Friday, October 31, 2014
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Where Do You Go?
Writing takes intense concentration.
Broken up by frequent visits to Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Some people call this procrastinating. I like to think of it as... staying up-to-date.
Back back to my original statement. Writing takes intense concentration. And as NaNoWriMo season approaches (T-minus TWO DAYS!), I'm contemplating how to sink into that "zone." C'mon, you know what I mean. The magical place where the outside world vanishes, and you're totally submerged into the world of your book.
There are many ways people achieve that kind of focus, and they're different for each person. For me, I've found three things that boost my concentration.
1. Having a dedicated writing area. When I sit down at my desk, I know I'm going to be doing something writer-related. Immediately that gets me in the right frame of mind.
2. Being comfortable. Yes, this usually involves pajama pants and slippers. Nothing's more aggravating than trying to imagine a scene and that tag in the back of your t-shirt is playing a game of indian burn with your neck.
3. Force, by any means necessary. I'm a procrastinator. I'm also lazy and at times very unmotivated. So I have to force myself to write. This is why I love NaNoWriMo so much. It shoves me into writing mode. Every. Single. Day. Rewards are also great motivators. Like if I keep ahead on my word count, on Monday I'll be reworded with a sandwich, chips, and the latest episode of Sailor Moon Crystal. It seriously works.
Broken up by frequent visits to Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Some people call this procrastinating. I like to think of it as... staying up-to-date.
Back back to my original statement. Writing takes intense concentration. And as NaNoWriMo season approaches (T-minus TWO DAYS!), I'm contemplating how to sink into that "zone." C'mon, you know what I mean. The magical place where the outside world vanishes, and you're totally submerged into the world of your book.
There are many ways people achieve that kind of focus, and they're different for each person. For me, I've found three things that boost my concentration.
1. Having a dedicated writing area. When I sit down at my desk, I know I'm going to be doing something writer-related. Immediately that gets me in the right frame of mind.
2. Being comfortable. Yes, this usually involves pajama pants and slippers. Nothing's more aggravating than trying to imagine a scene and that tag in the back of your t-shirt is playing a game of indian burn with your neck.
3. Force, by any means necessary. I'm a procrastinator. I'm also lazy and at times very unmotivated. So I have to force myself to write. This is why I love NaNoWriMo so much. It shoves me into writing mode. Every. Single. Day. Rewards are also great motivators. Like if I keep ahead on my word count, on Monday I'll be reworded with a sandwich, chips, and the latest episode of Sailor Moon Crystal. It seriously works.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Growth
Back in September I planted some forget-me-not seeds in a teapot. I was hoping for beautiful blue flowers in a whimsical pot to brighten up my desk. That's not quite what I got.
A week passed and green shoots emerged from the soil. But so did nasty little bugs the size of a pin. I tried a soap and water trick via my mom to get rid of the mites. No such luck. Disappointing.
Saturday evening found me dumping out my plants and refilling the teapot with brand new soil and seeds. So far no bugs. Trust me, I've become OCD with checking.
This planting mishap applies to writing too. I have a first manuscript that I am 110% ashamed of. But through that mishmash of plot and romance, I learned how to write. Writing is a gift that can only be honed by experience. Now I'm querying my third book that I think is fantastic (if only the agents would think so too!). But I bet, two years down the road, I'll look back on AFTER ALICE and cringe.
It's the nature of the beast.
A week passed and green shoots emerged from the soil. But so did nasty little bugs the size of a pin. I tried a soap and water trick via my mom to get rid of the mites. No such luck. Disappointing.
Saturday evening found me dumping out my plants and refilling the teapot with brand new soil and seeds. So far no bugs. Trust me, I've become OCD with checking.
This planting mishap applies to writing too. I have a first manuscript that I am 110% ashamed of. But through that mishmash of plot and romance, I learned how to write. Writing is a gift that can only be honed by experience. Now I'm querying my third book that I think is fantastic (if only the agents would think so too!). But I bet, two years down the road, I'll look back on AFTER ALICE and cringe.
It's the nature of the beast.
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Slogging Through the Slush
So last week I entered the miry trenches of querying. I was so involved I forgot to do a post last Thursday.
But here I am now! That has to count for something, right?
Here are so updates for you so we can commiserate together. Over the last week I have received the following:
Query Rejections: 18
Full Requests: 2
You know that sound Lucy makes in I Love Lucy where she messes up pretty bad and Ricky finds out? Yeah, cue that.
Not as stellar as I was hoping. In fact, I was pretty annoyed/frustrated/depressed/melancholy over it this weekend. Especially since my novel for NaNo happens to be the sequel to After Alice (my querying manuscript). My family tried to cheer me up, but it didn't really work. I was determined to be pessimistic.
Then I got to talking to this writer on twitter then on NaNo's website. She probbaly doesn't realize how much she boosted my spirits, but shout outs to her website! She's querying too, so we commiserated and she reminded me how cool of an idea After Alice is.
Maybe you're wondering what the point of this post is? Well, let me sum it up for you in one sentence. When braving the querying trenches, have a fellow writer/soldier at your side, it works wonders.
Unfortunately, I'm still going to jump every time my phone vibrates...
But here I am now! That has to count for something, right?
Here are so updates for you so we can commiserate together. Over the last week I have received the following:
Query Rejections: 18
Full Requests: 2
You know that sound Lucy makes in I Love Lucy where she messes up pretty bad and Ricky finds out? Yeah, cue that.
