tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57400205936471891652024-02-20T20:58:00.092-05:00Sisters in ScribeLiterary Musings and Author InspirationLacey J Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17930985573303127061noreply@blogger.comBlogger473125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5740020593647189165.post-74994963511935911842012-10-09T07:30:00.000-04:002012-10-09T07:30:01.113-04:00Why Having a Rock Star Agent Matters<b>The Benefits of Having a Great Agent </b><br />
<br />
I'm
sure you've all heard the warning that a bad agent is worse than no
agent at all. I've read horror stories (and even heard in person from a
best-selling author) about what happens when an agent goes bad and they
have to start over and find a new agent. I've also read a lot online
saying you don't even need an agent these days, especially if you plan
to self-publish. I respectfully disagree. In fact, I went to a talk by a
best-selling self-published author, and guess what she had? A top agent
from a great literary agency. Another top-earning self-publisher just
blogged about recently obtaining an agent for her books. Why? I'll
discuss that in a minute. Overall, I agree that having no agent is
better than having a bad agent...but having a rock star agent is golden.
I know a little bit about this because I have a rock star agent *waves
at <a href="http://www.jvnla.com/our_team.html"><b>Jessica</b></a>* from a <a href="http://www.jvnla.com/"><b>great literary agency</b></a>. So here is how a fabulous agent can benefit both traditional and self-published authors:<br />
<br />
<b>1) Editorial relationships</b>.
A great agent has a wealth of publishing knowledge and solid
relationships with editors, so they know who is be looking for a
specific project. For instance, they know if an editor has been dying
for a book about killer space monkeys, or conversely, if an editor will
stab themselves if they see one more monkey story. Though I try to stay
abreast of publishing industry news, I don't have the years of
relationships with publishers that my agent does, and I'm so glad she
knew exactly where to send my book (which sadly, does not involve killer
space monkeys). Some self-publishers are pursuing the hybrid model,
which involves having some books published traditionally while they
self-publish others, and for any author who wants a traditional
publishing deal, a reputable agent has access to publishing houses that
don't allow non-agented submissions. <br />
<br />
<b>2) They know books.</b> This might sound obvious, but it's true. Agents read a <i>ton </i>of queries (after doing my "query critiques for all" giveaway earlier this year, I have even more respect for the
massive amount of work they do). They also read a lot of manuscripts and
you know, actual books. The bottom line is that agents know books. They
know what makes for a great story and can easily spot what works and
what doesn't. Every suggestion my agent made for revising my book was
spot-on. Her knowledge made my book better, and I'm not saying that just
because the book sold to a great publisher...I'm truly satisfied that I
created the best book I could. <br />
<br />
<b>3) Contract negotiations</b>.
Can you say "reversion of rights?" Yes, technically you don't "need" an
agent to sign a publishing contract, but have you read one lately? I
got a headache after seeing one paragraph. An agent knows their way
around the technical language of the contract, and knows where to push
for change (e.g. more money, reversion clauses, etc.) They will also
likely be more successful in having those changes accepted than if the
author negotiated themselves, because part of being a good agent
involves killer negotiating skills. Could someone do this themselves if they spent enough time on it? Yes, but personally, I'd rather focus on writing. I
have enough trouble negotiating bed time with my kiddos, and am happy
to leave legal negotiations in my agent's capable hands. <br />
<br />
I'm
also including foreign rights in this category, and it's a big reason
why some self-published authors either already have or desire an agent,
even if they don't want a traditional publishing deal. I can't imagine
the time and energy involved in navigating foreign rights contracts, nor
do I want to. The agented self-published author I heard speak said that
the foreign rights sales alone was the impetus for her to get an agent.
<br />
<br />
<b>4) Trust.</b> This one is more intangible but
just as important (to me, anyway). The author-agent relationship is a
business partnership, and if you don't have trust in your business
partner, then you're screwed (and yes, that trust goes both ways). For
the writer, it's important to feel like you have someone watching out
for your best interests. Yes, an agent only makes money if your book
sells, but I believe that most agents go into the business for the same
reason that writers do--we are all passionate about books. Most agents
only take on a book because they love it. They wouldn't devote hours of
their time to something they didn't believe in. When you trust that your
agent is competent and skilled, it frees you to focus on other
things--you know, like writing (well, and marketing, but that's a whole
other post).<br />
<br />
<b>What have I missed? Any other opinions out there from the agented or unagented? </b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5740020593647189165.post-79781684130189134122012-10-03T07:30:00.000-04:002012-10-03T07:30:01.216-04:00Need an Agent?If so, then get your loglines and manuscripts polished for <a href="http://misssnarksfirstvictim.blogspot.com/2012/10/14-agents-are-ready-to-outbid-each.html"><b>Miss Snark's First Victim 3rd Annual Baker's Dozen Agent Auction</b></a>. Agents will bid
against each other to compete on your manuscript. Check out all the
details over on Authoress' blog, but you need to have a completed
manuscript to enter. She is accepting submissions for both young
adult/middle grade and adult fiction (all genres except erotica). Best
of luck to all who enter!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5740020593647189165.post-2996546036059887842012-09-26T12:15:00.002-04:002012-09-26T12:15:32.770-04:00My Shiny New Book Deal plus Mega-GiveawayIn case you missed my squeals of joy yesterday, this is the official news about my debut YA book deal from <a href="http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/"><b>Publisher's Marketplace</b></a>:<br />
<br />
<b>September 25, 2012<br />Children's:<br />Young Adult</b><br />
Kristi Helvig's sci-fi series <b>BURN OUT</b>, after the sun has burned away the atmosphere, Tora Reynolds<br />
survives, protected by lethal bio-energy guns that bounty hunters and governments are desperate<br />
for, to Greg Ferguson at Egmont, in a pre-empt, for publication in fall 2014, by Jessica Regel at Jean<br />
V. Naggar Literary Agency (world).<br />
<br />
I
am beyond to excited to be joining Egmont, and am super grateful to my
rock star agent for believing in this book! The deluge of awesome
emails, tweets, and FB messages yesterday was amazing, and I feel lucky
to know so many wonderful people. Wow, I use a lot of adjectives when
I'm excited.<br />
<br />
Also, don't forget to enter the <a href="http://www.kristihelvig.blogspot.com/2012/09/1000-twitter-follower-extravaganza.html"><b>1000 Twitter Follower Giveaway</b></a> to win books and all kinds of critiques (including the Wednesday Query Critique)! Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5740020593647189165.post-16285767222273626232012-09-19T07:30:00.000-04:002012-09-19T07:30:05.357-04:00The Perils of Being a Full-Time WriterFor the first time, my kiddos are both in school and I have oodles of
time during the day to write. I'm not even a full-time writer yet as I
work two days a week in my private practice, but that leaves THREE whole
days of interrupted free time. Therein lies the problem. I wrote three
novels in the past two years, and did it in the one to two hours of time
I had in the evening after the kids went to bed. Those one to two hours
involved nothing but fast, hard writing--because it was all the time I
had to do it. I envisioned that once the kids were in school, I'd be
able to multiply that output by ten, and could crank out a book every
two months. The kids have been in school a grand total of 5 weeks now,
which means I should have another book almost finished, right? <br />
<br />
Not
quite. First, I discovered the joy of grocery shopping without little
ones underfoot. If you haven't tried it, it's an amazing experience.
Next, I thought I'd conquer my possessed laundry basket which never
empties no matter how many loads I do. I've seen the bottom of my
laundry basket <i>several</i> times in the past few weeks, a sight I
haven't seen in years. My to-do list has been tackled, my dogs have have
enjoyed walks with me in the morning after I take the kids to school,
and I've caught up with friends for lunches and brunches and other
food-related outings. The most productive writing time for me in the
past few weeks...has been in the one to two hours after the kids go to
bed at night.<br />
<br />
What the hell? I mean, I'm still writing
but not nearly the amount I thought I'd be. Part of it is probably the
habit of night writing, and part of it is probably the fact that I have
quiet time in the house by myself for the first time in over eight
years. Part of me worries that even if I were a full-time writer, I
wouldn't be writing more than I am right now--Stephen King would mock my
current habits (if you haven't read On Writing, you should). I'm hoping
the novelty of being home wears off quickly, and I just ordered a day
planner and am going to set myself up on a much stricter writing
schedule (NOTE: the day planner itself looks so fun and amazing that I'm
sure I'll do an entire post on it once it arrives.) <br />
<br />
<b>Anyone
else struggle with this issue? Any additional tips you'd like to share?
Pretty please. Or just let me know if you're in the area and want to go
to brunch. ;) </b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5740020593647189165.post-5047660780402959432012-09-12T07:30:00.000-04:002012-09-12T07:30:03.642-04:00Interview with NERVE author Jeanne Ryan and Giveaway<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Today, I am so excited
to have author <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jeanne Ryan</b> on the blog
(full confession: she’s also my critique partner). Her YA thriller, <i>NERVE</i>
(Dial), releases tomorrow, 9/13/2012. When I read the first draft of this
high-tech truth-or-dare game gone very, very wrong, I told her this was going
to be her first published book. After getting my very own copy in the mail last
week, I can tell you that the finished book is even scarier. Please check out <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://jeanneryan.com/">Jeanne’s new
website</a></b> and make sure to follow her on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Jeanne_Ryan">Twitter</a></b>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m also giving a copy
of NERVE to one lucky person. Enter by Tues.
Sept 18<sup>th</sup> for your chance to win-- either tell us a dare you did (for the brave), or you can enter by less
scary means. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here is the cover for
NERVE:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK72SKaUIYvzx-gLP6yhV4xI5fra1VO22JKpEkycTvgxeRfw3yVpaO30AjFeL0aWlhlJQUBjHClanvHn9YTOA6Iv0dr4PJvIbvOPfgm7bwQMJyMijphyphenhyphennIrzE3_GvKJvr_cadhHTf5VME/s1600/NERVE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK72SKaUIYvzx-gLP6yhV4xI5fra1VO22JKpEkycTvgxeRfw3yVpaO30AjFeL0aWlhlJQUBjHClanvHn9YTOA6Iv0dr4PJvIbvOPfgm7bwQMJyMijphyphenhyphennIrzE3_GvKJvr_cadhHTf5VME/s320/NERVE.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hi Jeanne—thanks so much for joining us today, and huge congrats
on NERVE! As I’ve told you before, I think the concept of a high-tech
truth-or-dare game is awesome! Where did you get the idea for this book?</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">From watching my teenage
niece and her phone. Seeing how fluidly she moved between her “real” life and
her online life with her friends, with a lot of overlap between the two, got me
to thinking about a story where a lot of the excitement and danger would be
delivered via phones. I wondered how far a game of Truth or Dare could go if
strangers could be brought together to perform and record the dares.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yeah, this book was a far cry from the dares of my youth, like
ringing someone’s doorbell and running. How long did it take you to go from
writing it to publication?</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I started writing it in
May, 2010. It sold in April, 2011 and is being published September, 2012.
So two and a half years from start to finish. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Less than a year between starting the book and selling the book is
pretty darn impressive. Was this your first book? </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<br />
Nerve was my fifth manuscript. Although I decided to become a writer at age
eleven, many other dreams got in the way between then and the time I started
writing a manuscript that I’d actually finish. I got serious about writing in
2004, finished my first manuscript in 2006, signed with an agent in 2009 and
got my first deal in 2011. That doesn’t count the years beforehand when I wrote
many tortured poems, awful short stories and an unfinished novel (also awful). </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It goes to show that persistence pays off, and you always need to
be working on the next book. Speaking of which, can you tell us what you’re you
working on now?</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Two things. One is
another YA thriller which is scheduled to come out with Dial in early 2014.
It’s called CHARISMA and is about a terribly shy girl who turns to an
experimental therapy that's supposed to make people more sociable. It does, but
comes with some scary side effects.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The other thing I'm
working on between revisions is an MG historical set in 1974 South Korea. It
may never see the light of day in the publishing world but it’s a great way to
cleanse my mental palate after working on the darker stuff.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yay for another book deal! I love your MG historical, and
definitely hope it sees the light of day…and what I’ve seen of Charisma is fantastic.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Writing several things at once seems
daunting. Do you have a set writing routine or schedule?</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">During the school year,
I try to get in about four hours a day, Mon-Fri, in the morning. During school
breaks and summer vacation, I grab time whenever I can. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What advice do you have for aspiring writers out there?</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Keep working on the
craft. The writers I’ve seen who eventually landed agents and book deals are
the ones who kept producing manuscript after manuscript until they wrote the
story that everyone who reviewed it knew was “the one.” (Sometimes, the author
is the last to know. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">J</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">) Sure, there are those
lucky few who sell their first attempt, but viewing that as the norm is a good
way to set yourself up for misery. I speak from experience.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That’s great advice. So why don’t you finish by sharing something weird
or random with us. (It doesn't have to be writing related)</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Weird or random. Hmmmm.
When I was a little girl living in Honolulu, our house was rumored to have a
ghost, which everyone in the neighborhood called a Kahuna. My parents had a
difficult time finding babysitters, because everyone was scared. (Their
reluctance could also have been due to the fact that the number of kids in my
family was already at six and growing.) Anyway, my parents finally solved the
babysitter problem by hiring two at a time. And they approached the Kahuna
problem the way a lot of things were solved in the hippie days--by throwing a
large party that involved lots of chanting and alcohol. Whatever the grown-ups
did worked, because we never had any weird bumps in the night after that. And
the babysitters were eventually willing to work solo.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That’s a great story. Thanks so much for joining us today and
Happy Release Day (a day early!)</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Don’t forget to enter
below for a chance to win NERVE by Jeanne Ryan. The entry form is over at my blog: <a href="http://www.kristihelvig.blogspot.com/"><b>www.kristihelvig.blogspot.com</b></a>.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5740020593647189165.post-83169438137224519742012-08-28T07:30:00.000-04:002012-08-28T07:30:00.478-04:00Writers and MoneyI'll wait for you to stop laughing and saying "What money?" Even if
you haven't gotten to the point of earning an advance, or even better,
royalty checks, many writers earn some money through freelancing,
self-publishing, editing services, short story sales, etc. But money
earned as a writer will always be different than that earned by those
who get a steady paycheck each week. Even in the scenario of royalty
checks, it's never a guaranteed amount. So how do you budget or
calculate living expenses on uneven income?<br />
<br />
Though I've
recently made some money through freelance work and by offering query
services through the blog, I know a lot about this topic because I've
been self-employed for a decade. I run my own private practice as a
psychologist, and my income has always varied from month to month. I'm
used to the uncertainty principle, and thought I'd pass along several
tips that might help with budgeting. <b>NOTE: </b>This is my own personal experience and should not be construed as financial advice. That's what CPA's are for. :)<br />
<br />
<b>1. Keep good records.</b>
If you're earning money from various
sources, such as selling several articles or short stories a year, keep
careful track of all your income (and expenses.) Money spent on
websites, marketing, editing, etc. will help offset the cost of your
total income. You can track this through a
program like Quicken or Excel, or you can use an old-school ledger and
pencil. Just make it thorough. This will make <b>step 2</b> easier.<br />
<br />
<b>2. Pay Estimated Taxes if needed.</b>
I've paid estimated taxes for years, but look at it as a positive
thing, because it means my business is profitable. A good accountant, or
a reliable tax program like the Business Edition of TurboTax, can help
you figure out what you should pay. A good rule of thumb is to set aside
at least a third of what you earn for taxes. <br />
<br />
<b>3. Make your budget based on the lowest expected amount of income.</b>
After a few months of receiving writing related income, you can
probably get away with taking an average of those months to determine
your budget, but I use the lowest amount I make in a given month to set
my budget. That way, I make sure I'm covering basic expenses, and if I
make more than that, it can be added to an emergency fund for unforeseen
crises. If no crisis occurs, the money can be used for other things, as
mentioned in the next step. <br />
<br />
<b>4. Use the bucket method for your income. </b>I'm
a huge fan of the bucket method, because it allows you to put a little
money towards fun things, along with boring stuff like the
aforementioned estimated taxes. I have a savings account labeled for
each "bucket," so you could have designated accounts for things like
taxes, mortgage, etc,. but make sure to include at least one bucket for
something fun. Even if you can only put a few dollars in your fun bucket
at a time, it will eventually add up. Then you can get that new laptop
or go on a weekend getaway--and what writer doesn't need those things
(BONUS: that new laptop may even qualify as a tax deduction depending on
your situation!) <br />
<br />
<b>These are some basic tips, but
I'm sure there are plenty more. Has anyone tried any of these, or have
any other money tips to share?</b><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5740020593647189165.post-13807492689790464862012-08-21T07:30:00.000-04:002012-08-21T07:30:05.260-04:00How to Be An Olympic WriterThe Olympics are long gone, which is a very good thing for my
writing. The nights of endless gymnastics, swimming, beach volleyball,
diving, and track may or may not have affected my daily word count
(okay, it totally did), but at least a few sports failed to suck me in
(I'm looking at you, fencing and water polo). However, there was an
upshot to the abnormal amount of time I spent in front of my
television--I found tremendous inspiration in every athlete out there. I
also noticed similarities between what it takes to be an Olympian and
an Olympic writer:<br />
<br />
<b>1) Train</b>. Those athletes
didn't make it to the Olympics by saying, "I know I have it in me to be
an Olympian," and then find excuses about how they didn't have enough
time, money, etc. to put in the hours. Using Malcolm Gladwell's <a href="http://www.gladwell.com/outliers/outliers_excerpt1.html"><b>10,000 hours rule </b></a>(if
you haven't read Outliers, you should), these athletes have logged well
over 10K hours in training. Michael Phelps should have gills from how
much time he's spent underwater. How does an Olympic writer train?
Certainly not by saying they know they "have a book in them...someday." <b>They write.</b> Then they write some more. Then what do they do? You get the idea.<br />
<br />
<b>2) Be persistent.</b>
Not every athlete qualifies for the Olympics on their first try. Those
that make it to the Olympics don't always get gold--or medal at
all--their first time there. I don't think that's a bad thing, as it can
be a powerful motivator. Track star, Allyson Felix, took the silver in
the 200m in Beijing. From 2008 until the 2012 Games in London, she
trained her ass off and focused on being the very best she could
be...and got her gold. Most athletes don't medal, but at least they knew
they did the best they could do and were good enough to get to the
Olympics. The lesson for writers? Never give up. Keep trying and get
better. If your first book doesn't land you an agent or a book deal,
keep trying. If you self-publish and the book doesn't sell well, keep
trying. Go back to <b>step 1)</b> and push yourself to be the best writer you can be.<br />
<br />
<b>3) Hope for a little luck. </b>Yep,
even in the Olympic, sometimes winning a medal involves a bit of luck
and good timing. I watched a noted BMX racer (yes, I watched BMX too--I
told you I watched a lot o' Olympics) go down because of a crash in
front of him. One swimmer might hit the touch pad a bit harder than
another and get the faster time. Everyone has times when they feel they
are "in the groove" and other times when things don't go their way. With
the Olympics, athletes have only that one moment, and they better hope
they are in the groove. Though not as intense, there is timing and luck
involved with publishing too. Even publishers can't always predict which
books will be a hit. Sometimes it takes hitting the right publisher, or
the right audience, with the right idea at the right time. You don't
have control over this, but you do have control over <b>steps 1), 2), and 4)</b>, which makes this step more likely to fall into place.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>4) Be a good sport.</b> Whether an athlete won gold,
bronze, or even nothing at all, most of them carried themselves with
grace, poise and humility. Oscar Pitorius, the double amputee track star
from South Africa, didn't medal but stood out as an Olympic hero.
McKayla Maroney demonstrated great humor over the attention she's
received regarding her obvious disappointment at winning silver in the
vault. If you haven't checked out the <a href="http://mckaylaisnotimpressed.tumblr.com/"><b>McKayla is Not Impressed</b></a>
page, it's cute (my fave pic is the one of her in the scene at the art
museum in Ferris Bueller's Day Off). The lesson for writers? Whether
you're a New York Times bestseller, or an aspiring writer trying to get
out of the slushpile, <b>treat others with respect and kindness</b>. It doesn't cost anything to be a decent human being, plus I'm a big believer in karma, kismet, and various other k words.<br />
<br />
Those are the things that jumped out at me, so I hope you can use those to go forth and become Olympic writers. <b>Did
you notice other similarities? Anyone else watch as much Olympics as I
did? More importantly, did anyone out there watch water polo? </b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5740020593647189165.post-82421839581997074352012-08-17T07:30:00.000-04:002012-08-17T07:30:03.263-04:00Friday Book Recommendation--Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride<span id="freeText13661032082181741294">I haven't done a book recommendation in awhile, so here you go. My rec for this week is <b>Hold Me Closer, Necromancer</b> by <a href="http://www.lishmcbride.com/"><b>Lish McBride</b></a>.
It was a William C. Morris Debut Award Finalist, but I didn't even know
that until after I read it. I'm an unashamed title and cover whore, so I
knew nothing about this book except that the cover grabbed me (and made
me sing along in my head to the Elton John tune). I'll wait a minute
while you sing it too. Done? Okay, so here's the great cover:</span><br />
<span id="freeText13661032082181741294"><br />
</span><br />
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<span id="freeText13661032082181741294"><br />
</span><br />
<span id="freeText13661032082181741294"> <br />
</span><br />
<span id="freeText13661032082181741294">And the description from Goodreads:<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<span id="freeText13661032082181741294">Sam leads a pretty
normal life. He may not have the most exciting job in the world, but
he’s doing all right—until a fast food prank brings him to the attention
of Douglas, a creepy guy with an intense violent streak.<br /><br />Turns
out Douglas is a necromancer who raises the dead for cash and sees
potential in Sam. Then Sam discovers he’s a necromancer too, but with
strangely latent powers. And his worst nightmare wants to join forces . .
. or else. <br /><br />With only a week to figure things out, Sam needs
all the help he can get. Luckily he lives in Seattle, which has nearly
as many paranormal types as it does coffee places. But even with
newfound friends, will Sam be able to save his skin?</span><span id="freeText13661032082181741294"> </span><br />
<br />
<span id="freeText13661032082181741294"><b>Why I liked it: </b>This
was such a fast and fun read--seriously, the chapter titles alone are
worth it. I loved Sam and thought his character was well-developed and
real (plus a lot of the genre YA I read tends to have female MC's, so
Sam was a refreshing change of pace). Also, I love me some snark which
is found aplenty in this book. </span><span id="freeText13661032082181741294">There
were a few plot issues I had to overlook, but I'm really nitpicky.
