaking into writing.
I seem to be tossing all my rules up in the air and seeing what form they take as they come back down. Example, I recently wrote a first person POV novel. I was amazed at how easy it seemed. Probably the fastest writing I've ever done. I put it aside for several months while I finished one of my more traditional manuscripts then went back to it this week. I read it from start to finish and I loved it. It felt so natural. So, now I'm wondering what it all means. Write everything in 1st POV? Switch back and forth from novel to novel (is that even allowed)? Put both finished products out on submission and see which one does the best?
I have no idea, but then again, I'm still learning;-). So, dear readers, take this journey with me and see where it leads us. Hopefully, down the path to professional writerdom.
I'd gotten in a comfortable place with my writing and my blogging, following certain rules with each. Write romantic fiction in third person POV and blogging once a week. There are others but these seemed to be the main rules for each. Lately, I've been exploring more with my writing and I think because of that, struggling with what to blog about. I don't know the answers. I don't yet know what works. You, as my readers (if I have any<grin>), are going through this with me. I would love it if someday I can look back on this documented process as a published writer and relive some of the things I went through. I would also love it if along the way, I impart some hard won wisdom on others breaking into writing.
I seem to be tossing all my rules up in the air and seeing what form they take as they come back down. Example, I recently wrote a first person POV novel. I was amazed at how easy it seemed. Probably the fastest writing I've ever done. I put it aside for several months while I finished one of my more traditional manuscripts then went back to it this week. I read it from start to finish and I loved it. It felt so natural. So, now I'm wondering what it all means. Write everything in 1st POV? Switch back and forth from novel to novel (is that even allowed)? Put both finished products out on submission and see which one does the best?
I have no idea, but then again, I'm still learning;-). So, dear readers, take this journey with me and see where it leads us. Hopefully, down the path to professional writerdom.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
I'm Grateful For...
Having one of those days where I can't think of anything witty to write about. Who am I kidding? I'm having a month where I can't seem to write anything good at all but still trying to write through it. I just read this on Writer's Digest, a guest blog entry by author, Jessica Anya Blau. She was talking about rejection and I was struck by her advice of finding things to be grateful for when dealing with this wonderful experience of writers.
So, I will focus here on what I'm grateful for:
-my husband's support of my writing (wait, no, my husband in general!);
-my funny, mischievous kids;-);
-the glorious fall weather in Kentucky;
-my sweet Goldendoodle doggie, Coal (even though he currently has one of the kids' socks in his mouth);
-books;
-my MacBook Air;
-great friends and a great support system; and
-writing!
I realize as I write this, I could go on and on which is a wonderful thing in and of itself. I suggest this exercise to you when feeling low or when dealing with the dreaded rejection. There's always something to be grateful for.
Now, back to trying my hand at writing something...anything. Wish me luck!
So, I will focus here on what I'm grateful for:
-my husband's support of my writing (wait, no, my husband in general!);
-my funny, mischievous kids;-);
-the glorious fall weather in Kentucky;
-my sweet Goldendoodle doggie, Coal (even though he currently has one of the kids' socks in his mouth);
-books;
-my MacBook Air;
-great friends and a great support system; and
-writing!
I realize as I write this, I could go on and on which is a wonderful thing in and of itself. I suggest this exercise to you when feeling low or when dealing with the dreaded rejection. There's always something to be grateful for.
Now, back to trying my hand at writing something...anything. Wish me luck!
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Writing Through It
There comes a time in all my stories when I struggle. I lose focus. I lose interest. My creative juices dry up. I'm not as excited to get out my computer. I'm in one of those times now. I'm tired and cranky and feeling a little lost. Maybe it's work. Maybe it's all the ballgames I'm off to on a daily basis. Maybe it's just me, but I just don't have it right now. Argh!
It's likely one of the most frustrating things for a writer to experience, second to rejection of course. I guess it's what has been referred to as writer's block. For me, it's not about the ideas drying up. That, at least, never happens. It's about losing the spark.
I read a blog post today about seeking the spark when reading and writing. I've experienced the spark before. In reading, I remember the first time I read Susan Elizabeth Phillips (still one of my favorites). Her writing made me forget about anything and everything else. I loved her characters and lost myself in her stories. Natural Born Charmer and The Great Escape are two of my many favorites. The first, I read on vacation and couldn't even put the book down. I stayed up alone into the wee hours of the night reading until I finished.
It's happened in my writing too. Someone else described it as an obsession and I can agree with that. I get so excited. So stoked to get the words on paper, I can't stop.
I haven't felt that in a long time. But, I can't give up. I just have to keep going until I find it again no matter how frustrating it might get sometimes. I have to write through this time.
If you've got any solutions, I'd love to hear them.
It's likely one of the most frustrating things for a writer to experience, second to rejection of course. I guess it's what has been referred to as writer's block. For me, it's not about the ideas drying up. That, at least, never happens. It's about losing the spark.
I read a blog post today about seeking the spark when reading and writing. I've experienced the spark before. In reading, I remember the first time I read Susan Elizabeth Phillips (still one of my favorites). Her writing made me forget about anything and everything else. I loved her characters and lost myself in her stories. Natural Born Charmer and The Great Escape are two of my many favorites. The first, I read on vacation and couldn't even put the book down. I stayed up alone into the wee hours of the night reading until I finished.
It's happened in my writing too. Someone else described it as an obsession and I can agree with that. I get so excited. So stoked to get the words on paper, I can't stop.
I haven't felt that in a long time. But, I can't give up. I just have to keep going until I find it again no matter how frustrating it might get sometimes. I have to write through this time.
If you've got any solutions, I'd love to hear them.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Walking Away From Your Manuscript
I've pondered these questions a bit lately. How do you know when to hold 'em? Know when to fold 'em? Know when to walk away? Anyway, you catch my drift. I've written a lot over the last few years. One thing I don't have a problem with is finishing a story from beginning to end. Now, that certainly doesn't mean they're good, or that they work, or that they're long enough. At the end, there are often a lot of problems with each one. With three of them, I actually went so far as to edit, polish and submit with no luck. Each time, I tabled the manuscript after a few rejections and then I moved on to the next.
Did I do the right thing? I don't know. I read recently about Kathryn Stockett's tenacity in submitting The Help. Trust me, you have to read it here. After 60 rejections and 5 years (5 freaking years!), she finally got an agent and sold the book and the rest is history. She wrote she simply could not give up on this book. I haven't felt that yet. Haven't had that kind of passion and confidence in a story. I have plenty of passion for writing. It's my sanity. As I've said before, I do it because I have to. I'm a writer. I now wear that label proudly, but...How do I know which one is my The Help?
I would never think myself as talented as Ms. Stockett. That's not what I'm getting at. I just want to feel the commitment to one story she felt. I want to work and work and make better until I get to my ultimate goal-to be published.
Maybe some day. For now, I guess I'll hold 'em and see what happens.
Did I do the right thing? I don't know. I read recently about Kathryn Stockett's tenacity in submitting The Help. Trust me, you have to read it here. After 60 rejections and 5 years (5 freaking years!), she finally got an agent and sold the book and the rest is history. She wrote she simply could not give up on this book. I haven't felt that yet. Haven't had that kind of passion and confidence in a story. I have plenty of passion for writing. It's my sanity. As I've said before, I do it because I have to. I'm a writer. I now wear that label proudly, but...How do I know which one is my The Help?
I would never think myself as talented as Ms. Stockett. That's not what I'm getting at. I just want to feel the commitment to one story she felt. I want to work and work and make better until I get to my ultimate goal-to be published.
Maybe some day. For now, I guess I'll hold 'em and see what happens.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
One Query, One Rejection
I've been writing a lot about rejection lately because it's on my mind a great deal. Having finished a 105,000 word manuscript, I felt ready. I entered the Suzie Townsend contest, Can You Handle the Truth? I knew I could handle it. I don't cry anymore when I get rejected. A big step, let me tell you. It's a bit silly I cried in the first place but when something is really important to you it can happen.
So I queried and I got rejected. She did give feedback as she promised and it was actually very helpful. My query needs work. She didn't comment on the pages which tells me she probably didn't get that far. For now, I'll focus on the query. I will continue to submit. It's what we do, right? While I submit, I'll keep writing. It's an ongoing process we have to be committed to. It is key to learning and getting better. I feel I know more now than I did a week ago.
I'd be interested to hear if anyone out there entered the contest and if they felt it was helpful. I'd also be interested to know if there are other contests you know about like this one.
So I queried and I got rejected. She did give feedback as she promised and it was actually very helpful. My query needs work. She didn't comment on the pages which tells me she probably didn't get that far. For now, I'll focus on the query. I will continue to submit. It's what we do, right? While I submit, I'll keep writing. It's an ongoing process we have to be committed to. It is key to learning and getting better. I feel I know more now than I did a week ago.
I'd be interested to hear if anyone out there entered the contest and if they felt it was helpful. I'd also be interested to know if there are other contests you know about like this one.
Friday, August 30, 2013
Trends in Writing
I stood in front of the romance shelf at my local bookstore. Oh how I love the bookstore. While I embrace e-publishing, I will mourn the day when I cannot walk into an actual store and kill an hour putzing through the latest titles. But, that's an entirely different blog entry.
What I noticed as I stood there were the changing trends. A couple of years ago, tomes about vampires, vampires and more vampires lined the shelves (don't get me wrong-I loved it and read them all!). Stephenie Meyer did something amazing. She created more than a trend. She created a phenomenon. JK Rowling had done it to by getting adults to read books directed primarily for children and making them equally appealing to both age groups. These two authors are the primary reason YA is what it is today.
The vampires and wizards are still on the shelves along with other fantastical creatures or people with amazing abilities. Now, however, they've been joined by some new friends. Remember when erotica was taboo. Even the word shocked people or turned heads. If the books made it into an everyday bookstore, they were relegated to their own small section in the back of the store. Hell, you probably even had to show your ID to get into the roped off zone <grin>. Like Stephenie Meyer, but so-o-o different, E. L. James changed everything. Suddenly, erotica is everywhere. Suddenly, women of all shapes and kinds are holding Fifty Shades or others like it at the pool when I take my kids to swim. They're not hiding it behind a magazine or on their Kindle. They're flaunting it proudly.
Again, back to the bookstore, I picked up a Fifty Shades like title on the romance shelf, opened it to a page in the center of the book and turned crimson from my head to my toes. I looked around to make sure no one had seen me and quickly put the book back. This book made E. L. James look tame by comparison. I'm not judging, people. Just making an observation.
As I left my beloved bookstore, I wonder: What does this all mean for me as a writer? At once, it means nothing and everything. Nothing in the sense I don't need to worry about or copy trends and everything because anything goes these days. As budding authors, we shouldn't be afraid our story is too out there or too taboo.
In summary, we should write our story even if it involves a vampire making mad, crazy whoopee with a wizard on the mean urban streets of a dystopian world;-) Somebody will read it, eventually!
What I noticed as I stood there were the changing trends. A couple of years ago, tomes about vampires, vampires and more vampires lined the shelves (don't get me wrong-I loved it and read them all!). Stephenie Meyer did something amazing. She created more than a trend. She created a phenomenon. JK Rowling had done it to by getting adults to read books directed primarily for children and making them equally appealing to both age groups. These two authors are the primary reason YA is what it is today.
The vampires and wizards are still on the shelves along with other fantastical creatures or people with amazing abilities. Now, however, they've been joined by some new friends. Remember when erotica was taboo. Even the word shocked people or turned heads. If the books made it into an everyday bookstore, they were relegated to their own small section in the back of the store. Hell, you probably even had to show your ID to get into the roped off zone <grin>. Like Stephenie Meyer, but so-o-o different, E. L. James changed everything. Suddenly, erotica is everywhere. Suddenly, women of all shapes and kinds are holding Fifty Shades or others like it at the pool when I take my kids to swim. They're not hiding it behind a magazine or on their Kindle. They're flaunting it proudly.
Again, back to the bookstore, I picked up a Fifty Shades like title on the romance shelf, opened it to a page in the center of the book and turned crimson from my head to my toes. I looked around to make sure no one had seen me and quickly put the book back. This book made E. L. James look tame by comparison. I'm not judging, people. Just making an observation.
As I left my beloved bookstore, I wonder: What does this all mean for me as a writer? At once, it means nothing and everything. Nothing in the sense I don't need to worry about or copy trends and everything because anything goes these days. As budding authors, we shouldn't be afraid our story is too out there or too taboo.
In summary, we should write our story even if it involves a vampire making mad, crazy whoopee with a wizard on the mean urban streets of a dystopian world;-) Somebody will read it, eventually!