Not as stellar as I was hoping. In fact, I was pretty annoyed/frustrated/depressed/melancholy over it this weekend. Especially since my novel for NaNo happens to be the sequel to After Alice (my querying manuscript). My family tried to cheer me up, but it didn't really work. I was determined to be pessimistic.
Then I got to talking to this writer on twitter then on NaNo's website. She probbaly doesn't realize how much she boosted my spirits, but shout outs to her website! She's querying too, so we commiserated and she reminded me how cool of an idea After Alice is.
Maybe you're wondering what the point of this post is? Well, let me sum it up for you in one sentence. When braving the querying trenches, have a fellow writer/soldier at your side, it works wonders.
Unfortunately, I'm still going to jump every time my phone vibrates...
Friday, October 17, 2014
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Let the Querying...Begin!
On Monday I entered a whole new realm of the writing adventure: querying!
After three weeks spent writing/editing my query letter...
After two months (in total) editing my book...
After five months writing my book...
I knew I was ready. After compiling a list of agents on Query Tracker, I set to work. After 62 emails, all my "letters" were sent. Phew!
Since I had off work that day, I pretty much spent the waiting period cleaning and watching Firefly. Oh, the wretched waiting period!
Then I got an email.
And in that email was a full request! Ensue running around the house and screaming.
Of course, this is only the first response and I've got about 61 to go. Eek, I can already feel the pang of soon-to-be rejections. But honestly? I love every moment of it. This is what being a writer is about. Throwing yourself out there and seeing the result.
We'll see if I'm still saying that come Thursday ;)
After three weeks spent writing/editing my query letter...
After two months (in total) editing my book...
After five months writing my book...
I knew I was ready. After compiling a list of agents on Query Tracker, I set to work. After 62 emails, all my "letters" were sent. Phew!
Since I had off work that day, I pretty much spent the waiting period cleaning and watching Firefly. Oh, the wretched waiting period!
Then I got an email.
And in that email was a full request! Ensue running around the house and screaming.
Of course, this is only the first response and I've got about 61 to go. Eek, I can already feel the pang of soon-to-be rejections. But honestly? I love every moment of it. This is what being a writer is about. Throwing yourself out there and seeing the result.
We'll see if I'm still saying that come Thursday ;)
Friday, October 10, 2014
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Instincts
A few blog posts ago I discussed this awesome schedule I planned to use. Well, last post I talked about flexibility. Now I'm combining those two posts into one epic finale...
I'm not waiting until December (or whenever I said I'd start querying for "After Alice"). In fact, my first queries are going out Monday, October 13. Yeah, that's in four days.
But you know what? I am so ready.
As a writer, I've learned to always trust my instincts. It's my story after all. Who would know it better than me? Exactly.
So wish me luck! On Monday, I'll be braving the slush pile! While keeping you wonderful readers updated, of course. Let the adventure, begin!
Oh, woops... That's Firefly...
I'm not waiting until December (or whenever I said I'd start querying for "After Alice"). In fact, my first queries are going out Monday, October 13. Yeah, that's in four days.
But you know what? I am so ready.
As a writer, I've learned to always trust my instincts. It's my story after all. Who would know it better than me? Exactly.
So wish me luck! On Monday, I'll be braving the slush pile! While keeping you wonderful readers updated, of course. Let the adventure, begin!
Oh, woops... That's Firefly...
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Touch Your Toes
Picture yourself back in middle school gym class. Remember those physical fitness tests? How long does it take to run a mile? How many push ups can you do?
How flexible are you?
Well, unfortunately the flexibility tests don't end in middle school years. They apply to adult life--figuratively, of course--and writing.
Just yesterday I had work my muscles. As you may know, I've been hard at work writing a query letter for my book. So far I've gone through five versions, and I'm not finished yet. One of my most recent attempts went live as a critique on Evil Editor's blog. The comments were pretty difficult to hear, but important. Which is why I'm doing away with the anonymity EE provides and sharing it with you.
I realized two things from the comments.
One. My query letter was describing a generic Wonderland that no way existed in my book. The query made it like a boring cut out of all the other Wonderland retellings that have passed before. Trust me when I say, my book is not.
Two. My title, no matter how much I loved it, needed to be changed. There are too many titles of "Underland" for it to even have a chance of standing out.
Of course even more flexibility is required in the publishing process, but the two above are just examples.
So, without further to do, let me announce my new title. Courtesy of my newfound flexibility, I present to you "After Alice," a twist on Lewis Carroll's classic "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland."
How flexible are you?
Well, unfortunately the flexibility tests don't end in middle school years. They apply to adult life--figuratively, of course--and writing.
Just yesterday I had work my muscles. As you may know, I've been hard at work writing a query letter for my book. So far I've gone through five versions, and I'm not finished yet. One of my most recent attempts went live as a critique on Evil Editor's blog. The comments were pretty difficult to hear, but important. Which is why I'm doing away with the anonymity EE provides and sharing it with you.
I realized two things from the comments.
One. My query letter was describing a generic Wonderland that no way existed in my book. The query made it like a boring cut out of all the other Wonderland retellings that have passed before. Trust me when I say, my book is not.
Two. My title, no matter how much I loved it, needed to be changed. There are too many titles of "Underland" for it to even have a chance of standing out.
Of course even more flexibility is required in the publishing process, but the two above are just examples.
So, without further to do, let me announce my new title. Courtesy of my newfound flexibility, I present to you "After Alice," a twist on Lewis Carroll's classic "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland."