There were no new questions for O'Abby this week, so on NaNo Eve, I thought I'd offer a few things about doing NaNo I've learned over the years. I've done it several times and while I haven't won every year, I think my ratio of finishing to not finishing is pretty high.
This year the timing works really well because November 1 is a Friday. That means you have the weekend to really kick off your project. I always like to try and get ahead on word count at the beginning of the month, while you're fresh and the idea for your book is bright and shiny in your head. And with the start of the month coinciding with the weekend, you're likely going to have a chance to get a few extra hours writing time in.
So use them. Try and get at least 5K written over the weekend, more if you can. That word count buffer will come in handy if something happens during the month and you're forced to miss a few days or if your writing time during the week is more limited and you think you might only manage 1,000 words a day.
Plan your time. If you have regular commitments that are going to eat into your regular writing time, see if you can carve out some other time to write. Use your lunch breaks at work, maybe. Or your commute, if you use public transport. It's amazing how much you can get done in tiny scraps of time. 500 words here, another 700 there and before you know it, you've made your daily word count. Don't feel you have to find 90 minutes of uninterrupted time each day to do this.
Don't panic if you fall behind. It happens. Life can get in the way of even the best laid plans. If you get behind, figure out where you can catch up. Maybe an extra hour's writing time over the weekend will do it. Or getting up a little earlier and writing before you really start your day. Whatever works for you. Personally, I know I'm going to struggle to get much done during the week the next couple of weeks, because I'm just wrapping up a major project at work. So my plan is to take a few days off once I've finished that, so I can devote those days to writing. But that might not be possible for you, so figure out what is, and make it work for you.
Don't worry about the details. NaNo writing is fast writing. You're doing it to spill that story out onto the page, not to create a polished masterpiece. That comes later. Right now, don't worry about repeated words, awkward sentences or getting the details of how something works wrong. Just write your story. If you find yourself questioning something and are tempted to Google, just write yourself a note in the manuscript so when you go back to re-read what you've written, you're reminded you needed to look up how long it would take to get from London to Edinburgh on horseback in 1865. I like to leave those notes in another color so they stand out to me later.
The same if you realize you got something wrong earlier in the story and need to change it to make the rest of the book make sense. Write a note at the point you realized this and remind yourself to go back and change that thing later. NaNo is not to write a final draft. I don't even call my NaNo drafts first drafts. They're vomit drafts or zero drafts. What you work with later to create an actual first draft.
And finally, it doesn't actually matter if you don't hit 50K. Why matters is you tried. You got some words on the page and just because November ends and your novel is only 34K, it doesn't mean you failed. You have the beginning of your book there, and all you need to do is keep writing. Maybe in another 30 days you'll have 60K. And in another, a finished book.
So good luck! Happy writing! And if you need a buddy to cheer you on, you'll find me on the NaNo site as Vampyr14.
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Kelly Coon's Debut Author Spotlight #NewBook #20Questions at Operation Awesome
Gravemaidens by Kelly Coon
1- What might a wicked karaoke singer, such as yourself, sing this Halloween?
Ha! I’d have to go with “Truth Hurts.” We can’t get through the season without a little bit of Lizzo.
2- Would you please, in 160 characters or less, give a #WriteTip ?
Find some critique partners and be vulnerable enough to share your work and accept critique. Be humble enough to realize there’s always room for growth.
3- What ignited your passion for writing?
I have always been a reader. I used to CONSUME 11-12 books a week in middle school and still read voraciously. I think getting lost in different worlds from the time I was little first interested me in storytelling. I used to sit there, on my bed (one hand holding a book, the other one in a bowl of snacks), and think—maybe I could do this, too.
4- How might a person best influence positive change for the Flint water crisis right now?
GREAT QUESTION. I was actually born in Flint, Michigan, and still have a ton of family members living there. You can donate a case of water or make a monetary donation to help pay for tap filters to those people on the front lines still serving the needs of Flint residents. https://www.cityofflint.com/how-can-i-help/
5- What's your Twitter handle, and do you have two or three writer friends on there to shout-out to for #WriterWednesday ?
Heck yes, I do.
My handle is @kellycoon106 and you will find lots of kid stories, feminist rants, skulls, and sometimes lovey stuff when Mr. Kelly Coon is on his best behavior.
You should definitely go follow @LillianJClark for lots of feminist harpy shrieking.
Give @tashidiaz a follow because she is hilarious and pushes lots of Grade A content.
If you want spooky, ghoulish tweets from some other dimension, follow @sarafaring.
6- Would you share a picture with us of your book with your sandwich stealing rescue pup?
7- What's your favorite part about autumn?
I live in Florida, so the cider mills and pumpkin spice and changing leaves sadly pass me by, but the one thing that I absolutely love about Tampa’s autumn is that it is finally—FINALLY—cooler! We can sit outside for dinner, hang out in our lanai, or hit up the beach without the heat melting us into puddles.
8- What most motivates you to read a new book?
Typically, I rely on the recommendations of friends, read reviews, or I fall victim to the screams of excitement on social media. You know, all the usual reasons.
9- What is your favorite book by someone else, what's the author's Twitter handle, and what do you love most about that book? #FridayReads book recommendation time!
Author name: @LBardugo
Title: (Anything in the Grishaverse)
Love because: Her storytelling is immersive. I still think about the characters years after reading them.
"Enter the Grishaverse with Book One of the Shadow and Bone Trilogy"
10- Who is currently your biggest fan? What does that person love most (or "ship") about your debut novel?
Outside of my own family, probably Brad on AudioShelf, haha! He is hilarious and did a lovely review of my book on his YouTube channel. You’ll have to check it out!
11- What emotions do you hope your book will evoke for the reader, and is there a particular scene you hope will resonate with readers?
I want the reader to walk away with a sense of hope, but to definitely feel Kammani’s grief that she experiences in the first part of the book for reasons I shall leave unsaid. There’s one scene in the middle of the story, where Kammani makes what she believes is a big mistake (that’s kind of the ghost in her past) and it makes me cry when I read it. Are authors allowed to cry during their own novels?
12- Do you have a favorite #bookstagram image or account/ profile?
I love Carmen’s photos with @tomesandtextiles. Her bookstagram photos are magical and combine digital elements that are incredibly unique. Her shot of GRAVEMAIDENS is one of my faves! I’m also a fan of Bridget with @darkfaerietales. She took a gorgeous shot of an ARC of GRAVEMAIDENS, the first bookstagram photo I’d ever seen, and I cried when I saw it!
13- How do you hope your book will help readers in their life?
I hope it gives young women the bravery to take charge of their lives and the knowledge that if they do, they aren’t alone. I hope it helps young men see that you can be kind, generous, and giving and still be as masculine as society wants them to be.
14- What is the most memorable trait or visual oddity of one of your characters?
Nin Arwia, the heir to the throne of Alu, has long, dark hair that hangs to her knees like a sheet, and a little birthmark that hovers over her lip like a crumb.
15- diversebooks.org #WeNeedDiverseBooks What's your favorite book with a diverse main character?
One of my very favorite YA contemporary novels with a diverse main character is I’M NOT DYING WITH YOU TONIGHT by Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal. It features Lena, a black young woman whose night erupts when a city goes up in flames, and is forced into a friendship with Campbell, a white young woman who is new to her school. It’s fast-paced, explosive, and I devoured it in a couple of days.
16- What is the bravest thing you’ve ever done?
I’ve been through some trauma in my life. A lot of it, in fact. But I chose to get help and move forward past the trauma and not let it tie me down. I have bad days like anyone who has experienced any kind of trauma has. But the bravest thing I do is recognize those days when they show up and go on being a mother, a wife, a writer…anyway.
17- What was the deciding factor in your publication route?
I had always dreamed of being traditionally published with a publisher like Random House, so for me, I wanted to go for it until it was perfectly clear that wasn’t the route to pursue. I spent ten years chasing this dream and it never became clear that it wasn’t what I should do!
18- Why do you think readers should write book reviews?
I think readers should write book reviews if they want to connect a little bit more with the story. Sometimes, I don’t know exactly how I feel about what I’ve read until I write it out. So, writing a review can be helpful for the reader to process what they’ve just read, but it’s also supremely helpful for other readers to get a sense of what they can expect when they get into a novel.
Personally, I don’t rely exclusively on book reviews to tell me if a story is good or not. Sometimes, I love a book that other people didn’t, or I just didn’t connect with a book that has starred reviews across the board.
19- Do you have one question or discussion topic which you would like the readers of this interview to answer or remark on in the comments?
Kammani will do anything to protect her sister, even if it means sacrificing her own life. How far would you go to save a family member?
20- Anything else you would care to share about your book and yourself?
Blurb:
"A dark and utterly enthralling journey to an ancient land, Gravemaidens grabs you by your beating heart and refuses to let go until the bitter, breathtaking end."—Sarah Glenn Marsh, author of the Reign of the Fallen series
Bio:
Excerpt (originally posted on Underlined!):
Today, three girls would be doomed to die an honored, royal death.
A coil of dread wound itself around my guts at the thought, but I took a deep breath and focused on the little boy standing in front of me. Getting wrapped up in Palace rituals wasn’t part of my duties, but healing a child was.
Especially when his cure meant food for my family.
“Open your mouth and say ‘Ahhh’ as if the Boatman were chasing you.” I held his face, which was covered in crumbs. Probably the remnants of a thick slice of warm honeycake. My stomach rumbled, imagining the treat he’d likely enjoyed. Beneath the sticky mess, his tawny cheeks were unusually pale.
“Ahhhhhh!” the boy screamed.
Smiling slightly, his innocence a welcome relief from my dark thoughts, I stuck the end of a spoon into his mouth to hold down his tongue, angling his head to the morning sunlight to see inside. Behind me, his mother hovered, smoothing her violet tunic and patting her hair, which was fastened into two neat buns above her ears. When she fidgeted, the gold chains looped around her forehead shimmered in the light streaming in from the window.
Despite the circumstances, it was nice to see that the mothers who had all the wealth in the city were no different from the mothers in my neighborhood who had none. When it came to their sick children, their hands twisted nervously in the same way.
The boy’s throat was blistered white. I smoothed my hands over his bare back and touched my lips to his forehead to check for fever--an old healer’s trick, since lips are more sensitive than hands. He was slightly warm but not worryingly so. The glands in his neck were swollen, as they should be with an infection, but this child would be able to fight it off. His muscles were strong, his reflexes good, his eyes clear. Unlike the children of my neighbors, he was undoubtedly fed daily with the freshest fruits and vegetables, the finest fish and meats. I swallowed my hurt at the inequity.
But it wasn’t this child’s fault.
“You’re going to be just fine.” I ruffled his silky hair.
“I am?” He popped his thumb in his mouth and sucked furiously, then withdrew it when his mother looked sideways at him with eyes outlined by thick strokes of kohl. “Are you sure?”
“Of course I’m sure!” I took his chin in my palm. “Why do you ask?”
“Because the Boatman comes when you’re really sick.” His lip trembled, and the thumb went back into his mouth.
I took his other hand in mine. “I’m sorry if I scared you when I mentioned the Boatman. The truth is, he’s not so scary at all. He’s a helper to the gods. Did you know that?”
The lie rolled effortlessly off my tongue.
He shook his head.
“It’s true. The Boatman is just a man who lived long ago.” I looked around the common room for something to add a note of truth to my tale. A carved-wood sicklesword, one that was, no doubt, modeled after his guardsman father’s, sat atop a braided rug next to an emerald-colored floor cushion. “The Boatman used to be a guardsman. But now he’s a helper. When you die, you pay the coin for your passage and the Boatman scoops you up, puts you into his rickety boat, and paddles you off to the Netherworld, where there are endless parties and games and honeycake forever and ever.”
I squatted down to his eye level. “But he only comes if you’re very, very sick--which you are not--or very, very old--which you are not, although you do look much older than you are with these big, strong muscles.” I squeezed his little arm.
He giggled around the thumb in his mouth. Then his eyes grew serious. “Will Ummum be there in the Netherworld when I go?” He looked at his mother, who ran her clean, carefully tended fingernails down her arm. From the direction of the sleeping quarters, an infant wailed.
“Yes. Before you go with the Boatman as an old, old, old man”--the smile flickered again--“she will be there waiting for you with the biggest honeycake of all.”
My throat constricted as I finished the story, but I forced the sorrow away with every bit of my strength.
I stood and turned to his mother. “Do you have any garlic?”
“Let me check with the servant.” She called into the other room. “Hala?”
A girl my sister’s age--maybe fifteen years--appeared in the doorway, holding the squalling infant in her arms. She was the child of one of my neighbors. Women of my stature often sent their unmarried daughters to be servants in other people’s households to earn coins or food. “My lady?” she said, her eyes on her bare feet.
“Where is the garlic?”
“It’s in the bin near the door. Shall I fetch it for you?”
“Why do you suppose I asked for it?” The woman crossed her arms over her chest. Hala dipped her head, her cheeks blazing, and retreated with the infant.
I took a breath, forcing myself to put on the mask of civility I wore daily when dealing with the ill and their families. “To help ease his throat and take away the infection, mix six crushed cloves in a flagon of warm water and bid him gargle with it.”
She nodded her agreement. “He won’t like it, but if it will help, we will do it.”
“Okay. Thank you, A-zu.” She turned, as if to go.
“Oh, no, my lady. I am no great A-zu. My abum is the best healer in the city.” No matter what anyone thinks anymore. “I am merely his apprentice.”
“Well, then why didn’t he come himself? Why did he send you?” She looked me up and down.
Why didn’t I keep silent?
I stared at my dirty toes, encased in sandals that were two years too small. There was no easy way to answer her question. When my mother had passed away a moon ago, he’d lost his will to tend to himself, let alone anyone else. Not only had I taken on the tasks of running the household and caring for my sister, but I’d also been visiting his patients all over the city. As his healer’s apprentice, it was my duty. Plus, we had to get paid.
“He was called away for an emergency, my lady, but I’d be happy to send him when he is back if you need him.”
I was making a promise I might not be able to keep, but the coins were already in her hand. If she opted not to pay me, there was nothing I could do, and I had to take care of my family.
She blew out an exasperated breath, then looked back at her little boy, who was squatting on the rug, playing with the sicklesword. “Fine,” she murmured. “Take this and be gone.”
She dropped six shekels into my hand, pulling away quickly, as if I were the one with an illness. I stuffed them into my healing satchel before she could change her mind.
“Thank you, noblewoman. I appreciate your generosity.” I nodded once to the boy and then to Hala, who’d come back with the garlic and the red-faced baby. Right before I closed the door, the woman snatched the garlic from Hala’s hand and yelled at her for not moving faster. I cringed, thinking of my own sister taking a scolding like that, as I headed quickly toward the marketplace. Thankfully, with the healing practice, I hadn’t yet needed to subject her to a wealthy woman’s whims. I shook my head at poor Hala’s fate.
Such was life for those born low and for those like us, cast into poverty after the biggest regrets of our lives.
At least now I had the means to buy grain and could be out of the marketplace before three perfectly healthy girls were called upon to lie in the cold embrace of a dead ruler.
Twitter @kellycoon106
Instagram kellycoon106
Gravemaidens by Kelly Coon
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
It's Almost NaNoWriMo! Let's Find Buddies!
Hey all! In case you haven't noticed, it's almost time for National Novel Writing Month!
Let's be real. We've all noticed. I've had a countdown on my whiteboard at work for over a month.
NaNoWriMo is hard. It's a grueling month filled with ups and downs, triumphs and writer's blocks. It's what helped me write the manuscript that got me to sign with my agent - but it's also the writing event that I've participated in for the past five years and only truly won for the first time last year. So what better way to get pumped for November with all its challenges than to find some new writing buddies?
If you're like me and you need a cheerleading squad, or a friend squad to keep you accountable, or even if you want to be a cheerleader for somebody else, drop your NaNoWriMo username in the comments and anything else you'd like other writers to know about you and your work!
Y'all can find me at amren.ortega! This year, I'm writing a YA/NA high fantasy that can be summarized thus: Maline is no stranger to the destruction that demons wreak in Valrasa, but her only interest is becoming the realm's most famous aerialist. When Maline falls for the girl she's competing against, the price of love may be death at a demon's hands.
Good luck to everyone who's participating! I can't wait to see you all out there!
Let's be real. We've all noticed. I've had a countdown on my whiteboard at work for over a month.
NaNoWriMo is hard. It's a grueling month filled with ups and downs, triumphs and writer's blocks. It's what helped me write the manuscript that got me to sign with my agent - but it's also the writing event that I've participated in for the past five years and only truly won for the first time last year. So what better way to get pumped for November with all its challenges than to find some new writing buddies?
If you're like me and you need a cheerleading squad, or a friend squad to keep you accountable, or even if you want to be a cheerleader for somebody else, drop your NaNoWriMo username in the comments and anything else you'd like other writers to know about you and your work!
Y'all can find me at amren.ortega! This year, I'm writing a YA/NA high fantasy that can be summarized thus: Maline is no stranger to the destruction that demons wreak in Valrasa, but her only interest is becoming the realm's most famous aerialist. When Maline falls for the girl she's competing against, the price of love may be death at a demon's hands.
Good luck to everyone who's participating! I can't wait to see you all out there!
Monday, October 28, 2019
First 50 Critique – NA/SFF #1
We are accepting entries this week!
For a description of how this works, click here.
Brief description of entry requirements:
For this round, Ithreatened requested an on-line friend to provide me with her first 50 words. She describes her category/genre as New Adult [NA] SF/Speculative. So here's what we are accepting this round:
Age - Your MC must be age 18-29 and you describe your work as adult or new adult, not YA
Genre - Science Fiction / Fantasy / Speculative
If this describes your work-in-progress, it's eligible!
If you'd like to submit your first 50 words, click here for the full instructions. Here's a brief reminder:
The first requirement for submitting your entry is that you must have commented on two previous First 50 entries. Today's entry can be one of them.
The second requirement is send us an email [open a new email from your email program, we've had multiple instances of misdirected entries] and address it to OperationAwesome6 with the typical gmail ending. The email must read as follows:
[Subject:] First 50 Critique – NA/SFF
The following 50 words are my own work and I give OA permission to post it on the OA blog for the life of the blog.
I commented on the entries posted on DATE and DATE as [your online ID].
My first 50 words:
[Copy/paste your first 50 words here.]
Entry period opens now and closes at the end of the day on Wednesday October 30, 2019. All entries will receive a confirmation email from us by Friday November 1, 2019 [so you can start nano on a happy note] that acknowledges receipt of your entry and, if you've complied with all requirements, lets you know what date it will be included on the blog for critique. If you do NOT receive a confirming email by Saturday November 2, 2019, send us a DM on Twitter and we'll give you alternative instructions for sending us your entry.
Now on to this week's entry!
Reminder: Be nice, but be honest. [Comments that are not polite/respectful will be deleted.] What would YOU like to know if this was YOUR first 50 words? Do you think it's a good opening line for the category/genre? Does it have a hook? Does it pull you into the story? Do you want to read more? Why or why not? Be specific, so your critique helps the person who wrote the entry.
The first thing I hear are the sirens.
Sirens. Sirens mean ambulance, police, emergency. Something is wrong. Something bad has happened. My brain stumbles along from one thought to the next as the siren’s wail rises and falls.
The ambulance can’t be for me. Can it?
 |
| YAY! |
Brief description of entry requirements:
For this round, I
Age - Your MC must be age 18-29 and you describe your work as adult or new adult, not YA
Genre - Science Fiction / Fantasy / Speculative
If this describes your work-in-progress, it's eligible!
If you'd like to submit your first 50 words, click here for the full instructions. Here's a brief reminder:
The first requirement for submitting your entry is that you must have commented on two previous First 50 entries. Today's entry can be one of them.
The second requirement is send us an email [open a new email from your email program, we've had multiple instances of misdirected entries] and address it to OperationAwesome6 with the typical gmail ending. The email must read as follows:
[Subject:] First 50 Critique – NA/SFF
The following 50 words are my own work and I give OA permission to post it on the OA blog for the life of the blog.
I commented on the entries posted on DATE and DATE as [your online ID].
My first 50 words:
[Copy/paste your first 50 words here.]
Entry period opens now and closes at the end of the day on Wednesday October 30, 2019. All entries will receive a confirmation email from us by Friday November 1, 2019 [so you can start nano on a happy note] that acknowledges receipt of your entry and, if you've complied with all requirements, lets you know what date it will be included on the blog for critique. If you do NOT receive a confirming email by Saturday November 2, 2019, send us a DM on Twitter and we'll give you alternative instructions for sending us your entry.
Now on to this week's entry!
Reminder: Be nice, but be honest. [Comments that are not polite/respectful will be deleted.] What would YOU like to know if this was YOUR first 50 words? Do you think it's a good opening line for the category/genre? Does it have a hook? Does it pull you into the story? Do you want to read more? Why or why not? Be specific, so your critique helps the person who wrote the entry.
First 50 Critique – NA/SFF #1
The first thing I hear are the sirens.
Sirens. Sirens mean ambulance, police, emergency. Something is wrong. Something bad has happened. My brain stumbles along from one thought to the next as the siren’s wail rises and falls.
The ambulance can’t be for me. Can it?
Friday, October 25, 2019
Flash Fiction Contest #43
Sometimes, things are not always as they seem...
This Flash Fiction Friday, we invite you to write a <200 word story about either:
A. Something written in a scary tone that turns out to be not so scary after all,
or...
B. Something truly frightening that disguises itself as part of the ordinary
Please submit your responses by Sunday, October 27th at 11:59 EST!
Winner will be announced before that Friday!
Good luck!
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Dear O'Abby: Should I do NaNo?
Dear O'Abby,
As you are probably aware, NaNoWriMo starts next week. I've thought about doing it in the past, but I'm a pretty methodical writer and I like to research and edit as I go, so I've always thought it wouldn't suit me.
Now I'm published and on deadline for my next book, I'm wondering if doing NaNo might be a way to get this second book my publisher is expecting finished.
Should I give it a shot?
X NaNoWaRy
Dear NaNoWaRy,
NaNo isn't for everyone and it's really up to you to decide if it is for you. Personally, I love it, but I'm a 100% pantser and have no problem at all with reaching a point where I need to research something and just leaving myself a note in red or highlighted in yellow saying "look up the Korean word for Grandma" or "do combine harvesters really work like this?". If this kind of thing is going to drive you batty and keep you up at night because you don't feel you can keep writing until you're certain you got that detail correct, NaNo might not be for you.