Friday, August 23, 2013
The Dreaded Rejection in Writing, Revisited
So, I tackled rejection a couple of entries ago, but after reading one of the blogs I follow, decided it was worth revisiting. Suzie Townsend, an agent I've had my eye on for a while, just offered a wonderful opportunity on her blog. Check it out here. She will read your query and a few sample pages next week and respond with an answer of why she is passing or with a request for more. You'll notice her entry is titled, Can You Handle the Truth? It made me wonder. Can I handle it? Lord, I hope so. What better way to learn from someone who knows exactly what I may be doing wrong. I don't think I can pass up this opportunity and encourage you not to either.
A couple of years ago, I queried an agent at a prestigious literary agency. This particular agency has you send only the query letter first. I was so excited when she requested a partial and sent it immediately. After what felt like an interminable 2 or 3 weeks, she responded saying she would have to pass. Bummer but what she wrote next totally changed my writing. She wrote (and I'm paraphrasing), While I liked your idea, you need to work on showing versus telling. It was a key piece of advice for me and something I continue to struggle with everyday, but I'm working on it. Who knows how long I would have gone on not knowing my writing was lacking in this way without her kind words? I had queried her before without any such imparted wisdom, just a polite no thank you. So, to me, this felt like she thought I had potential with key changes put in place.
This agent is definitely on my short list as is Suzie Townsend. My advice to you (that is if you want my advice;-D) is to take such an opportunity. Be sure to read what Suzie is seeking first. If she doesn't rep your genre, look around. There are other agents out there who offer this on occasion. The response may just change your writing life. Consider this possible kind of rejection a Godsend. Good luck!
A couple of years ago, I queried an agent at a prestigious literary agency. This particular agency has you send only the query letter first. I was so excited when she requested a partial and sent it immediately. After what felt like an interminable 2 or 3 weeks, she responded saying she would have to pass. Bummer but what she wrote next totally changed my writing. She wrote (and I'm paraphrasing), While I liked your idea, you need to work on showing versus telling. It was a key piece of advice for me and something I continue to struggle with everyday, but I'm working on it. Who knows how long I would have gone on not knowing my writing was lacking in this way without her kind words? I had queried her before without any such imparted wisdom, just a polite no thank you. So, to me, this felt like she thought I had potential with key changes put in place.
This agent is definitely on my short list as is Suzie Townsend. My advice to you (that is if you want my advice;-D) is to take such an opportunity. Be sure to read what Suzie is seeking first. If she doesn't rep your genre, look around. There are other agents out there who offer this on occasion. The response may just change your writing life. Consider this possible kind of rejection a Godsend. Good luck!
Thursday, August 15, 2013
The Query Letter
I don't know much (which I'm sure you've figured out by now;-D), but I've learned a little about the query letter. In doing my research on literary agent blogs, I've come across a few important things I want to pass along.
I've blogged about this a little already. Work on your query letter, putting as much effort into this concise, one-page pitch as you did your 400-page novel. Make it appealing. Find a way to show your voice. Above all, be sure you use correct grammar. This is your first impression and it's extremely important (I know, enough pressure already, right?).
All of the above is important information but not exactly why I'm writing this entry. There are rules to querying just as there are to anything else.
1. Be respectful!
2. Address the agent by name. In all the blog posts about queries I read, this is a consistent piece of advice.
3. Describe your plot. It would seem this would be the first thing you would have in mind, but apparently it isn't for some people out there. It could be they don't exactly understand the purpose of the query to begin with. It's not to introduce you. It's to introduce your novel.
4. Leave your name and alternate ways to reach you (phone, address, etc.).
5. Don't include sample pages unless directly asked for.
6. Have a finished product. There are exceptions to this in nonfiction but that's an entirely different animal.
I realize I can go on and on and on. I'm sure you don't want me to do that. Especially not when you can read this stuff from people more knowledgeable than I. If you haven't yet checked out Janet Reid's blog as well as that of her alter ego, Query Shark, do so now. Right this minute! Trust me, you'll thank me for it later.
Finally, and I think my most important piece of advice above all else here, read the websites of any agent you're interested in. You will gather invaluable information there. What they are looking for and how to query. Not everyone is the same. Again, trust me on this! Good luck!
I've blogged about this a little already. Work on your query letter, putting as much effort into this concise, one-page pitch as you did your 400-page novel. Make it appealing. Find a way to show your voice. Above all, be sure you use correct grammar. This is your first impression and it's extremely important (I know, enough pressure already, right?).
All of the above is important information but not exactly why I'm writing this entry. There are rules to querying just as there are to anything else.
1. Be respectful!
2. Address the agent by name. In all the blog posts about queries I read, this is a consistent piece of advice.
3. Describe your plot. It would seem this would be the first thing you would have in mind, but apparently it isn't for some people out there. It could be they don't exactly understand the purpose of the query to begin with. It's not to introduce you. It's to introduce your novel.
4. Leave your name and alternate ways to reach you (phone, address, etc.).
5. Don't include sample pages unless directly asked for.
6. Have a finished product. There are exceptions to this in nonfiction but that's an entirely different animal.
I realize I can go on and on and on. I'm sure you don't want me to do that. Especially not when you can read this stuff from people more knowledgeable than I. If you haven't yet checked out Janet Reid's blog as well as that of her alter ego, Query Shark, do so now. Right this minute! Trust me, you'll thank me for it later.
Finally, and I think my most important piece of advice above all else here, read the websites of any agent you're interested in. You will gather invaluable information there. What they are looking for and how to query. Not everyone is the same. Again, trust me on this! Good luck!
Thursday, August 8, 2013
The Dreaded Rejection
When I first started writing, the idea of someone rejecting my work was always in the back of my mind. For a really long time, I didn't tell anybody I was writing. What if they asked to read it? What if they laughed at me? What if they hated it? What if they loved it? All these thoughts circled through my head for months, but still I continued to write because once I started, there was no way I could stop.
Finally, I got the nerve to tell my husband. He was so supportive, beyond supportive. He was awesome. My husband is not a reader, unless you count Sports Illustrated (yes, I know, I can't imagine either), and he definitely doesn't read what I write. So, even though he was supportive, he wasn't a good person to critique it. I kept writing and now I actually had someone I could talk to about the process. I still hadn't let anyone read it. I told a couple more people. Finally, I told a friend who was immediately like, "You have to let me read it." I was terrified. Terrified! When I got the nerve to print out a couple of copies and took one over to her house, I handed it to her with trembling hands.
All I could do was wait. I waited for a couple of days. Didn't call because I didn't want to pressure her. Two days after handing it to her on her front stoop, she texted and said, "I loved it! Do you have another for me?"
The best compliment anyone could give me. She wanted to read more!
I got similar positive feedback from others so I decided to submit it. Rejection after rejection poured in. The first couple brought me to tears. I obsessed about each one for days until the next came in. After a few months with no success, I tabled that first manuscript and moved on to another and another and then another.
Now, I can look back and realize I faced one of my biggest fears. Rejection had always been difficult for me to the point where sometimes I didn't even try. I think that's why I waited to try my hand at writing my first novel until my mid-thirties. As I prepare to start the submission phase again, I realize there is no fear this time. Rejection is a valuable part of the process. You grow from it and you get better. Most importantly, you get stronger.
So, here I go. Ready to get rejected, many times probably!
Finally, I got the nerve to tell my husband. He was so supportive, beyond supportive. He was awesome. My husband is not a reader, unless you count Sports Illustrated (yes, I know, I can't imagine either), and he definitely doesn't read what I write. So, even though he was supportive, he wasn't a good person to critique it. I kept writing and now I actually had someone I could talk to about the process. I still hadn't let anyone read it. I told a couple more people. Finally, I told a friend who was immediately like, "You have to let me read it." I was terrified. Terrified! When I got the nerve to print out a couple of copies and took one over to her house, I handed it to her with trembling hands.
All I could do was wait. I waited for a couple of days. Didn't call because I didn't want to pressure her. Two days after handing it to her on her front stoop, she texted and said, "I loved it! Do you have another for me?"
The best compliment anyone could give me. She wanted to read more!
I got similar positive feedback from others so I decided to submit it. Rejection after rejection poured in. The first couple brought me to tears. I obsessed about each one for days until the next came in. After a few months with no success, I tabled that first manuscript and moved on to another and another and then another.
Now, I can look back and realize I faced one of my biggest fears. Rejection had always been difficult for me to the point where sometimes I didn't even try. I think that's why I waited to try my hand at writing my first novel until my mid-thirties. As I prepare to start the submission phase again, I realize there is no fear this time. Rejection is a valuable part of the process. You grow from it and you get better. Most importantly, you get stronger.
So, here I go. Ready to get rejected, many times probably!
Thursday, August 1, 2013
What's My Genre?
As I've been searching agent websites for what genres they represent, I've been struck with a dilemma. What exactly is my genre?
Is my work romance? Sort of. There's definitely a lot of romance going on in my story. A strong female and male protagonist, a conflict keeping them apart, a loving reunion and then a happy ending. All hallmarks of a romance novel.
But wait a minute. Is it women's fiction? Sort of. The plot tackles various themes women experience throughout their lives with their lovers, family and friends. I gravitate toward stories about sisters and friends so that's what I write too. This one in particular tackles a family dealing with the aftereffects of domestic violence, infidelity, PTSD and wounded soldiers. Themes and relationships among sisters, all hallmarks of women's fiction.
Still not done. Is it new adult? Again, sort of. A large part of the story revolves around growing love as the characters leave their teenage years and travel into adulthood. The characters range from their early to late twenties. New adult is an emerging genre intended to target the 18-30 year old market. My story would definitely fit.
Now, why is it not romance, women's fiction or new adult? It doesn't exactly fit neatly into the romance category because I write from multiple POVs. There are a couple of main characters but there are also secondary characters pursuing their own happy endings. The heavy themes also speak more to women's fiction. Still, it doesn't neatly fit with that genre either. There is a lot of romance as well as sex. New adult can have elements of both. Themes, romance and sex. Yet, one main character is 32 by the end and I know a lot of women beyond the 18-30 range who enjoy this kind of story. Also, I think of my voice as a little more mature (more like my 38 year old self).
Having said all of the above, am I any closer to solving my dilemma? A little. There are a lot of agents out there specifically looking for works that cross genres with one foot firmly planted in a particular one. Given that, I would say my story is a work of contemporary women's fiction with strong elements of romance. I would let an agent decide whether it's appropriate for new adult. Another reason why I need an agent;-).
So, there you ago. Deciding genre is not as easy as some would have you believe, especially today in the world of romantic vampires dealing with old fashioned themes of purity and marriage with a heavy dose of fantasy and suspense. I could go on but you get my point.
Happy writing!
Is my work romance? Sort of. There's definitely a lot of romance going on in my story. A strong female and male protagonist, a conflict keeping them apart, a loving reunion and then a happy ending. All hallmarks of a romance novel.
But wait a minute. Is it women's fiction? Sort of. The plot tackles various themes women experience throughout their lives with their lovers, family and friends. I gravitate toward stories about sisters and friends so that's what I write too. This one in particular tackles a family dealing with the aftereffects of domestic violence, infidelity, PTSD and wounded soldiers. Themes and relationships among sisters, all hallmarks of women's fiction.
Still not done. Is it new adult? Again, sort of. A large part of the story revolves around growing love as the characters leave their teenage years and travel into adulthood. The characters range from their early to late twenties. New adult is an emerging genre intended to target the 18-30 year old market. My story would definitely fit.
Now, why is it not romance, women's fiction or new adult? It doesn't exactly fit neatly into the romance category because I write from multiple POVs. There are a couple of main characters but there are also secondary characters pursuing their own happy endings. The heavy themes also speak more to women's fiction. Still, it doesn't neatly fit with that genre either. There is a lot of romance as well as sex. New adult can have elements of both. Themes, romance and sex. Yet, one main character is 32 by the end and I know a lot of women beyond the 18-30 range who enjoy this kind of story. Also, I think of my voice as a little more mature (more like my 38 year old self).
Having said all of the above, am I any closer to solving my dilemma? A little. There are a lot of agents out there specifically looking for works that cross genres with one foot firmly planted in a particular one. Given that, I would say my story is a work of contemporary women's fiction with strong elements of romance. I would let an agent decide whether it's appropriate for new adult. Another reason why I need an agent;-).
So, there you ago. Deciding genre is not as easy as some would have you believe, especially today in the world of romantic vampires dealing with old fashioned themes of purity and marriage with a heavy dose of fantasy and suspense. I could go on but you get my point.