Overall, if you're looking for fun genre fiction, this book is a
definite win. </span><span id="freeText13661032082181741294">I don't often get around to sequels but I would read a sequel to this in a heartbeat.Happy reading!<br />
</span><br />
<span id="freeText13661032082181741294"><br />
</span><br />
<span id="freeText13661032082181741294"><br />
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5740020593647189165.post-13255456697198898152012-08-07T09:32:00.001-04:002012-08-07T09:32:36.032-04:00MSFV Blog Hop--Interview and Book Giveaway with Leah PetersenWelcome to what will hopefully be the first of the <b>Annual Authoress’ Success Story blog tours!</b> Those of us who have owed our publishing successes, at least in part, to the <a href="http://misssnarksfirstvictim.blogspot.ca/">Miss Snark’s First Victim</a>
contests and blog have decided to come together and help cross promote
each other’s work. Every day in the first two weeks of August, a
different author will be posting an interview of one of our fellow
Success Stories, so make sure to tune in to everyone’s blogs (there’s a
list below). Also, if you haven't checked out my interview on <a href="http://www.amandasunbooks.blogspot.com/2012/08/msfv-success-story-blog-hop-interview.html"><b>Amanda Sun's blog</b></a> from yesterday, you still have time to enter to win a first chapter critique from moi.<br />
<br />
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing the awesome <b>Leah Petersen</b>. Leah is giving away an ebook copy of her book <b>Fighting Gravity</b> to one lucky commenter! Just comment <a href="http://www.kristihelvig.blogspot.com/"><b>here</b></a> for a chance to win this:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnCD8uAjNR_TC1Fpg5iVHmsugf2XqH7KPa0evnVbe_ELZMllC9Z0oX0EDwEtvVTv1tITyHpU_sXmjva09g2dTb4dnxGg94zsXuCfrd8WuY6K08oxd6DZ-_dYtqVVwip1ErRdybMakvnFg/s1600/fighting+gravity.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnCD8uAjNR_TC1Fpg5iVHmsugf2XqH7KPa0evnVbe_ELZMllC9Z0oX0EDwEtvVTv1tITyHpU_sXmjva09g2dTb4dnxGg94zsXuCfrd8WuY6K08oxd6DZ-_dYtqVVwip1ErRdybMakvnFg/s320/fighting+gravity.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
<br />
<span id="freeText16324566385566894718">"When Jacob Dawes is
selected for the Imperial Intellectual Complex as a child, he's
catapulted from the poverty-stricken slums of his birth into a world
where his status as an unclass is something no one can forget, or
forgive. His growing scientific renown draws the attention of the
emperor, a young man Jacob's own age, and they find themselves drawn to
each other in an unlikely and ill-advised relationship. Jacob may have
won the emperor's heart, but it's no protection when he's accused of
treason. And fighting his own execution would mean betraying the man he
loves."</span>
<br />
<blockquote class="yiv1362741149gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px #ccc solid; margin: 0 0 0 .8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
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<div style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;">
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<b>Leah Petersen</b> lives in North Carolina. She does the
day-job, wife, and mother thing, much like everyone else. She prides
herself on being able to hold a book with her feet so she can knit while
reading. She’s still working on knitting while writing. Make sure to check out Leah's <a href="http://www.leahpetersen.com/"><b>blog</b></a> and follow her on <a href="https://twitter.com/LeahPetersen"><b>Twitter</b></a>.<br />
Her first novel, <a href="http://www.leahpetersen.com/fighting-gravity/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Fighting Gravity</b></a>, is available now from <b><a href="http://www.dragonmoonpress.com/joomla/index.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dragon Moon Press</a></b>. <br />
<br />
<b>Welcome
Leah--I'm from North Carolina too! I think you need to post a pic of
the knitting while reading thing, because that is amazing. So can you
tell us how participating on the MSFV blog helped get you where you are
now?</b><br />
<div>
</div>
<div>
<b>Leah:</b> <b><span style="color: blue;">The short(ish) version is that
I got into one of the monthly Secret Agent contests (back when it was
simply the first 25 or 50 that got into the mailbox, purely a trigger
finger rather than a merit thing.) The agent had some pointed criticism
of my opening, and little about it that she thought worked. Ouch. Well, I
took her critique and worked on making it better. The next month,
Authoress announced the open submission period for Dragon Moon Press.
They looked like a good fit for me so I queried with my revised draft
and they asked for the full. The next day I got an email asking if we
could have a phone conversation. And the rest is history. </span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: blue;">I think the nice thing about my story is that it shows how many ways
authors can benefit from Authoress's site and the community there. It's
not just about winning the contests or auctions. There's value in what
you can learn there, and the connections and network and community
Authoress has built there. </span></b></div>
<blockquote class="yiv1362741149gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px #ccc solid; margin: 0 0 0 .8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
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<div style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;">
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</blockquote>
<b>That's
a great story, and highlights how every path to publication is
different. One of the things that struck me about your book was the LGBT
aspect. As a writer who has a gay character in my current novel, I'm
wondering if this was an obstacle for you in terms of publishing.</b><br />
<br />
<b>Leah:</b> <b><span style="color: blue;">You know, I expected it to, but the opposite was true. In fact, my
editor told me that someone she mentioned it to remarked that it was the
LGBT angle that made it such a unique and interesting concept. </span></b><br />
<br />
<b>That's awesome. So can you tell us what you're working on right now, and why are you excited about it?</b><br />
<div>
</div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: blue;">Right
now I'm working on the sequel to Fighting Gravity, currently called
Cascade Effect. I was actually less than excited about it a few weeks
ago because the summer is such a busy time for me and it was just
another thing that required my time. But a couple of weeks ago my dad
read Fighting Gravity for the first time and he liked it so much that my
aunt decided to read it and she raved about it so her assistant is now
reading it and my coworker... (this is a family business, so we're all
working in the same office.) </span><br style="color: blue;" /><br style="color: blue;" /><span style="color: blue;">Anyway, watching real people in my life get excited about my
characters and want to know what happens next has helped my find my
excitement again. </span></b> </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<b>I
can relate to summer being super busy, but how cool to have family that
is so supportive of you! What advice do you have for those who are
still in the query trenches?</b></div>
<div>
<br />
<b style="color: blue;">Learn
from it. Don't just flog the query process with an exclusive focus on
landing an agent. I learned A LOT about writing and the publishing
industry from querying at a slow, measured pace and reading as much as I
could about how to go about it in the meantime.</b> </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<b>That
is so true--I felt like I had gained so much knowledge about writing
and the publishing industry by the time I got an agent. What
is your writing process like (e.g. are you a morning/evening writer?) </b></div>
<div>
<br />
<b><span style="color: blue;">I'm a
catch-it-when-you-can writer. I tend to devote chunks of time to writing
one or two days a week rather than smaller, regular periods. Even I
don't think it's ideal, but it's what works for me. My muse resents
being told what to do. If I dictate time and place to her, she tends to
get huffy and uncooperative. </span></b> </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<b>Your
writing style sounds a lot like mine--your muse and my muse must be
related. Can you tell us something about yourself we'd be surprised to
know? </b></div>
<div>
<br />
<b style="color: blue;">I celebrated the sale of Fighting Gravity by getting a new tattoo. It's a solar eclipse. </b> </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<b>That
is very cool, and very brave. My tattoos are applied by my 5-yo and
wash off easily. Last bonus question for you: What are you reading right
now? Which authors inspire you?</b></div>
<br />
<b><span style="color: blue;">I've
been on a huge reading kick lately and I've probably read three books
this week already. (It's Wednesday as I write this.) Today I'm on
Kushiel's Avatar, by Jacqueline Carey. </span><br style="color: blue;" /><br style="color: blue;" /><span style="color: blue;">If the characters are compelling enough that I hurt and bleed and
jump for joy with them, then that's a good book. I'm inspired by any
author who can do that. </span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><b>Oh,
the Kushiel series have been read by several women in my book club
(myself included), and are such a great guilty-pleasure read! Thanks so
much for stopping by the blog today, Leah. </b> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">Don't forget to leave a comment on my <a href="http://www.kristihelvig.blogspot.com/"><b>personal blog</b></a> to be entered in Leah's book giveaway, and check out Leah's blog tomorrow when she interviews <b>Monica Bustamante Wagner.</b> </span></span><b><span style="color: blue;"> </span></b>
<br />
<br />
Visit the whole crew:<br />
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"><b>Blog</b></td>
<td valign="bottom"><b>Twitter</b></td>
<td valign="top"><b>Posting Date</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"><a href="http://wahoocorner.blogspot.com/">David Kazzie</a></td>
<td valign="bottom">@davidkazzie</td>
<td valign="top">1-Aug</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"><a href="http://www.leightmoore.com/">Leigh Talbert Moore</a></td>
<td valign="bottom">@leightmoore</td>
<td valign="top">2-Aug</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"><a href="http://www.jandersoncoats.com/">J.Anderson Coats</a></td>
<td valign="bottom">@jandersoncoats</td>
<td valign="top">3-Aug</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"><a href="http://www.jmfrey.net/">J.M. Frey</a></td>
<td valign="bottom">@scifrey</td>
<td valign="top">4-Aug</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="nowrap"><a href="http://elissacruz.blogspot.com/">Elissa Cruz</a></td>
<td valign="bottom">@elissacruz</td>
<td valign="top">5-Aug</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"><a href="http://www.amandasunbooks.blogspot.com/">Amanda Sun</a></td>
<td valign="bottom">@Amanda_Sun</td>
<td valign="top">6-Aug</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"><a href="http://www.kristihelvig.blogspot.com/">Kristi Helvig</a></td>
<td valign="bottom">@KristiHelvig</td>
<td valign="top">7-Aug</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"><a href="http://www.leahpetersen.com/">Leah Petersen</a></td>
<td valign="bottom">@Leahpetersen</td>
<td valign="top">8-Aug</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="nowrap"><a href="http://www.monibw.blogspot.com/">Monica Bustamante Wagner</a></td>
<td valign="bottom">@Monica_BW</td>
<td valign="top">9-Aug</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"><a href="http://www.emkokie.com/">Emily Kokie</a></td>
<td valign="bottom">@emkokie</td>
<td valign="top">10-Aug</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="nowrap"><a href="http://monicagoulet.blogspot.com/">Monica Goulet</a></td>
<td valign="bottom">@MonicaGoulet</td>
<td valign="top">11-Aug</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"><a href="http://www.peteradamsalomon.com/">Peter Salomon</a></td>
<td valign="bottom">@petersalomon</td>
<td valign="top">12-Aug</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"><a href="http://www.sarahbrand.com/">Sarah Brand</a></td>
<td valign="bottom">@sarahbbrand</td>
<td valign="top">13-Aug</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"><a href="http://thebookshelfmuse.blogspot.com/">Angela Ackerman</a></td>
<td valign="bottom">@angelaackerman & @writerthesaurus</td>
<td valign="top">14-Aug</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"><a href="http://taradairman.com/">Tara Dairman</a></td>
<td valign="bottom">@TaraDairman</td>
<td valign="top">15-Aug</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5740020593647189165.post-43861227431658929652012-08-06T11:58:00.002-04:002012-08-06T11:58:11.561-04:00First Chapter Critique and InterviewToday is my day to be hosted on the <a href="http://miss%20snark%27s%20first%20victim%20blog%20hop/"><b>Miss Snark's First Victim Blog Hop</b></a>! Check out my interview over at the fabulous <a href="http://amandasunbooks.blogspot.com/2012/08/msfv-success-story-blog-hop-interview.html"><b>Amanda Sun's blog</b></a> where I'm giving away a first chapter critique to one lucky winner. Stop back tomorrow when I interview the awesome <a href="http://www.leahpetersen.com/"><b>Leah Peterson</b></a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5740020593647189165.post-1199484058627973532012-08-06T11:46:00.000-04:002012-08-06T11:47:42.919-04:00Contest Monday - Get Published by HarperTeen!<p>You may remember way back in January when I announced that I would have a short story appearing in the upcoming HarperTeen anthology <a href-"http://defythedark.com" target="_blank">DEFY THE DARK</a>, that I said there'd be more exciting news about how YOU could be in the anthology too. Well, that day has finally arrived!</p>
<p><b>HarperTeen</b> and <b>Figment</b> have opened up the <b><a href="http://dailyfig.figment.com/2012/08/01/defy-the-dark-contest/">DEFY THE DARK Short Story Contest</a></b>.</p>
<center><p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmtU8RfLZceEmyq7M6-qGEilXDx0uU7w-AWmqN4ObtFk_geprR8ygc1me_6Y4DxEBSLod_OrcWgDcgRqI3yIF2Prr80NblRTNg-TzZUzaNc_ykNo_MiPMsLaA5u8-tGfvVsRoF-UFCC8-/s400/ded-NOTFINAL.jpg"><br><font size=1>This cover is NOT FINAL, but isn't it pretty?</font></p></center>
<p>The contest is open to any unpublished writer, or published writer who has earned less than $2000 from their writing. All you need to do is write a 2000-4000 word story of <b>any</b> genre that <i>mostly</i> takes place at night, or in the dark. </p>
<p>You can be creative with this. It doesn't have to be dark and scary. A girl sneaking out at night to meet her secret crush fits just as well as those creepy things that go bump in the night.</p>
<p>You have until <b>September 1st</b> to write an upload your story to Figment. The winner gets:
<ul>
<li>The winner will <b>get paid</b> and have their story <b>published in DEFY THE DARK</b>!
<li>Two second place winners will also <b>win cash prizes</b> from HarperCollins and have their stories published on the <a href="http://defythedark.com">Defy The Dark</a> website.