NaNo is a great way to vomit up what I like to call a "zero draft". It's not even a first draft, really. It's a bunch of words that may one day end up as a story. It's a way to get that story out of your head and onto the page where it can begin its life.
Some people outline and prep meticulously before NaNo begins, and I imagine they might write something closer to a first draft during the month because they know what they're going to write ahead of time and have, in some cases, outlined exactly how their book will be structured and how to fit writing 1,667 or so words a day into that structure.
If you're someone who likes to go back and read over what you wrote yesterday and polish it up, moving commas and removing extra words, NaNo might not be right for you.
But as I say, it's a personal choice. Maybe trying something different might be good for your creativity. And you know what? It doesn't matter if you don't make it through the whole month. At least you've started. You've written something. Those words don't disappear at the end of November when you don't "win" NaNo. You've started your book, and that's the best way to get to the point of finishing it.
So good luck, whatever you decide to do. I've rather stupidly signed up to do NaNo again this year, so I'll be in the trenches with you, trying to write a book that at the moment has an outline that says only, "Fifteen years after Chasing the Taillights, Lucy and Tony are still struggling with their relationship".
Let's catch up in December to see how we did.
X O'Abby
As you are probably aware, NaNoWriMo starts next week. I've thought about doing it in the past, but I'm a pretty methodical writer and I like to research and edit as I go, so I've always thought it wouldn't suit me.
Now I'm published and on deadline for my next book, I'm wondering if doing NaNo might be a way to get this second book my publisher is expecting finished.
Should I give it a shot?
X NaNoWaRy
Dear NaNoWaRy,
NaNo isn't for everyone and it's really up to you to decide if it is for you. Personally, I love it, but I'm a 100% pantser and have no problem at all with reaching a point where I need to research something and just leaving myself a note in red or highlighted in yellow saying "look up the Korean word for Grandma" or "do combine harvesters really work like this?". If this kind of thing is going to drive you batty and keep you up at night because you don't feel you can keep writing until you're certain you got that detail correct, NaNo might not be for you.
NaNo is a great way to vomit up what I like to call a "zero draft". It's not even a first draft, really. It's a bunch of words that may one day end up as a story. It's a way to get that story out of your head and onto the page where it can begin its life.
Some people outline and prep meticulously before NaNo begins, and I imagine they might write something closer to a first draft during the month because they know what they're going to write ahead of time and have, in some cases, outlined exactly how their book will be structured and how to fit writing 1,667 or so words a day into that structure.
If you're someone who likes to go back and read over what you wrote yesterday and polish it up, moving commas and removing extra words, NaNo might not be right for you.
But as I say, it's a personal choice. Maybe trying something different might be good for your creativity. And you know what? It doesn't matter if you don't make it through the whole month. At least you've started. You've written something. Those words don't disappear at the end of November when you don't "win" NaNo. You've started your book, and that's the best way to get to the point of finishing it.
So good luck, whatever you decide to do. I've rather stupidly signed up to do NaNo again this year, so I'll be in the trenches with you, trying to write a book that at the moment has an outline that says only, "Fifteen years after Chasing the Taillights, Lucy and Tony are still struggling with their relationship".
Let's catch up in December to see how we did.
X O'Abby
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Damyanti Biswas' Debut Author Spotlight #NewBook #20Questions at Operation Awesome #YouBeneathYourSkin
YOU BENEATH YOUR SKIN - A Gripping Urban Contemporary Crime Novel by Damyanti Biswas
1- I love the question on your blog post, so I'm snagging it and asking you: Who are you beneath your skin?
Just another human being, with a bunch of conflicting thoughts and feelings swirling around inside. The journey to become my best self is also the journey to be completely comfortable in my skin.
2- Would you please, in 160 characters or less, give a #WriteTip ?
Write the first draft of a story or novel for yourself, all other drafts for your reader. When you lose the spark in your writing, always check that first draft.
3- What ignited your passion for writing?
I don’t know, really. My husband suggested I take up writing in a country here I didn’t have a work permit, so I should try writing. I started off more than a decade ago, and to this day I’m not really sure what ignited this passion—perhaps the fact that I’m insatiably curious, painfully empathetic, and writing provides a great way to channelize both.
4- What was it like to be a #PitMad Pitch Wars mentor?
It is very humbling to have all those wonderful manuscripts sent your way, and gutting not to be able to help them all.
5- What's your Twitter handle, and do you have two or three writer friends on there to shout-out to for #WriterWednesday ?
@damyantig Friends: @SommerSchafer @shilpaagarg @TuttleNTexas
6- Would you share a picture with us of you with your book?
7- Would you please tell us more about Project Why?
Project WHY’s aim is to bridge the education gap for New Delhi’s underprivileged children and improve their learning outcomes in a safe environment, as well as life-skills and all-round development for women.
They started their first after-school support programme in the year 2000, and today through 6 after-school support centres, they reach out to over 1100 children, 200 women and have created 50 job opportunities for people from the community.
8- What most motivates you to read a new book?
The recommendation of friends whose opinions I trust.
9- What is your favorite book by someone else, what's the author's Twitter handle, and what do you love most about that book? #FridayReads book recommendation time!
Author name:Joanne Harris @Joannechocolat
Title:Chocolat
Love because: It is a story that took me outside of myself at a very difficult time.
10- Who is currently your biggest fan? What does that person love most (or "ship") about your debut novel?
There are so many. It would be unfair to name just one. They mostly like the characterisation, the research, the portrayal of New Delhi and what they call the book’s ‘unputdownable’ quality.
11- What emotions do you hope your book will evoke for the reader, and is there a particular scene you hope will resonate with readers?
I do not know what emotions the book will raise in readers. I went through much agony during the writing of it, but also much joy. I suppose all of that translates into the novel, and some of it trickles into the readers’ awareness. The scenes of human despair and resilience against the odds—with Jatin, and Anjali.
12- Do you have a favorite #bookstagram image or account/ profile?
https://www.instagram.com/bong_books_and_coffee/
13- How do you hope your book will help readers in their life?
Each book is an experience—You Beneath Your Skin peels back the societal layers, engages with the city. The hope is that the book will help readers experience Delhi (and by extension, India) in all its aspects, rich and poor, the strong and the vulnerable, the corrupt and the pure. The novel is structured as a thriller, but carries within it themes of feminism and justice, of violence and forgiveness, of corruption and excellent police work.
14- What is the most memorable trait or visual oddity of one of your characters?
Anjali’s obsession with her appearance—her constant checking of the mirror.
15- In what ways are the main characters in your book diverse? diversebooks.org #WeNeedDiverseBooks
Anjali, the main character is Indian American, Nikhil has autism, and all the other characters are from India.
16- Who is your favorite book review blogger?
@fictionophile fictionophile.com/
17- What was the deciding factor in your publication route?
I wanted to have the support of a good editor work for my book, and and the back-up of a publishing house.
18- Why do you think readers should write book reviews?
Because reviews are the only way to keep books alive—in today’s world where readers have more power and platform than ever before, they should exercise it to show the books they love to other readers.
19- Do you have one question or discussion topic which you would like the readers of this interview to answer or remark on in the comments?
Perhaps the fact that the novel touches on social issues. That it is possible for a work of commercial fiction to meaningfully engage with pressing problems that plague modern society.
20- Anything else you would care to share about your book and yourself?