Happy writing!
Friday, July 26, 2013
Losing Control
Sometimes, I have it in my head what I want to write. The idea is there. The characters are fleshed out. I sit down to start it and I can't seem to focus. Can't seem to go anywhere with it. Instead of my creative juices flowing, another idea will take over. This idea just won't go away no matter how hard I try to push it back into the far corners of my brain to save for another day. It basically means I have no control over my ideas. They control me.
This just happened to me this week. I've finished my current WIP and was ready to start another. Prevailing wisdom is to start something completely different. A separate stand alone story in case the other doesn't take off. Problem is, a sequel is desperately trying to be told. No matter how much I worked to focus on the other, completely different idea, I couldn't do it. A character named, Ellie, needs to be heard. Granted she is a fiery, feisty redhead but I didn't think I was ready to tell Ellie's story.
What could I do? Force myself into the other characters? I tried that. I used my favorite music. I started in the middle of the story, which I sometimes do to help me get started. I tried all manner of things, but none of them worked. So, I've pushed aside the other story and I'm writing a sequel-Ellie's story. I'll do my best to make it stand alone as well and hope I can pitch it at a later date if need be.
Just goes to show you. We are not in control of anything in life, not even our own ideas;-) Moral of the story, just go with it. No point fighting the inevitable.
This just happened to me this week. I've finished my current WIP and was ready to start another. Prevailing wisdom is to start something completely different. A separate stand alone story in case the other doesn't take off. Problem is, a sequel is desperately trying to be told. No matter how much I worked to focus on the other, completely different idea, I couldn't do it. A character named, Ellie, needs to be heard. Granted she is a fiery, feisty redhead but I didn't think I was ready to tell Ellie's story.
What could I do? Force myself into the other characters? I tried that. I used my favorite music. I started in the middle of the story, which I sometimes do to help me get started. I tried all manner of things, but none of them worked. So, I've pushed aside the other story and I'm writing a sequel-Ellie's story. I'll do my best to make it stand alone as well and hope I can pitch it at a later date if need be.
Just goes to show you. We are not in control of anything in life, not even our own ideas;-) Moral of the story, just go with it. No point fighting the inevitable.
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Writing Show and Tell: Not As Easy As It Sounds!
Showing vs telling. I've talked about this before. Probably a LOT! Mainly because I'm still working on getting it right. As I'm editing my finished product, I'm feverishly pouring over passages to see if I got it. Probably the most frustrating thing about writing and editing, at least for me. Through my blog, I follow a few other blogs out there. Writer's Digest, Janice Hardy, Romance University, a few agent blogs and now The Bookshelf Muse. Why now The Bookshelf Muse you ask? Upon looking through the blog entries from these other sites, I stumbled across a guest blog from Angela Ackerman of The Bookshelf Muse regarding this very topic. Read it here (hope the link works as I'm still new to this;-0).
I thought she did a fabulous job of describing the differences of the two as well as a couple of other pitfalls including making good use of showing but then adding a tell sentence to hit it home and overdoing showing bordering on purple prose and melodrama.
I'd been wondering about these last two points. I definitely, when I get the showing right that is, have a tendency to add in the tell sentence to be sure the reader gets what I'm saying. I don't have to do this and Angela made good points as to why. Trust my writing. That's hard.
This very reason is why I'm beginning to love blogging. Reading other people's wonderful blog entries out there giving great advice and passing along words of wisdom is what I think it's all about. We need to help each other. I realize you can do this on Twitter and Facebook too but blogs enable people to elaborate and go further. Just my opinion!
Check out Angela and her blog partner Becca's sage advice. You'll also be fabulously startled to see they've come out with The Emotion Thesaurus. I'm so excited! The rest of you have problem known this already but I love it when I make such discoveries! Thanks, Angela and Becca!
Now, back to pouring through those passages and hoping I'm close to getting it right.
I thought she did a fabulous job of describing the differences of the two as well as a couple of other pitfalls including making good use of showing but then adding a tell sentence to hit it home and overdoing showing bordering on purple prose and melodrama.
I'd been wondering about these last two points. I definitely, when I get the showing right that is, have a tendency to add in the tell sentence to be sure the reader gets what I'm saying. I don't have to do this and Angela made good points as to why. Trust my writing. That's hard.
This very reason is why I'm beginning to love blogging. Reading other people's wonderful blog entries out there giving great advice and passing along words of wisdom is what I think it's all about. We need to help each other. I realize you can do this on Twitter and Facebook too but blogs enable people to elaborate and go further. Just my opinion!
Check out Angela and her blog partner Becca's sage advice. You'll also be fabulously startled to see they've come out with The Emotion Thesaurus. I'm so excited! The rest of you have problem known this already but I love it when I make such discoveries! Thanks, Angela and Becca!
Now, back to pouring through those passages and hoping I'm close to getting it right.
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Submission Time
Hi again! Sorry it took me so long. I've been on vacation with no WiFi-imagine my horror;-o.
Anyway, back to the topic at hand-submission. As I'm typing the word, I'm reminded of its other meaning. That's exactly what it feels like sometimes-lying down like a dog and taking whatever comes your way. Just kidding! Sort of. I've still got a lot to work on before I'm completely ready. At the moment, I have my manuscript out to some beta readers, my most trustworthy of which is also taking classes this summer and will work it into her busy schedule. Damn it, Amy! How dare you attempt higher education while I'm trying to be a published writer;-)
I have to polish the dreaded query. I've started it five times at least but keep changing it. For me, I usually know when it feels right. My hubby is also a big help. He reads them and lets me know what he thinks, even though he can't be made to read my entire manuscript. I still often wonder how two such opposites were brought together in a blissfully happy marriage;-) I actually married a man who hates to read for fun. Hey, but it works for us!
Next, I'll write the synopsis. Not all agents require these but most do. I hate the synopsis but I've said that already here before. This will show them I have a good beginning, middle and end.
Finally, I'll go through my top twenty agents and see if they are currently taking submissions and jot down notes about the requirements for submissions.
Then, I'll be ready. A tiny thrill travels through me just thinking about it. Back to work! I'll update soon.
I wanted also to mention a good book I've read this summer. We need to promote great authors. I thoroughly enjoyed Summerland by Elin Hilderbrand.
Anyway, back to the topic at hand-submission. As I'm typing the word, I'm reminded of its other meaning. That's exactly what it feels like sometimes-lying down like a dog and taking whatever comes your way. Just kidding! Sort of. I've still got a lot to work on before I'm completely ready. At the moment, I have my manuscript out to some beta readers, my most trustworthy of which is also taking classes this summer and will work it into her busy schedule. Damn it, Amy! How dare you attempt higher education while I'm trying to be a published writer;-)
I have to polish the dreaded query. I've started it five times at least but keep changing it. For me, I usually know when it feels right. My hubby is also a big help. He reads them and lets me know what he thinks, even though he can't be made to read my entire manuscript. I still often wonder how two such opposites were brought together in a blissfully happy marriage;-) I actually married a man who hates to read for fun. Hey, but it works for us!
Next, I'll write the synopsis. Not all agents require these but most do. I hate the synopsis but I've said that already here before. This will show them I have a good beginning, middle and end.
Finally, I'll go through my top twenty agents and see if they are currently taking submissions and jot down notes about the requirements for submissions.
Then, I'll be ready. A tiny thrill travels through me just thinking about it. Back to work! I'll update soon.
I wanted also to mention a good book I've read this summer. We need to promote great authors. I thoroughly enjoyed Summerland by Elin Hilderbrand.
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
How Realistic Does Your Writing Have To Be?
I pose this question because I ask it of myself a lot. I'm a nobody in the writing world. I'm a wife and mother with a challenging day job who really, really enjoys writing. Thus, I don't have a lot of contacts to help me with research. I have Google and that's about it;-)
Unlike the commercial that says they can't lie on the internet, I know what I read is only as good as the source. I try to use reputable sites and have to take them at face value. I don't have a good friend who's a detective, or FBI agent, or Navy SEAL, or etc. You get my point.
In saying all this, how realistic should fiction be? I researched this very question and came across a blog entry tackling the topic. This person, a published author, had a good point. You don't want the person reading your book to stop and go, "Hey, wait a second. It doesn't snow in Texas in July." This is a gross exaggeration but you can see what I mean. If I'm writing about Louisville and I make something up any Louisvillian would know is not true, then they won't be able to enjoy my work. They'll be distracted by the inconsistencies.
Still, that doesn't really answer my question completely. Let's say I want my protagonist to fall in love with a Navy SEAL. How accurate do I need to be with what challenges a Navy SEAL might face? I'm sure the more accurate the better, but Google can only tell me so much, especially regarding these secretive warriors. Nobody without a certain security clearance or a direct relationship with a SEAL knows exactly what they do on a daily basis.
I ponder this as I start my next work. I want to be accurate yet I want it to be escapism romantic fiction. What's important to me is the story. The dynamic between the two characters. The passion and conflict. This is what I get lost in, not what weapon he carries or where his next mission might be. Maybe I'm wrong but it's only my opinion;-)
Unlike the commercial that says they can't lie on the internet, I know what I read is only as good as the source. I try to use reputable sites and have to take them at face value. I don't have a good friend who's a detective, or FBI agent, or Navy SEAL, or etc. You get my point.
In saying all this, how realistic should fiction be? I researched this very question and came across a blog entry tackling the topic. This person, a published author, had a good point. You don't want the person reading your book to stop and go, "Hey, wait a second. It doesn't snow in Texas in July." This is a gross exaggeration but you can see what I mean. If I'm writing about Louisville and I make something up any Louisvillian would know is not true, then they won't be able to enjoy my work. They'll be distracted by the inconsistencies.
Still, that doesn't really answer my question completely. Let's say I want my protagonist to fall in love with a Navy SEAL. How accurate do I need to be with what challenges a Navy SEAL might face? I'm sure the more accurate the better, but Google can only tell me so much, especially regarding these secretive warriors. Nobody without a certain security clearance or a direct relationship with a SEAL knows exactly what they do on a daily basis.
I ponder this as I start my next work. I want to be accurate yet I want it to be escapism romantic fiction. What's important to me is the story. The dynamic between the two characters. The passion and conflict. This is what I get lost in, not what weapon he carries or where his next mission might be. Maybe I'm wrong but it's only my opinion;-)
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Broadening My Reading and Writing Horizons
I've trying to read outside my comfort zone. As my profile will tell you, I am a fan of romance and women's fiction with a happy ending. I like spicy but not over the top. Because I use reading as an escape, I often pick the authors I know I'll like. My time is limited and I want to make the most of it.
Every time I read an agent or editor interview, the advice often is to read more to become a better writer. So, this summer, I decided to set a goal to read outside my comfort zone. The first attempt was really good. I enjoyed the author very well. With the second, I'm really struggling. Here's why. I dare to say sometimes I think there can be too much show in your showing versus telling. I'm a fan of good word usage as much as the next person, but I'm struggling with the whole idea of when is it merely showing and when is it purple prose. Wikipedia gives the definition of purple prose as the following:
"Purple prose is written prose that is so extravagant, ornate, or flowery as to break the flow and draw excessive attention to itself. Purple prose is sensually evocative beyond the requirements of its context. It may also employ certain rhetorical effects such as exaggerated sentiment or pathos in an attempt to manipulate a reader's response."
I recently started a book I'd seen recommended by various publications. While I think the idea and story could be good, I can't get past the prose. I find myself focused more on figuring out what the words mean versus getting lost in the story. I pride myself on having a decent vocabulary and I'm fairly intelligent (I know, but you'll just have to take my word for it;-)). Still, this writing is a bit over my head and I can't enjoy it.
Not only can I not enjoy it, it makes me feel defeated. This is a well regarded book. It brings out my self-critical side. I'll never write like that. Is there still a place for me out there in the fiction world? Only time will tell. In the meantime, I'll keep writing.
BTW, I think I'm getting close to submission time. I'll keep you posted. Probably another reason why I feel the self doubt monster creeping back in. Go away, I say! :-)
Every time I read an agent or editor interview, the advice often is to read more to become a better writer. So, this summer, I decided to set a goal to read outside my comfort zone. The first attempt was really good. I enjoyed the author very well. With the second, I'm really struggling. Here's why. I dare to say sometimes I think there can be too much show in your showing versus telling. I'm a fan of good word usage as much as the next person, but I'm struggling with the whole idea of when is it merely showing and when is it purple prose. Wikipedia gives the definition of purple prose as the following:
"Purple prose is written prose that is so extravagant, ornate, or flowery as to break the flow and draw excessive attention to itself. Purple prose is sensually evocative beyond the requirements of its context. It may also employ certain rhetorical effects such as exaggerated sentiment or pathos in an attempt to manipulate a reader's response."
I recently started a book I'd seen recommended by various publications. While I think the idea and story could be good, I can't get past the prose. I find myself focused more on figuring out what the words mean versus getting lost in the story. I pride myself on having a decent vocabulary and I'm fairly intelligent (I know, but you'll just have to take my word for it;-)). Still, this writing is a bit over my head and I can't enjoy it.
Not only can I not enjoy it, it makes me feel defeated. This is a well regarded book. It brings out my self-critical side. I'll never write like that. Is there still a place for me out there in the fiction world? Only time will tell. In the meantime, I'll keep writing.
BTW, I think I'm getting close to submission time. I'll keep you posted. Probably another reason why I feel the self doubt monster creeping back in. Go away, I say! :-)
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
The World of Self-Publishing
I don't know this world from personal experience, mind you. I've just been reading a lot about it. What I've seen so far makes my head hurt. I'm one of those people who grew up at the time when computers were just bursting onto the scene. I think I've moved along with the times quite nicely and usually have no problems adapting to a new computer or program. Still, I rarely know technical terms and when they're thrown at me in quick succession, my eyes glaze over. Which is exactly what just happened.
There are a couple of good and recent articles on Writer's Digest about self-publishing. You're given all the ins and outs of how it's done including how to format, cover art, etc. I started reading thinking, maybe I can do this, but left with a headache.
Maybe I'm too old for this (and I'm not that old-I promise!). This is exactly why I've been pursuing the old-fashioned, tried and true agent route. Because I need help! I don't want to do this all by myself! At least not yet;-) I know doing everything electronically is the way of the future. I get that and I'll figure it out when I need to. Just like I'm figuring out this whole blogging thing. I'm getting there;-)
Now, excuse me while I go down a couple of ibuprofen and get out my notebook. I'm taking a break from technology for a couple of hours.
There are a couple of good and recent articles on Writer's Digest about self-publishing. You're given all the ins and outs of how it's done including how to format, cover art, etc. I started reading thinking, maybe I can do this, but left with a headache.
Maybe I'm too old for this (and I'm not that old-I promise!). This is exactly why I've been pursuing the old-fashioned, tried and true agent route. Because I need help! I don't want to do this all by myself! At least not yet;-) I know doing everything electronically is the way of the future. I get that and I'll figure it out when I need to. Just like I'm figuring out this whole blogging thing. I'm getting there;-)
Now, excuse me while I go down a couple of ibuprofen and get out my notebook. I'm taking a break from technology for a couple of hours.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Unpopular Writing Advice-Maybe
Okay, I'm not one to necessarily listen to, but hear me out. I'm not an expert, not published (as I've said before). I'm really a nobody. However, I've been doing this a while and if my trials and tribulations can help you, then I'm doing my job.
My possibly unpopular advice is this: Maybe you shouldn't try to submit that first finished manuscript. There, I said it. Now, here's why. I tried to. So proud that I'd actually finished a 75,000 word manuscript, I submitted to all the big agents out there. What happened next? Crickets. Nothing. Nada. I know getting picked up by a big name agent is a shot in the dark, like playing the lottery, etc. Still, I didn't really understand. Now, I do.
Four years in, I've recently gone back and read some of my other pieces. I have to admit they're pretty terrible. Accomplishments, every one of them but not quite there yet. At the time, I thought they were great. I thought they were just right. I was wrong. I read some advice once but unfortunately can't remember where. I'm sure it was an agent blog as those are the ones I visit the most. The advice was to put a work aside for a while, move on to something else for a time and then come back to it. You will be able to look at your own work with fresh eyes. Boy was this advice right on. I can so clearly see it now.
One of these works really disappoints me because I still love the idea. I guess I just need to scrap some of the writing, take the idea and try again. Sigh. The good news was another I took a second look at really appealed to me. One of my most recent manuscripts. I think it's actually pretty good upon second glance. My plan is to polish it up and submit.
Back to my original statement though. Those early manuscripts of mine were just not good enough. I couldn't see it then but I can now. I'm definitely getting better. Big plus! However, maybe we need to look upon that first as a start. A beginning of a wonderful writing life. It might not be ready but another will be. Of course, there are always exceptions. I'm sure there are many authors out there who published their first and, at the time, only manuscript to great success. Alas, that person isn't me but I'll keep chugging along slowly up that ginormous hill to a successful writing life.
My possibly unpopular advice is this: Maybe you shouldn't try to submit that first finished manuscript. There, I said it. Now, here's why. I tried to. So proud that I'd actually finished a 75,000 word manuscript, I submitted to all the big agents out there. What happened next? Crickets. Nothing. Nada. I know getting picked up by a big name agent is a shot in the dark, like playing the lottery, etc. Still, I didn't really understand. Now, I do.
Four years in, I've recently gone back and read some of my other pieces. I have to admit they're pretty terrible. Accomplishments, every one of them but not quite there yet. At the time, I thought they were great. I thought they were just right. I was wrong. I read some advice once but unfortunately can't remember where. I'm sure it was an agent blog as those are the ones I visit the most. The advice was to put a work aside for a while, move on to something else for a time and then come back to it. You will be able to look at your own work with fresh eyes. Boy was this advice right on. I can so clearly see it now.
One of these works really disappoints me because I still love the idea. I guess I just need to scrap some of the writing, take the idea and try again. Sigh. The good news was another I took a second look at really appealed to me. One of my most recent manuscripts. I think it's actually pretty good upon second glance. My plan is to polish it up and submit.
Back to my original statement though. Those early manuscripts of mine were just not good enough. I couldn't see it then but I can now. I'm definitely getting better. Big plus! However, maybe we need to look upon that first as a start. A beginning of a wonderful writing life. It might not be ready but another will be. Of course, there are always exceptions. I'm sure there are many authors out there who published their first and, at the time, only manuscript to great success. Alas, that person isn't me but I'll keep chugging along slowly up that ginormous hill to a successful writing life.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
A Writing Rut
I'm in a rut. A writing rut. I'm finished with the beginning to end of a story and I'm ready to re-read and polish. The problem is I can see lots of things wrong with it already. In a way, this is good. Right? (Please say yes.) If I can pick out what's not good about my own writing that means I'm getting better, wiser.
I hope this is the case because it's really frustrating. It's frustrating to toil on something for months and then see so many things wrong with it.
A lot of people have said to me they can't believe I wrote a 70,000 word novel. These same people say they would never be able to stick with something that long. They talk about how difficult it would be. For me, writing the first draft is easy (in a sense). I'm telling my story. I'm excited to get all the ideas in my head out. It carries a certain thrill with it. It's the next part I struggle with. Making it better, critiquing myself, and somehow not feeling overwhelmed or defeated in the process.
As I wrote in one of my most recent entries, I suck at this part. I need to get through this. I need to be dedicated. I need to finish, damn it!
Okay, I feel better already. Time to tackle the first chapter.
I hope this is the case because it's really frustrating. It's frustrating to toil on something for months and then see so many things wrong with it.
A lot of people have said to me they can't believe I wrote a 70,000 word novel. These same people say they would never be able to stick with something that long. They talk about how difficult it would be. For me, writing the first draft is easy (in a sense). I'm telling my story. I'm excited to get all the ideas in my head out. It carries a certain thrill with it. It's the next part I struggle with. Making it better, critiquing myself, and somehow not feeling overwhelmed or defeated in the process.
As I wrote in one of my most recent entries, I suck at this part. I need to get through this. I need to be dedicated. I need to finish, damn it!
Okay, I feel better already. Time to tackle the first chapter.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Prologues: Good or Bad?
I'll readily admit I don't know the answer to this question. I don't have a negative experience with them. In fact, I've seen them used well. The times where I've enjoyed them seem to be as a hooks into exciting parts to come later. Sometimes, they reveal an occurrence from a different time or place that set certain events into motion. I like this as well.
Oddly, the prologue seems to be one of the most hotly debated writing topics out there. People seem to despise them. A rather strong reaction it seems to me, but I'm not a literary critic, agent or anyone else of importance in the writing world. Critic's, agents and editors read hundreds upon hundreds of books with the intent of picking them apart and deciding their worth. I can imagine certain conventions or tricks get really old. Apparently, the prologue is one of them.
Why do I bring this up? I've been flirting with one in one of my latest novels. The one I've written is funny (at least I think so;-D). It shows one of the MC's in a precarious position. She has just made a life altering choice. As I'm writing this, I realize one important thing. I'm kind of revealing an important decision she deliberates through most of the book. Do I want that decision revealed so quickly? I'll have to think about that. Still, I like the idea of starting with such a funny and important scene. I feel like it draws a reader in.
Then, what's the problem? After reading so many articles, blog entries, etc., I doubt myself. It would seem some people don't even read the prologue. Worse, agents seem to get turned off at even seeing that word at the top of the first page. If the idea is to make a good impression, I don't want to make a huge blunder right from the get-go.
I'm almost talking myself out of doing it just as I write this. Does it really matter what I think? I guess it should. It is my work of course. But, part of writing is hoping someone else might enjoy it someday.
Something to think about along with everything else about writing;-)
Oddly, the prologue seems to be one of the most hotly debated writing topics out there. People seem to despise them. A rather strong reaction it seems to me, but I'm not a literary critic, agent or anyone else of importance in the writing world. Critic's, agents and editors read hundreds upon hundreds of books with the intent of picking them apart and deciding their worth. I can imagine certain conventions or tricks get really old. Apparently, the prologue is one of them.
Why do I bring this up? I've been flirting with one in one of my latest novels. The one I've written is funny (at least I think so;-D). It shows one of the MC's in a precarious position. She has just made a life altering choice. As I'm writing this, I realize one important thing. I'm kind of revealing an important decision she deliberates through most of the book. Do I want that decision revealed so quickly? I'll have to think about that. Still, I like the idea of starting with such a funny and important scene. I feel like it draws a reader in.
Then, what's the problem? After reading so many articles, blog entries, etc., I doubt myself. It would seem some people don't even read the prologue. Worse, agents seem to get turned off at even seeing that word at the top of the first page. If the idea is to make a good impression, I don't want to make a huge blunder right from the get-go.
I'm almost talking myself out of doing it just as I write this. Does it really matter what I think? I guess it should. It is my work of course. But, part of writing is hoping someone else might enjoy it someday.
Something to think about along with everything else about writing;-)
Monday, May 20, 2013
Making Revisions
Okay, simply put, I suck at this. Since my very first novel I wrote from start to finish, I have not perfected the art of revision and follow through. On that first one, I polished it as well as I thought I could. I think because it was my first. It was my baby. My first love. I wanted to make it the best I possibly could. I read it, made changes, read it again and made more changes. I let people read it and took their suggestions to heart. I queried and when I got no hits from that first round, I reworked the query and made it better.
I did everything right with that first novel. Everything that is except write a good, quality piece of fiction. It was my first after all and I like to think four years in I've gotten better.
But now, I have a little problem. I've said this before. The ideas flow through my head faster than I can get them down on paper or type them in my MacBook. Because of that, I'm impatient. I don't want to go through the revision process. I want to start on my next novel. As a result, I probably have four or more incomplete novels saved. The premise of each is probably decent but I get too excited about the next to finish the last.
I keep making myself a promise. When I finish the current, I'll go back and polish those four. Make them all good and get ready to go through a round of submissions for one at a time. I guess I could look at it a couple of ways. Either I have a diamond in the rough, a gem in my own personal slush pile, or none of those has been the right one and deep down I know it. Still, I think each is worth taking another look at with fresh eyes and more wisdom.
We'll see. Maybe one of them is that diamond. I hope so;-) Until then, I'll keep writing.
Hubby is watching The Voice as I write this. God, I love that show!
I did everything right with that first novel. Everything that is except write a good, quality piece of fiction. It was my first after all and I like to think four years in I've gotten better.
But now, I have a little problem. I've said this before. The ideas flow through my head faster than I can get them down on paper or type them in my MacBook. Because of that, I'm impatient. I don't want to go through the revision process. I want to start on my next novel. As a result, I probably have four or more incomplete novels saved. The premise of each is probably decent but I get too excited about the next to finish the last.
I keep making myself a promise. When I finish the current, I'll go back and polish those four. Make them all good and get ready to go through a round of submissions for one at a time. I guess I could look at it a couple of ways. Either I have a diamond in the rough, a gem in my own personal slush pile, or none of those has been the right one and deep down I know it. Still, I think each is worth taking another look at with fresh eyes and more wisdom.