</ul></p>
<p>So what are you waiting for? Get all the contest details at the <b><a href="http://dailyfig.figment.com/2012/08/01/defy-the-dark-contest/">Figment.com DEFY THE DARK contest page!</b></a></p>Valerie Kemphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05795714434618357955noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5740020593647189165.post-36462797107602386892012-07-31T13:26:00.000-04:002012-07-31T13:26:13.744-04:00Why Writing Isn't EnoughI'm not saying that you can't call yourself a writer if you do
nothing more than toil away on your manuscripts for hours, days, even
years. However, at some point, most people want others to see their
work. Though the joy of writing is what keeps us going, behind it is the
hope that others will find joy in our work through reading it. Whether
you're writing a family genealogy meant only for close relatives, or
you're writing a commercial novel for the masses, at some point, writing
means putting your work out there...which can be scary.<br />
<br />
It's
much safer to keep your writing tucked away on your hard drive, or in a
trunk under the bed, because exposing it to daylight invites possible
judgment and criticism. Some writers are sensitive by nature, but
writing is not for the skin-thinned, so where should you start? I
started with a critique group, and think a good critique group
(consisting of fellow writers) is worth its weight in gold. Other
writers are the best resource (IMHO) for pointing out your own strengths
and areas for growth as a writer.You can find them through professional
writers groups, conferences, and online message boards or blogs. Use
the feedback to make your work the best it can be. But you can't stop
there.<br />
<br />
At some point, you have to bite the bullet and
put your work out there. Whether it's querying agents and editors if you
aspire to a traditional book deal, or hiring an editor and then
self-publishing, no one can read your book if it's not available. This
doesn't mean rushing things. Take your time to write, revise, edit, and
polish your book to a high gloss. But if writing and all that goes into
making a complete novel is <b>Step #1</b>, make sure you eventually push yourself to do <b>Step</b> <b>2). Put it out there. </b><br />
<br />
<b>Which step are you on? Any tips for those struggling with Step 2? </b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5740020593647189165.post-87164025816704148332012-07-10T08:00:00.000-04:002012-07-10T08:00:01.986-04:00How Do You Reward Yourself?When you're writing a novel, I'm a big believer in rewarding yourself
for achieving the baby steps along the way. For instance, when I'm in
the revision process after finishing my first draft, I reward myself
with chocolate after revising each chapter (don't judge). I'd like to
say the satisfaction of writing and revising is entirely its own reward,
but sometimes I need that extra shot of motivation.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTy7ERWJxamAtWeTyanv3dyQ_lzRT9fjAE78OzeHKI40qOcn0B0LXNQDwEEa5eVHwaqfl8Uie5B76P3xINk8l1MPeE57tQO0jMGLikds7XroNw3bzWyI6YlfNuzl8RMTgiMjhfAJEg38/s1600/hgtv+design+star.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTy7ERWJxamAtWeTyanv3dyQ_lzRT9fjAE78OzeHKI40qOcn0B0LXNQDwEEa5eVHwaqfl8Uie5B76P3xINk8l1MPeE57tQO0jMGLikds7XroNw3bzWyI6YlfNuzl8RMTgiMjhfAJEg38/s1600/hgtv+design+star.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
So when I really want to push myself, the reward needs to
be bigger, and then I'm way more likely to reach my goal. I don't watch
much television and don't have any of those recording thingies to watch
shows later, but I have a crazy addiction to Design Star on HGTV--I
know, some people have a wild side, and mine is dan-ger-ous. Anyway,
guess who hit her word count goal last week with over 30 minutes to
spare? This girl. It's on again tonight and I'm sure I'll hit my goal
today too, because no way in hell am I missing David Bromstad's pep
talks regarding room decor (I'm so badass like that).<br />
<br />
<b>Now
that I've confessed my sure-fire writing reward, I want to know about
you. How do you reward yourself? (It's okay if your method isn't as
hard-core as mine. Not everyone can be this cool. ;) </b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5740020593647189165.post-5917198768506223772012-07-03T06:00:00.000-04:002012-07-03T06:00:12.433-04:00Longhand versus LaptopUp until now, I've written my novels solely via laptop. Sure, I've
mapped out outlines, ideas, and characters in a notebook (okay, so I
have notebooks everywhere, and it might be an addiction, but that's a
different post), but the actual writing has taken place at my computer.
Then I had something weird happen a few weeks ago. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiGG5kVmPzfvbn86AzzA82Z5eC5iYOgxLfuQKov0HZqC-14DLJiIl7HglXM7U1pIuG9oExYIo0qYPO_q0GW9g_23pEagukvaGM2aWO2PDynls3pwNRsNVDCQ8Vq-rZaGU1VSfRFFwoxg/s1600/quill+pen.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiGG5kVmPzfvbn86AzzA82Z5eC5iYOgxLfuQKov0HZqC-14DLJiIl7HglXM7U1pIuG9oExYIo0qYPO_q0GW9g_23pEagukvaGM2aWO2PDynls3pwNRsNVDCQ8Vq-rZaGU1VSfRFFwoxg/s1600/quill+pen.jpg" /></a></div>
(<b>NOTE:</b> This is not the actual pen used, but I am SO getting this pen one day!)<br />
<br />
I
had a client need to reschedule an appointment at work, which left me
with an entire hour of writing time--except that my laptop was at home.
For some reason, I pulled out my legal pad rather than the cute flowered
notebooks I usually carry, and decided to write a chapter. The words
flew onto the page, and when I typed them into the computer that night,
I'd written almost 3K words...in an hour. For me, that's a lotta words,
and even though I took shorthand in high school, I also took typing, so I
couldn't believe how fast I was. The other strange part was that when I
went back the next day to edit, it required way less editing than
usual. In the next two days, I easily wrote two more chapters that way. I
know there are studies out there about enhanced neural activity and
increased memory capacity in writing versus typing, but I'd never tried
it out for myself. <br />
<br />
<br />
Summer with the kiddos has challenged my writing
time, but my goal for this week is to get 10K words completed, because
I'm excited to finish my new book...and because my agent is waiting
patiently for it.;)<br />
<br />
<b>Have you tried writing in longhand versus typing? Anyone else notice a difference? </b><br />
<br />
Oh, and Happy July 4th! The Wednesday Query Critique will be back next Wed. 7/11 on my personal blog.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5740020593647189165.post-22435759039713646072012-06-25T07:55:00.002-04:002012-06-25T07:55:54.364-04:00Do You Have What It Takes?Writing is fun, but it's not easy. It takes long hours, dedication,
and the willingness to revise something for the umpteenth time until you
(or your agent/editor) are happy with it. <br />
<br />
"I'd like
to write a book someday too, when I have the time to fritter away." I
got that comment from a well-meaning friend of mine who knows I'm a
writer: I think it was the "fritter away" part that actually made my
teeth grind together. Writers know that there is no magic time fairy who
waves her wand over us and gives us blocks of time that other mere
mortals don't have (that would be SO cool though). The difference
between people who write books and the people who just talk about
writing books is simple. People who write books commit to the writing. <br />
<br />
We
write when other people are watching reality shows. We write until the
wee hours of the night when everyone else is asleep (long after the
caffeine has worn off). We rise at ungodly hours to squeeze in several
pages before work or before the kids wake up (long before the caffeine
has kicked in.) Even when not writing, we are thinking about writing.