While the framework is that of a thriller, the novel threads together different narrative strands. The author tackles various social issues: crimes against women and why they occur, the nexus between political corruption, police and big money; the abuse of the underprivileged, be it adults or children.
Of these the issue of crimes against women is the strongest—why do men attack women? Why do they gang together? What happens when a woman tries to break the glass ceiling? Can toxic masculinity masquerade as benevolent patriarchy?
Parents would also find this novel fascinating: how do you bring up a good human being in today’s troubled times? How much do you know of your teenager’s life? If you’re the parent of a special child, what challenges do you face and what sort of support can you expect?
It is a whodunnit, but also a whydunnit, because violent crime unravels those affected: the people, the relationships, the very fabric of society, and we get a glimpse of what lies beneath. That’s why the title, You Beneath Your Skin.
The narrative of the book was researched and shaped during the author’s work with Project WHY, and some of the experiences generously shared by acid attack survivors from the non-profit Stop Acid Attacks. To return this debt of gratitude, all author proceeds from the book will go to these two non-profits.
http://mybook.to/YouBeneathYourSkin :
India: https://simonandschuster.co.in/books/You-Beneath-Your-Skin/Damyanti-Biswas/9789386797629
Net galley: http://netgal.ly/fZfa9s
Goodreads link: https://goodreads.com/book/show/47634028-you-beneath-your-skin
To get shares, pls tag @damyantig on Twitter and Insta, and Damyanti at Daily Write on Facebook
@SimonandSchusterIN : Insta
@SimonSchusterIN : Twitter
@Simon & Schuster IN: Facebook
@projectwhydelhi and @stopacidattacks on Twitter, Instagram and FB
Hashtag for all social media: #YouBeneathYourSkin
Blurb of the book:
It’s a dark, smog-choked new Delhi winter. Indian American single mother Anjali Morgan juggles her job as a psychiatrist with caring for her autistic teenage son. She is in a long-standing affair with ambitious police commissioner Jatin Bhatt – an irresistible attraction that could destroy both their lives.
Jatin’s home life is falling apart: his handsome and charming son is not all he appears to be, and his wife has too much on her plate to pay attention to either husband or son. But Jatin refuses to listen to anyone, not even the sister to whom he is deeply attached. Across the city there is a crime spree: slum women found stuffed in trash bags, faces and bodies disfigured by acid. And as events spiral out of control Anjali is horrifyingly at the centre of it all …
In a sordid world of poverty, misogyny, and political corruption, Jatin must make some hard choices. But what he unearths is only the tip of the iceberg. Together with Anjali he must confront old wounds and uncover long-held secrets before it is too late.
YOU BENEATH YOUR SKIN - A Gripping Urban Contemporary Crime Novel by Damyanti Biswas
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
The Writer State of Mind
Two weeks ago, I wrote about why I don’t usually talk to
other people about works in progress. Well, yesterday, I was chatting with my
partner and he asked me about how the brainstorming for my manuscript was
coming along. I told him what I’d come up with since the last time we talked
about it, and mentioned that I'd decided Character A was adopted by Character
B.
And then I said “Because…”
What surprised me was what came after the “because.” I hadn’t
actually come up with a reason why Character B adopted Character A yet, and
then all of a sudden, a perfectly reasonable explanation was spilling out of my
mouth. My partner just nodded and told me it all sounded good, which was a very
happy surprise. Where in the world did that idea suddenly come from?
The same thing
happened when I was writing a sequel to the first manuscript I queried. I had
two characters trapped in a city, one of whom was a prince with a bounty on his
head. They desperately needed to escape the city while keeping his identity a
secret. All of a sudden, words just started appearing on the page and I knew I
was typing them but I couldn’t stop. In the scene, the prince suddenly ripped
off his hood and yelled “MAKE WAY FOR THE PRINCE” and all I could think was “NOOOOOOOO
DON’T DO THAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaat…..well okay that’ll work.”
I wish I could harness that feeling of spitballing, figure out what it is that puts my brain in exactly the right state of mind to be able to make connections like that. This sometimes happens when I’m responding to my daily writing prompts, like when I found out that my main character is allergic to fish or that she an older sister that I did not do any planning for. Sometimes ideas just happen, and sometimes it takes weeks of wringing my brain to figure out how exactly the magic system works. It seems to happen best in those moments when I'm not really thinking about the story, like when I'm in a meeting or right about to fall asleep. It's too bad that I can't spontaneously make good ideas happen.
...can I pay you for them?
Monday, October 21, 2019
First 50 Critique - MG #4
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| Disneyland First 50 |
Reminder: Be nice, but be honest. [Comments that are not polite/respectful will be deleted.] What would YOU like to know if this was YOUR first 50 words? Do you think it's a good opening line for the category/genre? Does it have a hook? Does it pull you into the story? Do you want to read more? Why or why not? Be specific, so your critique helps the person who wrote the entry.
Here's this week's entry.
First 50 Words – MG Entry #4
When landing inside a Christmas tree, stay away from pointed pine needles. Despite being smaller than a snowflake, Halo was painfully aware of that fact.
Luckily, this year she materialized halfway from the tip.
Evergreen scents tickled her nose, and she glanced through the white pine. Ornaments as familiar as the fingers on her hands hung on every branch.
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Dear O'Abby: Can I use someone's life in my novel?
Dear O'Abby,
A few years back I was working with someone to help write their autobiography. The project never really came together, but I have tons of awesome notes about their very exciting life and career. I was wondering if I could use these to write a novel because it's a great story, full of drama and passion and adventure.
Would there be any ramifications if I was to ficitionalize this person's life?
All the best,
Naughtybiographer
Dear Naughtybiographer,
This is a tricky question to answer because I don't know the circumstances under which you started working on the autobiography project or why you stopped working on it. I also don't know what kind of contracts you may have signed as part of this deal. If you signed a non-disclosure agreement, you are legally bound to keep the things the subject told you to yourself, so I would tread very carefully if you want to use their life story in a novel.
If you didn't sign a non-disclosure agreement, I would still tread carefully. If you are still in contact with the subject of the autobiography and you feel the relationship is still good enough you could get in touch, maybe send them a quick email outlining what your plan is and ask if they are okay for you do it.
If this isn't possible, and you are determined to write this novel, you will need to make sure you change this person's life story enough that it could be just coincidence that the story's plot follows the trajectory of this person's life. Change the character's profession, name, looks, family structure and anything else you can so that the autobiography subject would struggle to recognize themselves as the inspiration for this character.
If they are a famous sports-person who struggled with addiction only to overcome it and become one of the top performers in their field, change them into a super-model who struggles with a disfiguring injury only to overcome it and walk in Paris Fashion Week. Or something along those lines. Just make sure you change enough of the detail it can't really be said to mirror this person's real life or any of the side characters could be identified.
Good luck!
X O'Abby
A few years back I was working with someone to help write their autobiography. The project never really came together, but I have tons of awesome notes about their very exciting life and career. I was wondering if I could use these to write a novel because it's a great story, full of drama and passion and adventure.
Would there be any ramifications if I was to ficitionalize this person's life?
All the best,
Naughtybiographer
Dear Naughtybiographer,
This is a tricky question to answer because I don't know the circumstances under which you started working on the autobiography project or why you stopped working on it. I also don't know what kind of contracts you may have signed as part of this deal. If you signed a non-disclosure agreement, you are legally bound to keep the things the subject told you to yourself, so I would tread very carefully if you want to use their life story in a novel.
If you didn't sign a non-disclosure agreement, I would still tread carefully. If you are still in contact with the subject of the autobiography and you feel the relationship is still good enough you could get in touch, maybe send them a quick email outlining what your plan is and ask if they are okay for you do it.