We'll see. Maybe one of them is that diamond. I hope so;-) Until then, I'll keep writing.
Hubby is watching The Voice as I write this. God, I love that show!
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Why I Write
I write because I have to.
I write because I need to.
I write because I love it.
I write because it's the first thing I want to do after a bad day (or a good day for that matter).
I write because I have stories to tell.
I write because it makes me happy:-)
I write because it's embedded in every part of my being to do so.
I don't write trends.
I don't write because I think it's cool.
I don't write because I want to be published (although that would be nice).
I don't write to prove anything to anyone else.
I don't write to get rich (although that would be really nice!).
Thanks for being patient through my mantra. I did it for me as much as for you. Sometimes, I need to remind myself why I do it. God knows it's certainly not easy but it's immensely rewarding and maybe not in the way anyone would think. There's nothing more cathartic or freeing than to pour your feelings out on computer or paper. Sometimes, I pick up a notebook and pencil because I just need to write that way. It's how I started and I enjoy the process of pencil marks flowing across the paper almost more than typing. I know what you're thinking. It's a bit old school.
After a bad day at work, a few bad days actually, I'm very thankful to come home to my family and to be able to sit down and write this entry then a chapter on my current work in progress. Ah! Can you hear my happy sigh? I write because I'm a writer.
I write because I need to.
I write because I love it.
I write because it's the first thing I want to do after a bad day (or a good day for that matter).
I write because I have stories to tell.
I write because it makes me happy:-)
I write because it's embedded in every part of my being to do so.
I don't write trends.
I don't write because I think it's cool.
I don't write because I want to be published (although that would be nice).
I don't write to prove anything to anyone else.
I don't write to get rich (although that would be really nice!).
Thanks for being patient through my mantra. I did it for me as much as for you. Sometimes, I need to remind myself why I do it. God knows it's certainly not easy but it's immensely rewarding and maybe not in the way anyone would think. There's nothing more cathartic or freeing than to pour your feelings out on computer or paper. Sometimes, I pick up a notebook and pencil because I just need to write that way. It's how I started and I enjoy the process of pencil marks flowing across the paper almost more than typing. I know what you're thinking. It's a bit old school.
After a bad day at work, a few bad days actually, I'm very thankful to come home to my family and to be able to sit down and write this entry then a chapter on my current work in progress. Ah! Can you hear my happy sigh? I write because I'm a writer.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
The Sequel or Not the Sequel
I freely admit I got this idea from one of the blogs I follow, but it was something I've struggled with in my writing. When do you write that sequel you have in mind? As the author I borrowed from stated, there are two trains of thought on this. There's the write it now while the ideas are still fresh and you can tweak the story as you see fit. Then, there's the wait until you get the first published and see if there's a push for a follow up.
I can tell you this, the overwhelming winner among agents out there is to wait and see if you get the first one published. The reasons behind this are good with primarily the idea you'd be wasting time when you could start something else. I get it and I agree. Still, my heart and mind struggle with the characters I long to consider in the sequel.
So often, I start a novel with my main characters in mind but inevitably a secondary character grabs my attention and I can't stand not investigating the nuances of this interesting person. I can barely even wait through the first book and sometimes don't. Hence the reason I often write ensemble, multi POV stories. I get so excited and just can't help myself.
The solution given by one agent seemed the best to me. Go ahead and write your first novel. Make it as stand alone as you possibly can. Then, go ahead and outline any subsequent sequels, maybe even write a synopsis for each. That way, you keep your ideas fresh and know if you need to change something.
However, if you simply can't wait, write it for God's sake. It's your time. Do with it as you want.
I can tell you this, the overwhelming winner among agents out there is to wait and see if you get the first one published. The reasons behind this are good with primarily the idea you'd be wasting time when you could start something else. I get it and I agree. Still, my heart and mind struggle with the characters I long to consider in the sequel.
So often, I start a novel with my main characters in mind but inevitably a secondary character grabs my attention and I can't stand not investigating the nuances of this interesting person. I can barely even wait through the first book and sometimes don't. Hence the reason I often write ensemble, multi POV stories. I get so excited and just can't help myself.
The solution given by one agent seemed the best to me. Go ahead and write your first novel. Make it as stand alone as you possibly can. Then, go ahead and outline any subsequent sequels, maybe even write a synopsis for each. That way, you keep your ideas fresh and know if you need to change something.
However, if you simply can't wait, write it for God's sake. It's your time. Do with it as you want.
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Rules of the Writing World
Who likes rules? Not really anyone, I would imagine. Yet we all know they keep things from dissolving into complete chaos and creating overwhelming disorder. Such are the rules of writing. I'm not talking about grammar here or typical writing conventions. I'm talking about what does and does not work for the reader. Examples would be switching between multiple points of view. The no-no of prologues. Another might be not to blend or cross genres.
Now, I know what you're thinking. Hey, wait a minute, I've seen all these used in various books and they worked. So, what does that mean exactly? It means, pardon my French, screw the rules.
Don't go getting mad at me. As I said before, we have rules for a reason. All I'm saying here is it's your writing and to start with, do what you want. If it works, you'll know it. If it doesn't, go back to what the various rule-makers have said. The point is if you are a good writer, people will probably like it anyway. It's more about the delivery than the idea of something.
Let's focus on the multiple POV point. This used to be a major no-no but recently we've seen it change. The Help would be a good example. In it, Kathryn Stockett takes each chapter and devotes it to one of three characters and her point of view. It works because she follows a formula. The POV shifts with a chapter titled with the character's name so you can easily see when she changes it. Also, she does a great job with developing each character's voice and you learn to identify with that as well. About three quarters of the way through the book, she does the unthinkable and drops in a chapter devoted to the Benefit. This is written in third person omniscience POV so as to tell all the momentous happenings occurring during the night. Although according to the rules this shouldn't work, it does. Not only does it work, it pulls together a lot of the plot lines up to that point and has all the characters together in one big scene.
I use this popular example because it's a well received story that doesn't always follow the standard conventions a novel is supposed to but it does so well.
I know you've read novels with prologues you've loved. I certainly have. One of my favorite suspense authors did this a lot and I never found it distracting to the story. Instead, I found myself growing more excited as each chapter passed knowing I was nearing the momentous scene. Mixing or crossing genres is becoming ever popular these days and you rarely find a novel now that fits only into one.
I'm a rule follower by nature and I struggle with this. My mind comes up with ideas I think could be creative and interesting but don't necessarily fit with what's been done before. But, that's okay. Right? The things I mentioned above would suggest so. Still, when I read a blog or article describing all the things you should and should not do, I start to doubt myself. I guess the moral of the story is write it first and see if it works. You'll know or you'll soon find out and you'll be the wiser for it. Don't be afraid to take risks. Kathryn Stockett did and we all know how that worked out;-)
It's Derby time in the 'Ville. An exciting time for the locals and visitors to our fair city alike. This is the time of the year when I'm most proud to be a Louisvillian.
Song I love: My Old Kentucky Home, Stephen Foster. If you've been to or seen the Derby, you'll know why;-) Happy Derby!
Now, I know what you're thinking. Hey, wait a minute, I've seen all these used in various books and they worked. So, what does that mean exactly? It means, pardon my French, screw the rules.
Don't go getting mad at me. As I said before, we have rules for a reason. All I'm saying here is it's your writing and to start with, do what you want. If it works, you'll know it. If it doesn't, go back to what the various rule-makers have said. The point is if you are a good writer, people will probably like it anyway. It's more about the delivery than the idea of something.
Let's focus on the multiple POV point. This used to be a major no-no but recently we've seen it change. The Help would be a good example. In it, Kathryn Stockett takes each chapter and devotes it to one of three characters and her point of view. It works because she follows a formula. The POV shifts with a chapter titled with the character's name so you can easily see when she changes it. Also, she does a great job with developing each character's voice and you learn to identify with that as well. About three quarters of the way through the book, she does the unthinkable and drops in a chapter devoted to the Benefit. This is written in third person omniscience POV so as to tell all the momentous happenings occurring during the night. Although according to the rules this shouldn't work, it does. Not only does it work, it pulls together a lot of the plot lines up to that point and has all the characters together in one big scene.
I use this popular example because it's a well received story that doesn't always follow the standard conventions a novel is supposed to but it does so well.
I know you've read novels with prologues you've loved. I certainly have. One of my favorite suspense authors did this a lot and I never found it distracting to the story. Instead, I found myself growing more excited as each chapter passed knowing I was nearing the momentous scene. Mixing or crossing genres is becoming ever popular these days and you rarely find a novel now that fits only into one.
I'm a rule follower by nature and I struggle with this. My mind comes up with ideas I think could be creative and interesting but don't necessarily fit with what's been done before. But, that's okay. Right? The things I mentioned above would suggest so. Still, when I read a blog or article describing all the things you should and should not do, I start to doubt myself. I guess the moral of the story is write it first and see if it works. You'll know or you'll soon find out and you'll be the wiser for it. Don't be afraid to take risks. Kathryn Stockett did and we all know how that worked out;-)
It's Derby time in the 'Ville. An exciting time for the locals and visitors to our fair city alike. This is the time of the year when I'm most proud to be a Louisvillian.
Song I love: My Old Kentucky Home, Stephen Foster. If you've been to or seen the Derby, you'll know why;-) Happy Derby!
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Picking a Title
Now, I gotta admit I'm really just speculating when it comes to this topic. Having never really been published myself, I don't know if my titles would sell or not. You see these catchy names on book shelves and try to come up with you own clever, eye-catching choice. Not as easy as you, or I, would think. I'm sure some books go through multiple tags before actually becoming published.
I read on an agent blog once about the importance of choosing well. This particular agent said a poor choice for a title will sometimes turn them off before they've even read the query. From experience, I know some of them ask you to put the name of your manuscript in the subject line of your email. This places a great deal of importance on what you consider a minor part of your work.
I sit here now on a "me night" as my ten-year-old called it:-) with a rare uninterrupted few hours of writing. Everybody is out of the house but me and I find myself hooked on the Reese Witherspoon comedy, Sweet Home Alabama. The title of this movie is perfect. She returns home to Alabama. Half way through the movie the song of the same name appears. It's catchy and it bears meaning to the plot. Why mention this? Because I find myself trying to come up with a similarly good choice for my current story.
Like every writer, I envision a colorful book jacket some day baring the perfect label and my name in small letters across the bottom. Now, it's merely a dream but I'll put as much effort as I can into deciding on the right words for that cover. Who knows, maybe it'll even become a movie someday. Now, wouldn't that be sweet?
I read on an agent blog once about the importance of choosing well. This particular agent said a poor choice for a title will sometimes turn them off before they've even read the query. From experience, I know some of them ask you to put the name of your manuscript in the subject line of your email. This places a great deal of importance on what you consider a minor part of your work.
I sit here now on a "me night" as my ten-year-old called it:-) with a rare uninterrupted few hours of writing. Everybody is out of the house but me and I find myself hooked on the Reese Witherspoon comedy, Sweet Home Alabama. The title of this movie is perfect. She returns home to Alabama. Half way through the movie the song of the same name appears. It's catchy and it bears meaning to the plot. Why mention this? Because I find myself trying to come up with a similarly good choice for my current story.
Like every writer, I envision a colorful book jacket some day baring the perfect label and my name in small letters across the bottom. Now, it's merely a dream but I'll put as much effort as I can into deciding on the right words for that cover. Who knows, maybe it'll even become a movie someday. Now, wouldn't that be sweet?
Monday, April 22, 2013
Word Choice, Word Choice, Word Choice!
God, I struggle with this. Do you? I use my word processing program thesaurus like crazy trying to vary my words a bit. I have a decent vocabulary but it's still hard for me to come up with the right word at times. When describing setting for example. I'm not naturally good at description. I can see the setting and events vividly in my head but just can't describe them always as I see them. I've gotten better, much better actually. There are days when I really feel like I have it. Yet, there are just as many or more days where I struggle.
The hardest part is how much I have to focus to really find my voice and my creativity. As I've said before here, I primarily write late at night or early in the morning. Late at night, I'm tired. My brain doesn't work as well as it should. I do better in the morning, but I can really only carve out about an hour then.
I just read a blog post by Janice Hardy on describing your setting. She talked about how it can be awkward if you're too flowery with your character's descriptions. She's right, but that makes it even harder in a way. Choose wisely but don't be fake. Don't go crazy with your word choice.
Again, this is an area I really have to work hard on and have a lot still to learn.
The hardest part is how much I have to focus to really find my voice and my creativity. As I've said before here, I primarily write late at night or early in the morning. Late at night, I'm tired. My brain doesn't work as well as it should. I do better in the morning, but I can really only carve out about an hour then.
I just read a blog post by Janice Hardy on describing your setting. She talked about how it can be awkward if you're too flowery with your character's descriptions. She's right, but that makes it even harder in a way. Choose wisely but don't be fake. Don't go crazy with your word choice.
Again, this is an area I really have to work hard on and have a lot still to learn.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Fly By the Seat Of Your Pants? Not Me!
I'm a plotter. In all facets of my life, I like to plan, think it through, work out the kinks. At night, I think about what I'll wear the next day whether I lay the clothing items out or not. When I leave the house in the morning, I think about the best way to get to my destination and have it mapped out in my head. I write things down, make lists. I prepare.
Naturally, I'm like that with my writing as well. Each work takes a different form. My first couple of stories, I wrote every last sentence out in a notebook then typed it all on the computer. Part of this was because of my initial lack of a good computer. Early on, my typing skills weren't that great either. I'd bet now I could rival any administrative assistant with my words per minute score. When writing it all out on paper first, I was then able to adjust and make changes as I typed. It was a laborious process but worked really well in a way.
Sometimes, I just write or type an outline. Of course, there are times when a story takes its own path and veers off in an entirely different direction than I'd planned. That's okay too but I still like to have an idea of the direction I'm hoping to go.
No matter how I document, I have every story in my head from beginning to end and several main scenes in between. I know my characters intimately, inside and out. I know their motivations, their backgrounds and their weaknesses.
Sometimes, I'd like to be a pantser but it's just not in me. I like to control a little too much to let that happen. So, I'll keep up my plotting and planning and accept it as just who I am.
BTW, as I write this, the television news is full of scenes from Boston as well as West, Texas. I've never been to either place but would love to sometime. God be with you all.
Song I'm liking this week, an oldy but a goody and maybe fitting for the week's events: Landslide, by Fleetwood Mac.
Naturally, I'm like that with my writing as well. Each work takes a different form. My first couple of stories, I wrote every last sentence out in a notebook then typed it all on the computer. Part of this was because of my initial lack of a good computer. Early on, my typing skills weren't that great either. I'd bet now I could rival any administrative assistant with my words per minute score. When writing it all out on paper first, I was then able to adjust and make changes as I typed. It was a laborious process but worked really well in a way.
Sometimes, I just write or type an outline. Of course, there are times when a story takes its own path and veers off in an entirely different direction than I'd planned. That's okay too but I still like to have an idea of the direction I'm hoping to go.
No matter how I document, I have every story in my head from beginning to end and several main scenes in between. I know my characters intimately, inside and out. I know their motivations, their backgrounds and their weaknesses.
Sometimes, I'd like to be a pantser but it's just not in me. I like to control a little too much to let that happen. So, I'll keep up my plotting and planning and accept it as just who I am.
BTW, as I write this, the television news is full of scenes from Boston as well as West, Texas. I've never been to either place but would love to sometime. God be with you all.
Song I'm liking this week, an oldy but a goody and maybe fitting for the week's events: Landslide, by Fleetwood Mac.
Monday, April 15, 2013
Choosing Your Setting
I talked a bit in my last post about my first novel. In that one, I created a fictional setting-an island off the coast of Georgia not far from Savannah. I wanted it to be a place I'd want to escape. I guess you could say a place of my dreams. I tried to create the world I saw in my head. I think I did it. It seemed easy in a way because it wasn't like there was anyone out there who could wonder what the heck I was talking about. They couldn't accuse me of inaccuracy because it was my world, no one else's. It was easy but yet something wasn't right about it. It became hard to feel anything about the place. It became boring in a way.
After writing two stories set in the fictional locale, I decided to change tactics. I'd read somewhere to write what you know. My next novel was set partly in Louisville and partly in a lake town. I gave the lake town a fictional name but it could have been any such place I'd been to many times before. In a way, this gave me another character of sorts. Not only was I describing my characters but I was describing the city that's been my hometown the last fifteen years as well as a favorite weekend spot for us. It felt natural.
I don't think there's a right or wrong when it comes to setting. It's all about how you describe it and what you do with it that matters. I may go back to my fictional place on the beach someday. I do love the beach. But, I need to hone my descriptive writing a bit first.
Song I'm enjoying today: Gravity by Sara Bareilles. A great song for inspiring story.
After writing two stories set in the fictional locale, I decided to change tactics. I'd read somewhere to write what you know. My next novel was set partly in Louisville and partly in a lake town. I gave the lake town a fictional name but it could have been any such place I'd been to many times before. In a way, this gave me another character of sorts. Not only was I describing my characters but I was describing the city that's been my hometown the last fifteen years as well as a favorite weekend spot for us. It felt natural.
I don't think there's a right or wrong when it comes to setting. It's all about how you describe it and what you do with it that matters. I may go back to my fictional place on the beach someday. I do love the beach. But, I need to hone my descriptive writing a bit first.
Song I'm enjoying today: Gravity by Sara Bareilles. A great song for inspiring story.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
My First (Novel That Is)!
My very first novel I wrote will always hold a special place in my heart. It was a complete labor of love and excitement. At the time, not so long ago mind you, I had this idea of writing escapism. Something so different from my actual life and something fun. I made up this fictional island off the coast of Georgia (think Tybee Island). My characters involved ten (yes, really;-0) beautiful sisters all with green eyes and ebony hair. They were rich and owned the island, a beautiful plantation home and a bar/restaurant where lots of exciting things could happen. They were also all really unlucky in love.
Even describing the above seems ludicrous to me now. There are a lot of things wrong with the above scenario and plot line. Ten sisters first of all. A little much, I know. Not to mention they all basically looked alike. It was impossible to set one apart from the other. My sweet mother-in-law told me, very nicely, she had a hard time keeping up with all the characters. I've always liked ensemble stories. I get so carried away in the stories of each of my characters I have a hard time letting them go or putting them off until maybe a sequel or two. That was my problem in the first novel too.
I learned so much from writing it though. I would never trade the experience. First, I finished a novel length story from beginning to end. I shopped it around and queried lots of agents. I learned about formatting. I learned about dialogue. Most importantly, I learned what not to do.
Don't make your characters sound too much alike. Don't give your story to many characters/plot lines. Don't make everything too perfect. Maybe, don't make up a fictional setting (this one I'm still undecided about as I kind of liked the idea).
It was my first and I don't regret one minute or page of it. I would do it again in a heart beat if only for how much I learned from it. Still, I don't think I'll do it again.
Even describing the above seems ludicrous to me now. There are a lot of things wrong with the above scenario and plot line. Ten sisters first of all. A little much, I know. Not to mention they all basically looked alike. It was impossible to set one apart from the other. My sweet mother-in-law told me, very nicely, she had a hard time keeping up with all the characters. I've always liked ensemble stories. I get so carried away in the stories of each of my characters I have a hard time letting them go or putting them off until maybe a sequel or two. That was my problem in the first novel too.
I learned so much from writing it though. I would never trade the experience. First, I finished a novel length story from beginning to end. I shopped it around and queried lots of agents. I learned about formatting. I learned about dialogue. Most importantly, I learned what not to do.
Don't make your characters sound too much alike. Don't give your story to many characters/plot lines. Don't make everything too perfect. Maybe, don't make up a fictional setting (this one I'm still undecided about as I kind of liked the idea).
It was my first and I don't regret one minute or page of it. I would do it again in a heart beat if only for how much I learned from it. Still, I don't think I'll do it again.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Writing Research Pitfalls
I've posted numerous entries regarding doing your research. I've talked about the good sites out there and instructed you to research and then research some more. Occasionally, during all that well meaning analysis, you come across something that sends you off the rails. This happened to me just this week.
I have my favorite blogs I follow. Everyone in the blogging world does. Late last week, I was catching up on posts on one of the most highly regarded blogs out there and I stumbled across one involving a Q and A with a popular agent at a highly respected agency. This agency has been on my radar for a really long time, so of course I read with great interest. The agent was funny and likable and I enjoyed the piece thoroughly. However, about halfway through, one answer to a question really shook me. She was asked how much time she spends reading queries and what kinds of things make her reject without even reading the entire thing. She had some understandable reasons and then she mentioned a plot she'd seen too many times before. She practically quoted what would be the blurb of my current work word for word. I sat there stunned.
What do I do now? I'm halfway through this thing. I've toiled away for hours and maybe worst of all, I really like it. It's as close to the real me as I've ever gotten. It feels natural and it feels like my story. Do I quit because of one popular agent's comments? Do I keep going with the possibility it's a colossal waste of time? Do I assume mine will be different? That it will be the one that really stands above the rest?
I've pondered these very questions multiple times the last few days. Finally, I came to my conclusion. I keep going. She's one of hundreds of well-respected agents out there. I may even reach out to her for the hell of it and somehow make it work to my favor in the query. There are lots of avenues I could take, but giving up on it doesn't seem like the best one right now. Also, writing anything is better than writing nothing. As I've said before, practice makes perfect in writing too. Keep going. It's all I can do.
Now, I just have to find the fire for this story again and type away, no matter what this agent might have said. It'll force me to be more creative. Hey, just trying to be positive here;-0
Song I'm enjoying today. Highway Don't Care, by Tim McGraw (featuring Taylor Swift and Keith Urban). I just really like this one;-)
I have my favorite blogs I follow. Everyone in the blogging world does. Late last week, I was catching up on posts on one of the most highly regarded blogs out there and I stumbled across one involving a Q and A with a popular agent at a highly respected agency. This agency has been on my radar for a really long time, so of course I read with great interest. The agent was funny and likable and I enjoyed the piece thoroughly. However, about halfway through, one answer to a question really shook me. She was asked how much time she spends reading queries and what kinds of things make her reject without even reading the entire thing. She had some understandable reasons and then she mentioned a plot she'd seen too many times before. She practically quoted what would be the blurb of my current work word for word. I sat there stunned.
What do I do now? I'm halfway through this thing. I've toiled away for hours and maybe worst of all, I really like it. It's as close to the real me as I've ever gotten. It feels natural and it feels like my story. Do I quit because of one popular agent's comments? Do I keep going with the possibility it's a colossal waste of time? Do I assume mine will be different? That it will be the one that really stands above the rest?
I've pondered these very questions multiple times the last few days. Finally, I came to my conclusion. I keep going. She's one of hundreds of well-respected agents out there. I may even reach out to her for the hell of it and somehow make it work to my favor in the query. There are lots of avenues I could take, but giving up on it doesn't seem like the best one right now. Also, writing anything is better than writing nothing. As I've said before, practice makes perfect in writing too. Keep going. It's all I can do.
Now, I just have to find the fire for this story again and type away, no matter what this agent might have said. It'll force me to be more creative. Hey, just trying to be positive here;-0
Song I'm enjoying today. Highway Don't Care, by Tim McGraw (featuring Taylor Swift and Keith Urban). I just really like this one;-)
Friday, April 5, 2013
Writing Rules for Me
It's spring break in the 'Ville and finally feels like beautiful weather is just around the corner. Yay! I love spring and summer!
Anyway, enough about that and on to writing. There are lots of rules to writing and there are lots of resources to finding them. This post is not about those. This is about having your own rules for your writing. I'm gonna share a few of mine.
First and foremost for me, always a happy ending. I know this will make my reading predictable to a certain degree but I'm okay with that. I prefer reading books with happy endings and feel so frustrated when there's no resolution at the end of a long story. I can list several well-written books that disappointed me at the end but they were bestsellers and lauded by critics. Some people like that. Remember, there's something for everybody and I doubt I'm the only one who feels this way. This doesn't mean there won't be sad things occurring or deaths (yikes!) but there will always be an acceptable resolution for the primary characters.
Second, is the use of a certain type of profanity. Now, don't get me wrong. I employ a great deal of colorful language, some that even others might consider inappropriate; however, there's one in particular I choose not to use and it starts with God. This is my personal preference. It's a little more difficult than you might think to leave this one out. Men in particular seem to favor it when angry or frustrated. Just means I have to be a little more creative;-0
Finally, I don't use infidelity as a romantic plot point. It always has negative consequences in my books. It is a plot point frequently but not for the two main characters. It may have led them to their current circumstances or be an issue in their past, but that's all. I don't personally want to romanticize infidelity in marriage.
I have other little rules I follow too. I like my writing spicy but I stop at crossing certain lines in order to keep it mostly mainstream. Still, the above are my big rules. I hope it doesn't make me sound self-righteous. I don't judge others for employing them, I just don't choose to myself. Just like I don't write fantasy or sci-fi. I have to narrow the scope somewhere and I think it makes sense to have your own ideas about what you're comfortable with. Who knows, I could look back at this ten years from now and wonder what the heck I was thinking. I'd like to know if there are certain rules other authors follow.
Song of the day, and this is an uptempo one! My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark, by Fall Out Boy. Makes you wanna dance on a warm, sunshiny day!
Anyway, enough about that and on to writing. There are lots of rules to writing and there are lots of resources to finding them. This post is not about those. This is about having your own rules for your writing. I'm gonna share a few of mine.
First and foremost for me, always a happy ending. I know this will make my reading predictable to a certain degree but I'm okay with that. I prefer reading books with happy endings and feel so frustrated when there's no resolution at the end of a long story. I can list several well-written books that disappointed me at the end but they were bestsellers and lauded by critics. Some people like that. Remember, there's something for everybody and I doubt I'm the only one who feels this way. This doesn't mean there won't be sad things occurring or deaths (yikes!) but there will always be an acceptable resolution for the primary characters.
Second, is the use of a certain type of profanity. Now, don't get me wrong. I employ a great deal of colorful language, some that even others might consider inappropriate; however, there's one in particular I choose not to use and it starts with God. This is my personal preference. It's a little more difficult than you might think to leave this one out. Men in particular seem to favor it when angry or frustrated. Just means I have to be a little more creative;-0
Finally, I don't use infidelity as a romantic plot point. It always has negative consequences in my books. It is a plot point frequently but not for the two main characters. It may have led them to their current circumstances or be an issue in their past, but that's all. I don't personally want to romanticize infidelity in marriage.
I have other little rules I follow too. I like my writing spicy but I stop at crossing certain lines in order to keep it mostly mainstream. Still, the above are my big rules. I hope it doesn't make me sound self-righteous. I don't judge others for employing them, I just don't choose to myself. Just like I don't write fantasy or sci-fi. I have to narrow the scope somewhere and I think it makes sense to have your own ideas about what you're comfortable with. Who knows, I could look back at this ten years from now and wonder what the heck I was thinking. I'd like to know if there are certain rules other authors follow.
Song of the day, and this is an uptempo one! My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark, by Fall Out Boy. Makes you wanna dance on a warm, sunshiny day!
Monday, April 1, 2013
Writing and Blogging, Blogging and Writing!
Why blog? It's a good question I asked myself for more than a year. Probably the most troubling thing for me when I started researching how to get published was the whole put-yourself-out-there thing. Market yourself! I probably read that a hundred times. Why should I have to market myself? I often asked myself this. Wouldn't this be the reason why I'd get an agent? Yes and no. An agent-and granted I don't yet have one so speculating here-markets you to publishers. Their job is to get your foot in the door of major publishing houses. They answer your business questions and guide you through what I imagine is a complicated process. Having recently moved, I think of them just like I do my fabulous real estate agent. I would never want to go through the selling then closing process of a house without a realtor. Likewise, I don't imagine I want to go through the publishing process alone either.
What I don't think an agent is responsible for is marketing. Their not in public relations. Sure, they have ideas and if a publisher picks you up, they (the publishing house) will do some marketing of your book. I think:-) You will have your own role in marketing yourself. I still don't have this thing figured out. I'm still learning too <grin>!
So, back to my dilemma. How do I start this now? It's not easy for me. I'm an intensely private person, hence the hopefully catchy moniker. I'm not on Facebook. I'm not on Twitter. I don't have a website. Although, I am open to all three eventually. Frankly, Jessica is boring and that's the way I like it. I'm decidedly content with my husband and kids, role as a soccer/baseball mom and day job in mental health. Still, writing is a passion of mine and has become even more so as I continue on in the process. I want to have books out there bearing my name. It is my ultimate dream and goal. So, if I have to get involved with social media as one way to do that, I will. Blogging is the first step for me and I'm finding I like it. Fitting it into my life isn't always easy, as evidenced by the sometimes long gaps between my posts. When I first started exactly two months ago, I thought I would do it nearly everyday. I quickly learned that's not always possible. Now, I shoot for 2-3 times a week. If you've checked out my Time Management post from January, you'll remember that impossible daily schedule I blogged about. In it, I only leave myself 90 minutes for writing and that was if I went to bed at a somewhat reasonable hour of 11:00 to start all over again at 6:00 the next morning. I need my sleep, people, or I'm useless to anybody. If I blog, that cuts that time down drastically. So, I think 2-3 days a week is reasonable.
If this blogging thing goes well, and I get an agent or closer to published, I'll consider the other avenues of marketing myself. I'm open to whatever I need to do to get my books out there. I'm determined to make my dream happen!:-0
What I don't think an agent is responsible for is marketing. Their not in public relations. Sure, they have ideas and if a publisher picks you up, they (the publishing house) will do some marketing of your book. I think:-) You will have your own role in marketing yourself. I still don't have this thing figured out. I'm still learning too <grin>!
So, back to my dilemma. How do I start this now? It's not easy for me. I'm an intensely private person, hence the hopefully catchy moniker. I'm not on Facebook. I'm not on Twitter. I don't have a website. Although, I am open to all three eventually. Frankly, Jessica is boring and that's the way I like it. I'm decidedly content with my husband and kids, role as a soccer/baseball mom and day job in mental health. Still, writing is a passion of mine and has become even more so as I continue on in the process. I want to have books out there bearing my name. It is my ultimate dream and goal. So, if I have to get involved with social media as one way to do that, I will. Blogging is the first step for me and I'm finding I like it. Fitting it into my life isn't always easy, as evidenced by the sometimes long gaps between my posts. When I first started exactly two months ago, I thought I would do it nearly everyday. I quickly learned that's not always possible. Now, I shoot for 2-3 times a week. If you've checked out my Time Management post from January, you'll remember that impossible daily schedule I blogged about. In it, I only leave myself 90 minutes for writing and that was if I went to bed at a somewhat reasonable hour of 11:00 to start all over again at 6:00 the next morning. I need my sleep, people, or I'm useless to anybody. If I blog, that cuts that time down drastically. So, I think 2-3 days a week is reasonable.
If this blogging thing goes well, and I get an agent or closer to published, I'll consider the other avenues of marketing myself. I'm open to whatever I need to do to get my books out there. I'm determined to make my dream happen!:-0
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Becoming a Better Writer
In a previous post, I wrote about those self-doubts I get when I worry I'm wasting so much of my time writing when really I'm no good at it. As mentioned many times before, a good writer is a good reader. You learn a great deal by reading others' works. I also wrote how sometimes I can't simply enjoy a novel because now I look too much at the writing and fail to get lost in the story. As related to all of the above, I want to talk today about how sometimes when I read a really good author, I'm talking here about the best, I actually get a little blue.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not blue because I don't enjoy their writing. I get blue because I love their writing. I stop and think I'll never be this good, ever. It's this thought that gets to me the most. It's really hard to believe in yourself, especially when you're just starting out and nobody's really reading your work.
I've been writing, a lot, but I haven't given anything to someone to read and sample in a really long time. My ideas have been a bit frenetic of late. I get one I really love and work on it for weeks. Suddenly, I lose interest. Then, I have another lightbulb moment and start from scratch. I probably have 5 to 10 unfinished manuscripts languishing on my computer. When I say unfinished, I'm not talking about 10,000 words or so. No, I'm talking 60,000 to 70,000 words. I don't know what's holding me back other than I'm holding myself back. This is a new problem of mine. Even in the beginning, I finished my first manuscript, start to finish, in a matter of months. I didn't feel like I had to get any other ideas on paper. I simply focused on the one story. I'm having a hard time with that lately. Narrowing my focus. It's like I want to write four novels at once, but I can't do that and possibly keep track of my plots and characters. Ugh, but it's becoming quite frustrating!
This too is one more lesson, I'm sure. It's another step in the process of becoming a better writer. Maybe someday, I'll get past those self doubts and feel comfortable with my work. Maybe someday, I'll have 10 finished manuscripts and they'll all be published. Maybe someday. It seems to be my mantra of late. Sigh.
Song I'm enjoying lately: Overjoyed by Matchbox Twenty. Such a sweet love song!
Don't get me wrong. I'm not blue because I don't enjoy their writing. I get blue because I love their writing. I stop and think I'll never be this good, ever. It's this thought that gets to me the most. It's really hard to believe in yourself, especially when you're just starting out and nobody's really reading your work.
I've been writing, a lot, but I haven't given anything to someone to read and sample in a really long time. My ideas have been a bit frenetic of late. I get one I really love and work on it for weeks. Suddenly, I lose interest. Then, I have another lightbulb moment and start from scratch. I probably have 5 to 10 unfinished manuscripts languishing on my computer. When I say unfinished, I'm not talking about 10,000 words or so. No, I'm talking 60,000 to 70,000 words. I don't know what's holding me back other than I'm holding myself back. This is a new problem of mine. Even in the beginning, I finished my first manuscript, start to finish, in a matter of months. I didn't feel like I had to get any other ideas on paper. I simply focused on the one story. I'm having a hard time with that lately. Narrowing my focus. It's like I want to write four novels at once, but I can't do that and possibly keep track of my plots and characters. Ugh, but it's becoming quite frustrating!
This too is one more lesson, I'm sure. It's another step in the process of becoming a better writer. Maybe someday, I'll get past those self doubts and feel comfortable with my work. Maybe someday, I'll have 10 finished manuscripts and they'll all be published. Maybe someday. It seems to be my mantra of late. Sigh.
Song I'm enjoying lately: Overjoyed by Matchbox Twenty. Such a sweet love song!
Saturday, March 23, 2013
The Odds of Getting Published
1 in 175,000,000=the odds of winning the lottery. 1 in 1,000,000=the odds of being struck by lightning. 1 in 1000=the odds of getting published by an established New York publishing house.
The numbers mentioned above are not exact and are likely ever changing but still, you get the idea. They are difficult odds. One might even say insurmountable odds. Why would I even point this statistic out to you? Because, individuals get struck by lightning and others win the lottery. It happens people. Even better, the odds of getting published are much better than either of those two statistics. If it was easy, everybody would be doing it. Every Tom, Dick and Harry would try their hand at the Great American Novel.
Anything important is not supposed to be easy. That way, when it does happen it makes it all the more sweeter. I have to believe I can be the 1 in a 1000 as I write each and every novel. It makes me work even harder and makes me polish each work to the best of my ability. I have to believe people will eventually get to read my work. I have to believe. Just like all those people buying Powerball tickets today. They believe and I do too. You should as well.
Writing is not only about the desire to be published some day. It's about pouring out my heart in the written word. It's about taking a chance. It's about doing something I love and enjoy.
The numbers mentioned above are not exact and are likely ever changing but still, you get the idea. They are difficult odds. One might even say insurmountable odds. Why would I even point this statistic out to you? Because, individuals get struck by lightning and others win the lottery. It happens people. Even better, the odds of getting published are much better than either of those two statistics. If it was easy, everybody would be doing it. Every Tom, Dick and Harry would try their hand at the Great American Novel.
Anything important is not supposed to be easy. That way, when it does happen it makes it all the more sweeter. I have to believe I can be the 1 in a 1000 as I write each and every novel. It makes me work even harder and makes me polish each work to the best of my ability. I have to believe people will eventually get to read my work. I have to believe. Just like all those people buying Powerball tickets today. They believe and I do too. You should as well.
Writing is not only about the desire to be published some day. It's about pouring out my heart in the written word. It's about taking a chance. It's about doing something I love and enjoy.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Writing Outside Your Box
I'm trying something dangerous and new and, dare I say, I like it;-) Get your mind out of the gutter, people! What I meant was, I'm trying a different approach with my writing. My day job and the ins and outs of my everyday life as a wife and mother kept me from writing much the last few weeks. Work, the Flu, basketball and gymnastics all consumed my time but the ideas were still whirring about in my head like a persistent little bumble bee.
As the one or two of you reading my blog on a regular basis know, I'd gone back to a previously written manuscript I'd shelved. Immediately, I saw all the things I did wrong and tried to re-work it chapter by chapter. Only, I just couldn't get excited about it. I didn't lie awake at night in bed thinking of new plot lines. I didn't obsess about the characters. I just wasn't feeling it. When that happens, I have to stop. If I'm not excited about what I'm writing, why would I expect anyone else to be.
So, I tried something completely new and different for me and unexpected. I...wait for it...tried first person point of view. Wow! Can you believe it? I know, big deal, right. For me, it is a really big deal. I've thus far always used third person because I wanted to be able to see the characters from the outside. What they looked like, how they reacted. With first person though, I finally feel like I'm finding my voice because it is my voice. The character is a woman in her thirties originally from a small town. A situation draws her unexpectedly back there. That's where the similarities end but I'm able to relate to what this would be like for her and I'm easily able to put myself in her head. So far, it's really working for me and I'm excited to do it. It may not work. It may go down in flames tragically but for now, I like it. My writing is exciting me again and that's all I can ask for. :-)
Oh yeah! Song of the day: Stay by Rihanna and Mikky Ekko, hauntingly beautiful and her voice never sounded better!
Friday, March 15, 2013
Music and Writing
I've been MIA for the last several days and I apologize:-( A personal commitment kept me from writing the entire week and a half, and I can tell. My fingers were practically on fire to get hold of my computer. My nerves have been on edge and I've been just a little blue. Writing is my saving grace and I'm finally back <big smile>.
One of the events keeping me away from my beloved MacBook Air was a night out with the girls at a P!nk concert. Fabulous! Boy, does she put on a show. As I'm standing among tens of thousands of people singing to the top of my lungs while she twirls high in the air, a thought strikes me. Music has been such an instrumental and inspirational key in my writing. The perfect song for the moment makes me write even better. It will even spark new ideas for me. P!nk and many other awesome performers have inspired many a scene idea for me. I'm sure I'm not alone.
I've always loved music, even though I don't have a musically talented bone in my body. I'm the type of person who listens to music while I work. I use it to concentrate. I use it to make me happy. Hell, I even use it to give me a good cry every now and again. In a moment of writer's block, I put in my ear buds and turn on my favorite playlist. Soon, I find the ideas begin to flow and form in my crowded brain. It relaxes and soothes me and clears the way for inspiration.
A lot of authors have taken to releasing their inspirational playlists after writing a best seller. I think I'll borrow from others and list an inspiring song for me occasionally here.
Inspirational song of the week: Who Knew, one of my favorite songs by P!nk. Girl, you certainly know how to rock!
One of the events keeping me away from my beloved MacBook Air was a night out with the girls at a P!nk concert. Fabulous! Boy, does she put on a show. As I'm standing among tens of thousands of people singing to the top of my lungs while she twirls high in the air, a thought strikes me. Music has been such an instrumental and inspirational key in my writing. The perfect song for the moment makes me write even better. It will even spark new ideas for me. P!nk and many other awesome performers have inspired many a scene idea for me. I'm sure I'm not alone.
I've always loved music, even though I don't have a musically talented bone in my body. I'm the type of person who listens to music while I work. I use it to concentrate. I use it to make me happy. Hell, I even use it to give me a good cry every now and again. In a moment of writer's block, I put in my ear buds and turn on my favorite playlist. Soon, I find the ideas begin to flow and form in my crowded brain. It relaxes and soothes me and clears the way for inspiration.
A lot of authors have taken to releasing their inspirational playlists after writing a best seller. I think I'll borrow from others and list an inspiring song for me occasionally here.
Inspirational song of the week: Who Knew, one of my favorite songs by P!nk. Girl, you certainly know how to rock!
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Submission Time
You've finished your manuscript and edited it. You've written an attention-getting query and the dreaded synopsis is polished. Now what?
You try to find an agent-that's what. Or at least this is my ideal method. There are other options. Some publishers will take your submissions directly and that's a path you can take. You can also upload your work directly onto a site like Amazon and try to sell it yourself. As I've said before, I want an agent. If you do indeed become a successful writer, you'll likely need one eventually anyway. I would like someone with me every step of the way. Maybe that's just me.
All that aside, you will probably proceed with a submission, in fact several of them. You will just as likely get rejected. An entire post could be reserved for rejections, and maybe I'll do that later. This is now the time to pour over sites listing the particular agents out there and their preferences. Query tracker and AgentQuery are examples of these sites. You can narrow by your genre and find a great deal of info about the agent or agency. This information should be cross-referenced with the agent's own website, Publisher's Marketplace and Preditors and Editors. The agent's own website will give you the most current information. Is that agent currently accepting submissions? Has the agent narrowed their focus to only upmarket women's fiction vs romance? Has the agent shifted their submissions to only email? All important information only their website will tell you. Publisher's Marketplace will give you stats for that particular agent. Recent and previous sales can both be found here as well as how many agencies the particular agent has been with. Finally, Preditors and Editors (among others) will tell you if the agent has complaints against him/her or maybe they're highly recommended, even better.
I recommend dotting all your i's and crossing all your t's before you push send on your email. You learn so much and you'll be prepared and professional. This may not seem important, but it is. A professional submission will get your foot in the door better than an unprofessional one. Also, nothing is worse than to waste your time submitting to an agent who isn't taking unsolicited submissions anymore or has changed their interests. Focus your time and energy on the ones who have a greater likelihood of wanting your novel. Do your research. You won't regret it.
You try to find an agent-that's what. Or at least this is my ideal method. There are other options. Some publishers will take your submissions directly and that's a path you can take. You can also upload your work directly onto a site like Amazon and try to sell it yourself. As I've said before, I want an agent. If you do indeed become a successful writer, you'll likely need one eventually anyway. I would like someone with me every step of the way. Maybe that's just me.
All that aside, you will probably proceed with a submission, in fact several of them. You will just as likely get rejected. An entire post could be reserved for rejections, and maybe I'll do that later. This is now the time to pour over sites listing the particular agents out there and their preferences. Query tracker and AgentQuery are examples of these sites. You can narrow by your genre and find a great deal of info about the agent or agency. This information should be cross-referenced with the agent's own website, Publisher's Marketplace and Preditors and Editors. The agent's own website will give you the most current information. Is that agent currently accepting submissions? Has the agent narrowed their focus to only upmarket women's fiction vs romance? Has the agent shifted their submissions to only email? All important information only their website will tell you. Publisher's Marketplace will give you stats for that particular agent. Recent and previous sales can both be found here as well as how many agencies the particular agent has been with. Finally, Preditors and Editors (among others) will tell you if the agent has complaints against him/her or maybe they're highly recommended, even better.
I recommend dotting all your i's and crossing all your t's before you push send on your email. You learn so much and you'll be prepared and professional. This may not seem important, but it is. A professional submission will get your foot in the door better than an unprofessional one. Also, nothing is worse than to waste your time submitting to an agent who isn't taking unsolicited submissions anymore or has changed their interests. Focus your time and energy on the ones who have a greater likelihood of wanting your novel. Do your research. You won't regret it.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Writing Expert, Not!
As I looked back over my last few posts, I started to think I was sounding too much like someone who fancied herself an expert. I am most definitely not an expert. I'm not even published. Having said that, I have discovered a lot along the way and I hope to share some of it with you.
When I started this blog, I thought of it as helping someone just like me-as I was three years ago when I was just beginning. I didn't know what a synopsis was or a query. I hadn't heard of Publisher's Marketplace or Preditors and Editors. I knew nothing about finding an agent and how to submit. I just put pen to paper and started to write. It was the most liberating and exciting thing I've ever done but scary at the same time. Luckily not the impulsive type, I poured over the internet for months and months trying to find out as much as I could about the process. I'm still learning too and I'll share all of that in my entries too.
If I can pass on anything to help you along your path, I'll have done what I set out to do here. Maybe, I'll have made it a little easier for you. I hope.
When I started this blog, I thought of it as helping someone just like me-as I was three years ago when I was just beginning. I didn't know what a synopsis was or a query. I hadn't heard of Publisher's Marketplace or Preditors and Editors. I knew nothing about finding an agent and how to submit. I just put pen to paper and started to write. It was the most liberating and exciting thing I've ever done but scary at the same time. Luckily not the impulsive type, I poured over the internet for months and months trying to find out as much as I could about the process. I'm still learning too and I'll share all of that in my entries too.
If I can pass on anything to help you along your path, I'll have done what I set out to do here. Maybe, I'll have made it a little easier for you. I hope.
Friday, March 1, 2013
Synopsis
The dreaded synopsis. Even literary agents refer to it as this. Almost everyone in the business seems to think it is a necessary evil of the submission process. I propose here and now to do away with this most terrible of hoops we all must jump through!
Having said that, I know it is necessary for a few reasons. First, it shows the agent or publisher you have a story with a beginning and end. Secondly, it shows them you can plot and have a conflict for your protagonist. There are likely other reasons for the synopsis, but these are the most important.
Why is the synopsis so difficult? Because for those of us who write primarily in third person past tense or even those who write in first person, it is difficult to shift your style to third person present tense. It feels unnatural. Most people like to tease their stories. They hate to give away the ending as they never want to know the ending of a novel before they read it. In the synopsis, you tell your story from beginning to end and you give away the ending. No matter how much it doesn't feel right to do, it is necessary for the agent or publisher to know you will bring your story to conclusion in a satisfying and exciting way. Probably the hardest part for me is knowing which info to include in my synopsis and what to leave out. As I've said in previous posts, I like to write ensemble, multi-POV pieces. When drafting a synopsis, my tendency is to want to outline all their stories. I finally realized I only needed to focus on the primary characters and in a sentence or two discuss there are sideline stories about the other characters.
You've narrowed your story down and you've outlined it. Now, add some of your voice and story-telling skills. Argh!
It's not easy to boil your 80,000 word or more novel down to three pages but it's necessary. Think of it like this: If you just so happened to get on an elevator with an agent who said tell me about your novel, you'd need to be able to do it quickly and succinctly. This is why the synopsis is important. So, go ahead. Write it. It'll ultimately be good for you! At least that's what I tell myself:-)
I'm not expert (for sure!) and other people have said this better. I just read a blog entry by author, Janice Hardy, that gives excellent information and just about every agent blog out there talks at length about it. Also, a shout out to those agents who say don't bother with a synopsis. Suzie Townsend, I'm talking to you!
Having said that, I know it is necessary for a few reasons. First, it shows the agent or publisher you have a story with a beginning and end. Secondly, it shows them you can plot and have a conflict for your protagonist. There are likely other reasons for the synopsis, but these are the most important.
Why is the synopsis so difficult? Because for those of us who write primarily in third person past tense or even those who write in first person, it is difficult to shift your style to third person present tense. It feels unnatural. Most people like to tease their stories. They hate to give away the ending as they never want to know the ending of a novel before they read it. In the synopsis, you tell your story from beginning to end and you give away the ending. No matter how much it doesn't feel right to do, it is necessary for the agent or publisher to know you will bring your story to conclusion in a satisfying and exciting way. Probably the hardest part for me is knowing which info to include in my synopsis and what to leave out. As I've said in previous posts, I like to write ensemble, multi-POV pieces. When drafting a synopsis, my tendency is to want to outline all their stories. I finally realized I only needed to focus on the primary characters and in a sentence or two discuss there are sideline stories about the other characters.
You've narrowed your story down and you've outlined it. Now, add some of your voice and story-telling skills. Argh!
It's not easy to boil your 80,000 word or more novel down to three pages but it's necessary. Think of it like this: If you just so happened to get on an elevator with an agent who said tell me about your novel, you'd need to be able to do it quickly and succinctly. This is why the synopsis is important. So, go ahead. Write it. It'll ultimately be good for you! At least that's what I tell myself:-)
I'm not expert (for sure!) and other people have said this better. I just read a blog entry by author, Janice Hardy, that gives excellent information and just about every agent blog out there talks at length about it. Also, a shout out to those agents who say don't bother with a synopsis. Suzie Townsend, I'm talking to you!
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
The Query
When I first started this process, the query letter made me a nervous wreck. The whole process was scary. In the beginning, just having the nerve to pick up pen and paper to write was not easy. Then, came the big reveal to people in my life that I was indeed trying my hand at writing. All along the way were stumbling blocks or big steps but I was finally able to begin querying agents.
If you go on any agent site or author blog, you'll see post after post about the query. Aside from the synopsis, it is probably the most difficult thing to master. How to actually pitch your work to others in only one short letter. I struggled, read samples, struggled some more. My first query, simply put, sucked. Can you say bori-i-ing? It was like a letter to a business. Too formal and no emotion. I reworked it trying to insert some of my personality and voice and lo and behold I got some requests for pages.
Probably the best site out there for querying is Query Shark. You get to see sample after sample after sample. Not only do you see the samples but you hear what an agent thinks about them and see the process of making one better. If you haven't already, check this site out. It's, to say the least, eye opening.
I think I have the art of querying down. I think;-/ As I've already said in previous posts, I'm not yet published but the query doesn't get you published. If it works, it gets you requests for more pages. It's your job and the job of your writing then to get you an agent and advance further. The query gets your foot in the door.
It's your first impression and worth the hard work. Make it a good one.
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