Plot issues and characterization get worked out in the shower or while
folding laundry. Whether we eek out a paragraph at a time, or multiple
pages in a sitting, we keep writing...and writing...until we have a
finished book. <br />
<br />
We have families, jobs, volunteer
commitments, and chores (did I mention laundry?), just like everyone
else. Unlike everyone else, we commit to telling stories, one sentence
at a time. I'm a writer. What about you?<br />
<br />
Do you have what it takes? Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5740020593647189165.post-58710112932405047982012-06-20T10:19:00.000-04:002012-06-20T10:22:26.836-04:00Everybody's Got One<p>A secret that is. Everyone’s got a secret. What were you thinking? </p>
<p>One of my favorite filmmaking tips is as the director, to give each actor a secret about their character. One they can’t share with anyone, but will inform everything they do in every scene. </p>
<p>Secrets can add depth and subtext to a scene that might otherwise be merely functional, or ordinary. For (a poor) example: A character who is hiding a fear of heights, might try to convince his crush not to hike up to a popular make out spot on a cliff despite wanting desperately to make out with her. </p>
<p>While it works really well in film where we can both see an actor’s face, and hear their change in tone when responding to an innocuous request, I think it can also work well in a novel. </p>
<p>You probably already know your main characters darkest secrets, and maybe even some of their love interest’s or antagonist’s, but what about everyone else? This ties in with my previous post <a href="http://www.sistersinscribe.com/2012/05/why-are-you-here.html">“Why Are You Here?”</a> about every character having a reason to be where they are in every scene. </p>
<p>In this case, having a secret can help give conversations between characters more depth and realism. If you know a character’s secret, it will color everything they do and say. It will make the world feel more real, because the people in it are real. It might even change your main character’s or the reader’s opinion of the character, and that can be used to your advantage when working on stories with mysteries. (And I believe every story should have a mystery, even if it’s not a mystery story, but that’s a whole ‘nother post!) </p>
<p>I would bet that if you’ve gotten pretty far into writing the book, that most of your characters already have a secret, you just haven’t picked up on it because you’ve been too busy forwarding the story. If you’re just starting your book, or you haven’t seen your characters dropping any hints, try giving them one and see if it perks up one of your lackluster scenes, or changes the way your characters view each other. You might just make a discovery or two!</p>
<p>What about you, do you give your characters secrets? What are some of the ways you add subtext and depth?</p>Valerie Kemphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05795714434618357955noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5740020593647189165.post-60263870201085992582012-06-17T12:04:00.001-04:002012-06-17T12:04:25.194-04:00My Guest Post over at Rainy of the DarkIf you haven't checked out my guest post over at <a href="http://www.rainyofthedark.com/2012/06/guest-post-when-the-writing-gets-tough-the-tough-get-writing/"><b>Rainy of the Dark</b></a>, head on over: When the Writing Gets Tough, The Tough Get Writing...eventually. Thanks to Rainy for having me! :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5740020593647189165.post-33615073206711575302012-06-13T07:30:00.000-04:002012-06-13T07:30:00.404-04:00Query Strategies--The Batch MethodFor those who wish to pursue the traditional path to publication, it
often involves finding an agent who will, in turn, submit your work to
editors at publishing houses. In order to find an agent, one must send
out query letters. The purpose of my Wednesday Query Critique Giveaway
(which I swear I'm getting back to next week) is to help people polish
their queries before they send them out into the world. If you're at the
stage where you're ready to query, and have carefully researched agents
using sites such as <a href="http://querytracker.net/"><b>Querytracker</b></a> and <a href="http://www.agentquery.com/"><b>AgentQuery</b></a>, here's why I'm a proponent of sending queries out in batches of 3-5 (aka The Batch Method):<br />
<br />
<b>1)</b>
If you don't get any responses other than form rejections or the sound
of chirping crickets, your query likely needs work. The good news is
that since you only sent out a few queries, you haven't used up all your
top picks at once. <br />
<br />
<br />
<b>2) </b>If you get partial requests off the bat,
then you know your query doesn't suck, BUT that's all it means (sorry,
harsh but true). Wait and see what happens. If the partial requests are
all rejected, then it means the book didn't live up to the query. Take
any personalized feedback to heart and work on the book again before
sending out more queries. Again, because you're using the batch method,
you still have a ton more agents to query.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>3)</b> If the partial requests turn into full
requests, then you should do a little happy dance because it's
definitely a step in the right direction. I'd also recommend sending
queries to any remaining top choices if you haven't already because
things can move pretty quickly at this point. Some people recommend
waiting until you actually have an offer of representation and then
dashing off queries to any remaining top picks, but that feels icky to
me. If you've done your research, you should only be querying agents
that you feel confident about in the first place.<br />
<br />
<b>Has anyone used this method? Any other tips people would like to share about querying? </b><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Happy Querying! And I'll be back with Query Critique Wednesday next week. </b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5740020593647189165.post-60862097975051164282012-05-25T11:11:00.003-04:002012-05-25T11:11:53.403-04:00Contest with YA Book GiveawayWant to win the YA book of your choice? Hop on over to my personal <a href="http://www.kristihelvig.blogspot.com/2012/05/creative-curse-word-contest.html"><b>blog</b></a> where I'm hosting a contest of a different kind. HINT: It involves curse words. Good luck!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5740020593647189165.post-28228759346235912462012-05-22T05:30:00.000-04:002012-05-22T05:30:03.387-04:00YA Book Cover TrendsAll around awesome writer and blogger Kate Hart did a comprehensive analysis <a href="http://www.katehart.net/2012/05/uncovering-ya-covers-2011.html"><b>here</b></a>
of 2011 YA book covers. I can't even imagine the time it took her to
compile all this info. She told me she doesn't watch television at all,
but this was still an enormous task to take on. Her study yielded
results from the interesting (blue is the most common color of
traditionally published YA books) to the sad (the downright dismal
amount of ethnic diversity in cover models).<br />
<br />
<br />
Kate followed this up with another <a href="http://www.katehart.net/2012/05/follow-up-on-ya-covers.html#more"><b>post</b></a> that clarified some reader questions,
and addressed what writers can do to help--especially writers who are
white (like me). It's very thought-provoking and has me thinking about
my own responsibility as an author. Though I have characters in my books
who are ethnically and sexually diverse (LGBT), I'm not sure how much
control I'd have over the covers. Per Kate's post, even mega-author John
Green admitted not loving several of his book covers. I'm not sure what the answer is but Kate poses some great questions that we, as writers, need to keep asking. <br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Have you read these posts? What are your thoughts on these issues? Anyone else happy to see the decrease in dead girl covers? </b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5740020593647189165.post-47986580602896658092012-05-21T05:30:00.000-04:002012-05-21T05:30:00.821-04:00Release Date for SUFFOCATE by S.R. Johannes<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">It is May
21st and guess what that means?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">S.R.
Johannes’ <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Suffocate</i> is out today! </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnhOGrDaLe_jOMzTwWrUXVRCQ2-VU6mYJPGINUcAtl6tbhidhkZetoiTXLCnMdQiHUflOkXOZKFTzMaNb-zYKKYd3O7QLH5hyQyBmYoSSl1YAzL5qPAZuvNk59wsmR7k9XGSVdkwiLDA/s1600/Suffocate.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnhOGrDaLe_jOMzTwWrUXVRCQ2-VU6mYJPGINUcAtl6tbhidhkZetoiTXLCnMdQiHUflOkXOZKFTzMaNb-zYKKYd3O7QLH5hyQyBmYoSSl1YAzL5qPAZuvNk59wsmR7k9XGSVdkwiLDA/s320/Suffocate.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Suffocate</span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;"> is the first novelette in THE BREATHLESS series. It is a 15,000
word young adult thriller that combines the dystopic and science fiction
genres.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Here’s a little about the novelette…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">“For centuries, the world outside the Biome has been unlivable. Today,
marks the first time anyone will attempt to leave the suffocating
ecosphere. Eria is not worried because her scientist father has
successfully tested the new Bio-Suit many times. It's a celebratory day until
something goes horribly wrong. In the midst of tragedy, Eria uncovers a
deep conspiracy that affects the very air she breathes. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">If those responsible find out what she knows, they won't stop hunting
her until she takes her last breath.”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">The 2nd novella in the series, CHOKE, is scheduled for Fall 2012. The
3rd, EXHALE, is scheduled for Winter 2013.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">You can
purchase Suffocate for only 99 cents at</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://amzn.to/KICaSd"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">B&N <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5875347441971967569" name="_GoBack"></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Also you can
add it on Goodreads! - </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13648347-suffocate"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13648347-suffocate</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">And in case
you were wondering here is a bit about the author –</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">S.R. Johannes is author of the Amazon Bestseller <i>Untraceable</i>
and a current nominee of the Georgia Author of the Year in the Young Adult
category</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">. After earning an MBA and working in corporate america, S.R.
Johannes traded in her expensive suits, high heels, and corporate lingo for a
family, flip-flops, and her love of writing. She lives in Atlanta,
Georgia with her goldendoodle Charley (notice he is listed first :), her
British-accented husband, and the huge imaginations of their little prince and
princess, which she hopes- someday- will change the world. You can find
her hanging out online and visit her at </span><a href="http://srjohannes.com/"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none;">srjohannes.com</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Twitter- </span><a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/srjohannes"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">https://twitter.com/#!/srjohannes</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Facebook- </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/srjohannes"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">https://www.facebook.com/srjohannes</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Pinterest- </span><a href="http://pinterest.com/srjohannes/"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">http://pinterest.com/srjohannes/</span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Goodreads- </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5235537.S_R_Johannes"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5235537.S_R_Johannes</span></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5740020593647189165.post-67013114191448595442012-05-18T10:50:00.001-04:002012-05-18T10:50:16.393-04:00Twitter TipsAfter joining Twitter about a year or so ago, I have to say that I
love it. This says a lot coming from someone who was reluctant to join
the social media scene--I was the last person in my book club to join
Facebook and only did so due to peer pressure. I'm on Twitter much more
than Facebook these days because I like the immediate back and forth it
allows between people, and I enjoy the constant stream of information.
NOTE: If you don't yet follow me on Twitter, you can do so<a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/KristiHelvig" target="_blank"><b> here.</b></a>
All the cool kids are. ;) Here are a few tips I thought I'd pass along,
and please add your own observations/tips in the comments:<br />
<br />
<b>DO</b><br />
<b>1) Share useful information.</b> I love it when people pass along informative links or RT articles on the publishing industry.<br />
<b>2) Engage with others.</b>
Though it's great to share, don't solely rely on RT's and links to
other things. Spend some time engaging with your fellow writers and
industry peers.<br />
<b>3) Be yourself.</b> The people that I enjoy
following the most are those that seem to just be themselves. Whether
you are naturally interesting, witty, or funny--embrace it and do that.
Trying to present as something other than you are comes through.<br />
<br />
<b>DON'T</b><br />
<b>1) Promote your book constantly. </b>One
of the few things that will cause me to immediately unfollow someone is
if they follow me and I follow them back--only to get a "message" a
minute later asking me to buy their book or check out their site. Don't
do this!<br />
<b>2) Follow people just so they'll follow you back, and then unfollow them to jack up your numbers.</b> Rather than making you look popular, you look like a<b> [insert favorite curse word].</b> NOTE: People reading this post are clearly awesome people who don't do this.<br />
<b>3) Don't exclude.</b>
Even if I can't follow everyone back (because it's only possible to
keep track of so many people in my feed), I always respond to @replies.
Unless you're Neil Gaiman, you are not too cool for school, and will come across as a <b>[insert favorite curse word]</b> when you are only seen interacting with published writers.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>What are your Twitter tips? Do you autofollow everyone? Share below.</b><br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5740020593647189165.post-44862369392985411052012-05-14T08:28:00.003-04:002012-05-14T08:28:51.084-04:00Random Act of Kindness BlitzHi all--hop on over to my other <a href="http://www.kristihelvig.blogspot.com/2012/05/random-act-of-kindness-blitz.html"><b>blog </b></a>to see why I'm participating in The Bookshelf Muse's ROAK Blitz and why I chose my wonderful blog Sisters (Valerie and Lacey) here at Sisters in Scribe as gift recipients. <b>HINT:</b> They're made of awesome! Now go out there and commit a random act of kindness for someone!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5740020593647189165.post-61305662633920464942012-05-07T10:43:00.000-04:002012-05-07T10:43:09.659-04:00Why Are You Here?<p>Wired has a great <b><a href="http://www.wired.com/underwire/2012/05/joss-whedon/all/1" target=_blank>interview with Joss Whedon</a></b>. It's very long, but a great read if you're a fan of his, or interested in his thoughts on writing, characters, and plot. Here's the part that I want to talk about though, it's about characters and their motivations:
</p><p>
<center><i>"...everybody is here for a reason and they deserve, while they’re on film, or on the page, for people to know what it is, even if we don’t like it."</i></center>
</p><p>
Reading this made me feel good because it's something I've always tried to do with both my characters and my plot. I think it's important that in any scene you write, you should be able to turn to each character there and ask <i>"Why are you here?"</i> and they should have an answer. Whether the reason is personal, <i>"I'm here because I love him."</i> or not, <i>"This is my English class, I have to be here."</i> they should be there for some reason that has to do with THEM, and not your plot. If I ask and my character answers, <i>"I'm here because you need me to overhear this argument so that later I can use that info to solve the mystery."</i> then, in my opinion, I've failed to make him three-dimensional, he's merely a plot device in the shape of a person.
</p><p>
Every character, whether they're the main character or one who pops in for one scene, should have a full life, regardless of how much we see of it. When people appear only to prove a point, or drop a clue, or to tell us something about the main character, the whole world of your story feels a little less real.
</p><p>
Achieving this can be tricky. You don't want a minor character to walk into a scene and say, <i>"I'm here because this is my English class, where I'm supposed to be, and I just noticed that your hair looks different."</i> Subtlety is key. This is one of those things where the reason doesn't always have to be spelled out on the page, but YOU need to know it. When you know why a character is there, it shows in your writing, and scenes feel more real.
</p><p>
When it comes to plot points, I always check that all the characters involved are there for a reason, and not because I NEED them to be there in order for the story to move forward. Without that reason -- personal or practical, things can feel "too convenient" or false. You want those moments to feel inevitable, where your readers can almost see it coming, as they weave all the pieces together, and they think, <i>oh no!</i>, at the same time that they think, <i>of course they would all end up in this place just as the bomb goes off, it couldn't be any other way</i>.
</p><p>
Because that's the moment that really connects with the reader. That's where the emotional connection to the story comes in. When they can look back at everything each character has done, and know that this is exactly the way it has to be, because they understand why each character has done what they've done so far, and why they're there at that moment. Without that it's just another thing moving the plot along. </p>Valerie Kemphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05795714434618357955noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5740020593647189165.post-82442376632764255102012-04-24T05:30:00.000-04:002012-04-24T05:30:00.845-04:00Reading Across GenresI'm sure you've heard how important it is to read widely in the genre you write. For instance, if you write young adult (YA), you should read a truckload of it to know the expectations and nuances of the genre. YA is <i>typically</i> faster-paced and more action-oriented than say, literary book club fiction. There are always exceptions but you should at least know the rules before you break them. Reading is crucial if you want to progress as a writer. Even Stephen King mentions that he reads as much as he writes during a day.<br />
<br />
I agree completely with this, but I'm also in favor of reading outside your genre as well. Though I write YA, I just finished The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obrecht (loved it), and am about to start The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach for my book club. I think reading widely allows you to gain more perspective and opens up new possibilities for your writing. Several women in my book club just read 50 Shades of Grey, and though I'm not sure I want to read quite that widely, I admire their resolve to read <strike>mommy porn</strike> across genres. ;)<br />
<br />
<b>What about you? Do you often read outside of your chosen genre? What was the last book you loved that wasn't in the genre you write?</b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.com3