If this isn't possible, and you are determined to write this novel, you will need to make sure you change this person's life story enough that it could be just coincidence that the story's plot follows the trajectory of this person's life. Change the character's profession, name, looks, family structure and anything else you can so that the autobiography subject would struggle to recognize themselves as the inspiration for this character.
If they are a famous sports-person who struggled with addiction only to overcome it and become one of the top performers in their field, change them into a super-model who struggles with a disfiguring injury only to overcome it and walk in Paris Fashion Week. Or something along those lines. Just make sure you change enough of the detail it can't really be said to mirror this person's real life or any of the side characters could be identified.
Good luck!
X O'Abby
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Jordan Zucker's Debut Author Spotlight #ODFS is #Cooking up #20Questions at Operation Awesome
One Dish - Four Seasons: Food, Wine, and Sound - All Year Round by Jordan Zucker
1- What's your favorite memory from being on Scrubs?
When Bill Lawrence directed and he’d throw new lines at us between takes. It was so much fun to be part of a professional process where talent was trusted all around.
2- Would you please, in 160 characters or less, give a #WriteTip ?
It doesn’t matter what time of day it is, when you have an idea or inspiration, start typing. Don’t judge the process. You may never think it’s finished, but one day it may be printed.
3- What ignited your passion for writing?
Clear expression, communication, entertainment, and humor.
4- Of all the songs listed in the book, which is your favorite?
A mother doesn’t pick favorites.
5- What's your Twitter handle, and do you have two or three writer friends on there to shout-out to for #WriterWednesday ?
@jordzuck - two of my sorority sisters are bad ass authors - Allison Winn Scotch @aswinn and Laura Dave @lauradave
6- Would you share a picture with us with one of the dishes from the book?
Crab Guacamole
7- Where, in your opinion, is the best place to buy a bottle of wine to go with dinner?
That depends on your access. Straight from the winery if it’s within shot. If not a local wine merchant with a curated list.
8- What most motivates you to read a new book?
Subject matter and writing style.
9- What is your favorite book by someone else, what's the author's Twitter handle, and what do you love most about that book? #FridayReads book recommendation time!
Author name: Richard Feynman
Title: Six Easy Pieces
Love because: I’m a math/science girl. My high school boyfriend gave it to me.
10- Who is currently your biggest fan? What does that person love most (or "ship") about your debut novel?
Do I have fans?!?! That’s so nice!
11- What emotions do you hope your book will evoke for the reader?
Community, hospitality, joy. Eat together, drink together, groove together, love together.
12- Who should play in the next Superbowl?
KC vs NO
I’m a Saints fan so that’ll always be my pick. With or without Brees.
And anyone but the Patriots for ALC but that’s not the reality of our times right now. I want to see some of that Mahomes magic in Miami.
13- How do you hope your book will help readers in their life?
Eat locally, take risks in the kitchen.
14- Which recipe from your book do you feel is the most original, unusual, or unique?
I’ll go with my fish prep. It’s my signature dish and I haven’t seen anyone else put the fish on top of the greens enabling the fish juices cook into the greens while it’s all roasting.
15- diversebooks.org #WeNeedDiverseBooks What's your favorite book with a diverse main character?
n/a
16- Who is your favorite book review blogger?
I'm not sure - This is all new to me!
17- What was the deciding factor in your publication route?
I wasn’t a big enough celebrity to get a book deal so I did it myself and benefited from complete creative control.
18- Why do you think readers should write book reviews?
To spread the good word! It may inspire someone else to pick up the book.
19- Do you have one question or discussion topic which you would like the readers of this interview to answer or remark on in the comments?
Have you ever noticed a seasonal pattern in your music choices. e.g. is your favorite winter album different from your favorite summer album?
20- Anything else you would care to share about your book and yourself?
Social Media:
Facebook:
@jordzuck
Twitter:
@jordzuck
Pinterest link:
@jordzuck
LinkedIn:
@jordzuck
YouTube link:
@jordzuck
Instagram:
@jordzuck
Author website:
http://onedishfourseasons.com
To read J's review of the book, go to: jlennidornerblog.what-are-they.com/2019/08/26/exquisite-readathon-boutofbooks-26-wrap-up-and-bookreviews-odfs/
One Dish - Four Seasons: Food, Wine, and Sound - All Year Round by Jordan Zucker
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Let's Talk About Prologues
The Prologue. The thing that every J.R.R. Tolkien novel must have, and must be at least 50 pages long. The thing that you - yes, you - do not need in your manuscript.
I'm calling you out. You know who you are.
Prologues have come under fire on Writer Twitter in the past year or two. Increasingly, agents are saying that they don't want to see them as part of a query package, and a lot of agents seem to be advising writers to cut the prologue from their work. I found that this was best summed up in an #AskAgent thread from earlier this year:
Problem: It's world-building.
A lot of prologues I've seen as a beta reader and a CP fall into this category. This is especially true for fantasy, where the writer has a lot of setting up the world to do. Sure, sometimes it feels like a prologue is the place to stash that information. I mean, how else are you supposed to explain to the reader that magic is illegal now because of that one Big Bag Guy who used magic wrong without interrupting the story? Isn't that the whole point of show, don't tell?
The best way to get around this is to gradually weave that background into the opening chapters. Some writers do it by having the characters go to school where they study the history of the Big Bad Guy, or with a campfire tale, or a bedtime story. Sometimes it can be done by having the main character consider an artifact - a fountain, a statue, a book - and rehash the history to themselves. Sometimes it's best to let the history be a mystery for a while to build up intrigue and curiosity.
Problem: It's background about the character(s).
This is another common one. This usually involves a scene where the main character is very young, and it's often a tragic story about how their parents died. If your first chapter starts with "X years later..." you fall into this camp.
Like the previous type of prologue, weaving the character's backstory into the manuscript is the way to go. Make the reader wonder! Make them wait for that tragic sob story! Build mystery about your character so that you can reveal the truth at the opportune time! Giving up all the good stuff in the prologue is showing your hand way too early. Let the main character open up to someone and use that story to explain why they are the way they are.
Problem: It's only tangentially related to the plot or characters.
While this is less common, it does happen. The prologue of THE BOOK THIEF falls into this category (in my opinion). I even wrote a prologue like this for the first manuscript I queried, where two side characters had a meeting that would only influence the plot much, much later. It ended up spoiling part of the story for the reader and let them in on things too early.
When it comes to this type of prologue, the most likely course of action is just to let it go. If the link to the rest of the manuscript is tenuous, then what's written there doesn't need to be said. Is it really that important?
If you're on the fence, or even if you're sure that your manuscript needs a prologue, really consider your prologue. Does it advance the plot? Does it impact the characters? Does it tell the reader anything they desperately need to know? If the answer to these questions is no, it's time for the prologue to disappear.
I'm calling you out. You know who you are.
Prologues have come under fire on Writer Twitter in the past year or two. Increasingly, agents are saying that they don't want to see them as part of a query package, and a lot of agents seem to be advising writers to cut the prologue from their work. I found that this was best summed up in an #AskAgent thread from earlier this year:
Writer Question: When querying, is it true you should never send a prologue as part of your initial novel sample? Should you start with Ch 1 even if you have a prologue?
Agent Answer: If your prologue can be dropped that easily, it sounds like you don't need the prologue at all!The agent here has a point. If you wouldn't show an agent the prologue, why would you show it to a reader? And if you wouldn't show it to a reader, does it really serve a purpose in your manuscript? Maybe it really is better to just give it the old highlight-delete. And here are a few reasons why that might be the case:
Problem: It's world-building.
A lot of prologues I've seen as a beta reader and a CP fall into this category. This is especially true for fantasy, where the writer has a lot of setting up the world to do. Sure, sometimes it feels like a prologue is the place to stash that information. I mean, how else are you supposed to explain to the reader that magic is illegal now because of that one Big Bag Guy who used magic wrong without interrupting the story? Isn't that the whole point of show, don't tell?
The best way to get around this is to gradually weave that background into the opening chapters. Some writers do it by having the characters go to school where they study the history of the Big Bad Guy, or with a campfire tale, or a bedtime story. Sometimes it can be done by having the main character consider an artifact - a fountain, a statue, a book - and rehash the history to themselves. Sometimes it's best to let the history be a mystery for a while to build up intrigue and curiosity.
Problem: It's background about the character(s).
This is another common one. This usually involves a scene where the main character is very young, and it's often a tragic story about how their parents died. If your first chapter starts with "X years later..." you fall into this camp.
Like the previous type of prologue, weaving the character's backstory into the manuscript is the way to go. Make the reader wonder! Make them wait for that tragic sob story! Build mystery about your character so that you can reveal the truth at the opportune time! Giving up all the good stuff in the prologue is showing your hand way too early. Let the main character open up to someone and use that story to explain why they are the way they are.
Problem: It's only tangentially related to the plot or characters.
While this is less common, it does happen. The prologue of THE BOOK THIEF falls into this category (in my opinion). I even wrote a prologue like this for the first manuscript I queried, where two side characters had a meeting that would only influence the plot much, much later. It ended up spoiling part of the story for the reader and let them in on things too early.
When it comes to this type of prologue, the most likely course of action is just to let it go. If the link to the rest of the manuscript is tenuous, then what's written there doesn't need to be said. Is it really that important?
If you're on the fence, or even if you're sure that your manuscript needs a prologue, really consider your prologue. Does it advance the plot? Does it impact the characters? Does it tell the reader anything they desperately need to know? If the answer to these questions is no, it's time for the prologue to disappear.
Monday, October 14, 2019
First 50 Critique - MG #3
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| NASA's 50th Anniversary |
Reminder: Be nice, but be honest. [Comments that are not polite/respectful will be deleted.] What would YOU like to know if this was YOUR first 50 words? Do you think it's a good opening line for the category/genre? Does it have a hook? Does it pull you into the story? Do you want to read more? Why or why not? Be specific, so your critique helps the person who wrote the entry.
Here's this week's awesome entry!
First 50 Words – MG Entry #3
For a whole month, well, almost, I’d done everything I’d been told to do. I popped some gum in my mouth watching the other kids laughing and goofing off, acting like nothing was weird here. Yeah, right. I wanted to ditch lunch. Sneaking out wasn't easy. Unless I yelled "fire."
Thursday, October 10, 2019
Not Dear O'Abby
There were no questions for O'Abby this week, so I thought I'd do something a little different this week.
I've been doing a lot of beta reading and critiquing recently, and there are a few things I keep seeing in the various MS's I've been looking at. So this week, let's take a look at some common mistakes people seem to make.
These are not developmental things (not this time, anyway), but writing things. I know not all beta readers comment on these things, but I just can't help myself because bad grammar or misused words really throw me out of the story. So here are a few things you could look for in your own work to make sure any reader you have isn't catapulted away from the action.
Sentence fragments.
These can be effective, but when overused, or used badly, they can really ruin the flow of the writing. I have read a couple of MS's recently where they were used constantly, and always without a verb in them. And without a verb, the fragment not only didn't make sense, it didn't take the story anywhere. In most cases the fragment can be part of the preceding sentence where it makes grammatical sense. Or just erased. Or re-written into a full sentence.
Mis-used homonyms.
I blame spell-check for these, to some degree. But when the same words are repeatedly misused throughout a manuscript, I have to think the writer doesn't know the difference between a cord and a chord or peek and pique. This is where your early readers/crit partners are invaluable.
Unvaried sentences
Good writing has a rhythm and this is created by varying the length and structure of sentences. I've read a couple of stories recently where almost every sentence and paragraph follows the same structure. It makes the writing boring and lacks any sense to rhythm or motion. You can create urgency and a sense of peril by using a lot of really short sentences in action sequences and slow things down by using longer, more languid ones in times of peace. But the most important thing is to switch it up. Try starting some sentences with a verb and seeing where that takes you. If you notice you have a whole paragraph of sentences starting with 'I' when writing in first person, see if you can switch it up. If all your sentences have two commas in them, see if you can break some of them into shorter sentences. If you're using 'and' or 'but' a lot, see if there are ways to vary the sentences to get rid of a few.
Tense switching
Most books tend to be in either the present or the past tense. But this can become complicated because people in the present look back at the past and people looking back to the past, live in the present. Knowing which parts of the narrative to write in each tense can be difficult, but that's not an excuse to jump around, sometimes even within single paragraphs. If you're writing in present tense and your characters are remembering something that happened previously, they can remember that event as past tense. But any reactions they have to the memory will be in the present. Likewise, if your characters are still living and your story is presented in a way where events of the past are being described, there may be occasions where you might use present tense to indicate a character is still the same, even now. This is fairly difficult to do well... Often it just comes across like you don't know what tense you're telling your story in.
And that's just a few of the things I've noticed recently. Maybe next time there are no questions for O'Abby I'll talk about some of the developmental problems I've been seeing.
Until next time.
X O'Abby
I've been doing a lot of beta reading and critiquing recently, and there are a few things I keep seeing in the various MS's I've been looking at. So this week, let's take a look at some common mistakes people seem to make.
These are not developmental things (not this time, anyway), but writing things. I know not all beta readers comment on these things, but I just can't help myself because bad grammar or misused words really throw me out of the story. So here are a few things you could look for in your own work to make sure any reader you have isn't catapulted away from the action.
Sentence fragments.
These can be effective, but when overused, or used badly, they can really ruin the flow of the writing. I have read a couple of MS's recently where they were used constantly, and always without a verb in them. And without a verb, the fragment not only didn't make sense, it didn't take the story anywhere. In most cases the fragment can be part of the preceding sentence where it makes grammatical sense. Or just erased. Or re-written into a full sentence.
Mis-used homonyms.
I blame spell-check for these, to some degree. But when the same words are repeatedly misused throughout a manuscript, I have to think the writer doesn't know the difference between a cord and a chord or peek and pique. This is where your early readers/crit partners are invaluable.
Unvaried sentences
Good writing has a rhythm and this is created by varying the length and structure of sentences. I've read a couple of stories recently where almost every sentence and paragraph follows the same structure. It makes the writing boring and lacks any sense to rhythm or motion. You can create urgency and a sense of peril by using a lot of really short sentences in action sequences and slow things down by using longer, more languid ones in times of peace. But the most important thing is to switch it up. Try starting some sentences with a verb and seeing where that takes you. If you notice you have a whole paragraph of sentences starting with 'I' when writing in first person, see if you can switch it up. If all your sentences have two commas in them, see if you can break some of them into shorter sentences. If you're using 'and' or 'but' a lot, see if there are ways to vary the sentences to get rid of a few.
Tense switching
Most books tend to be in either the present or the past tense. But this can become complicated because people in the present look back at the past and people looking back to the past, live in the present. Knowing which parts of the narrative to write in each tense can be difficult, but that's not an excuse to jump around, sometimes even within single paragraphs. If you're writing in present tense and your characters are remembering something that happened previously, they can remember that event as past tense. But any reactions they have to the memory will be in the present. Likewise, if your characters are still living and your story is presented in a way where events of the past are being described, there may be occasions where you might use present tense to indicate a character is still the same, even now. This is fairly difficult to do well... Often it just comes across like you don't know what tense you're telling your story in.
And that's just a few of the things I've noticed recently. Maybe next time there are no questions for O'Abby I'll talk about some of the developmental problems I've been seeing.
Until next time.
X O'Abby
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Selectively Keeping My Mouth Shut about My Writing
As I’m sure you all know, since I’m all you think about, I’m participating in Preptober to get ready for next month’s NaNoWriMo. The other day, I was reading the book I’m using to guide my prep work and these lines stuck out to me:
Don’t talk about your story to others. Talking about it dissipates the urgency to write it…Carry your story with you like a delicious secret.
I couldn’t stop thinking about this. At first, I thought, “That’s BS. I should be able to talk to people about my writing all I want, and I do!” But then I realized that I’m incredibly tight-lipped about what’s going on in Writer Brain. I consider myself part of the writing community on Twitter, where I’ve been talking sporadically about my NaNoWriMo project. Last year, when I wrote GIRLS BREAK THINGS, I also commented occasionally about it on Twitter. To some extent, I LOVE talking about what I’m writing – I like to throw little ideas out there into the Twitterverse and see what kind of response they get. But for the most part, those comments are few and far between.
Most of the time, I don’t like to talk to people about what I’m working on. It’s not because it diminishes the “urgency” to write, it’s because I’m afraid of letting people down. I don’t want to tell someone, “In this manuscript, the princess rescues herself” and then they get all excited about it, and then they ask me about it later and I have to tell them “yeeaaahhhh that didn’t work out for plot reasons, now she gets rescued by a horse…” It’s a silly example, but it’s one of my top five fears. I've been let down by books too many times to not be afraid.
But in those little in-between moments, there are some people I always talk to about my writing. There are the cheerleaders, writing friends who always prop me up and tell me I’m doing great, even when I have to delete seven chapters. They’re the ones who remind me that all is not lost and the core idea is a good one. There are my critiquers, who of course have to know what’s going on so they can give me good feedback. And then there’s my bouncers, so named because I like to bounce ideas off them. They alone really know what’s going on behind the scenes as I scramble to make the cheerleaders and critiquers happy.
Deep down inside, though, I like to keep some things hidden. I like to keep a select few delicious secrets. I hardly talk about works in progress because there's a point where I want everyone to be surprised. I want those secrets to have their time to shine - and if that time is when people have the final physical book in their hands, then so be it.
What about you? Do you like to talk to readers or other writers about your work? Or do you like to keep things secret?
Monday, October 7, 2019
First 50 Critique - MG #2
Let's start this week with a bit of housekeeping.
First, THANK YOU SO MUCH to all of you who commented on my first 50 words AND those of you brave souls who sent us an email with YOUR first 50 words. You are all AWESOME!
Second, two of the First 50 Critique entries we received by email last week were misdirected and finally forwarded to us by the person who accidentally received them [hi Michelle, and thanks!] We're not entirely sure how that happened, but we want to try to prevent that happening in the future. So, when you send us an entry by email, please be sure to open a brand new email and address it to our gmail account at OperationAwesome6. Click here for more info on contacting us. Also, the entry window will probably close on a Wednesday, and we will send a confirming email to everyone who enters. If you do NOT receive a confirming email by that following Friday, please contact us by Twitter DM and we'll track it down and/or give you an alternate email address to use.
We sent a confirming email last week to those of you who emailed us your First 50 Critique – MG. If you sent us an email and didn't receive our confirmation, please send us a Twitter DM.
Now on to the good stuff!
For all the details of how this works, click here. We are NOT accepting entries this week. But if you want to enter when we DO open the entry period, you must post a critique on at least TWO previous entries before your submission will be accepted for use on the blog.
Reminder: Be nice, but be honest. [Comments that are not polite/respectful will be deleted.] What would YOU like to know if this was YOUR first 50 words? Do you think it's a good opening line for the category/genre? Does it have a hook? Does it pull you into the story? Do you want to read more? Why or why not? Be specific, so your critique helps the person who wrote the entry.
Here's this week's middle grade entry from an awesome OA blog reader!
Crouched down, quiet as a mouse, Octavia Bloom was holding her breath. The dust floating like glitter in the old attic was tickling her nose. Laughter bubbled up inside her, which she quickly suppressed by biting down on her lip. It wouldn’t do to make a noise and give away her position behind the old striped sofa.
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Second, two of the First 50 Critique entries we received by email last week were misdirected and finally forwarded to us by the person who accidentally received them [hi Michelle, and thanks!] We're not entirely sure how that happened, but we want to try to prevent that happening in the future. So, when you send us an entry by email, please be sure to open a brand new email and address it to our gmail account at OperationAwesome6. Click here for more info on contacting us. Also, the entry window will probably close on a Wednesday, and we will send a confirming email to everyone who enters. If you do NOT receive a confirming email by that following Friday, please contact us by Twitter DM and we'll track it down and/or give you an alternate email address to use.
We sent a confirming email last week to those of you who emailed us your First 50 Critique – MG. If you sent us an email and didn't receive our confirmation, please send us a Twitter DM.
Now on to the good stuff!
For all the details of how this works, click here. We are NOT accepting entries this week. But if you want to enter when we DO open the entry period, you must post a critique on at least TWO previous entries before your submission will be accepted for use on the blog.
Reminder: Be nice, but be honest. [Comments that are not polite/respectful will be deleted.] What would YOU like to know if this was YOUR first 50 words? Do you think it's a good opening line for the category/genre? Does it have a hook? Does it pull you into the story? Do you want to read more? Why or why not? Be specific, so your critique helps the person who wrote the entry.
Here's this week's middle grade entry from an awesome OA blog reader!
First 50 Words – MG Entry #2
Crouched down, quiet as a mouse, Octavia Bloom was holding her breath. The dust floating like glitter in the old attic was tickling her nose. Laughter bubbled up inside her, which she quickly suppressed by biting down on her lip. It wouldn’t do to make a noise and give away her position behind the old striped sofa.
Thursday, October 3, 2019
Dear O'Abby: Multiple agents offered. How do I choose?
Dear O'Abby,
I've been querying a new book for about six months and finally got some agents interested enough in it to schedule some calls. I wasn't expecting it, but three of the four agents I talked to made offers of representation.
So now I have to choose which one to go with. And I have no idea how to do that. They're all good agents - I wouldn't have queried them if they weren't - and I would be happy to work with any of them.
Do you have any advice on how to handle this situation?
Best,
Over-Agented
Dear Over-Agented,
Firstly, congratulations on having written a book that generates this kind of response. This level of agent interest is a really positive sign!
I understand how difficult this decision is, but you're right - you have to make it. And it's an important decision. You are going to have to work with this agent very closely and you need to make sure your decision is a sound one.
In your calls with the agents I'm sure you talked to all of them about revisions and their plans for the book going forward. Think hard about the comments made. Which agent's vision for your book most aligned with your own? Which revision suggestions really resonated with you? This is always a good place to start. If an agent's vision of what your book is differs from your own, it might point to problems down the track.
Think about other things you spoke about during the call. Did the agent's communication style gel with you? Did she explain her process when taking the book on submission? Did she answer your questions in a way that satisfied you?
If you've got that far through and you still don't have a preference, look at the larger picture. Does the agent work for a larger agency which will support her when her workload is large? What books has she already sold? Is she just starting out on her agenting career or is she experienced? If she's new, does she have a more experienced agent mentoring or supporting her?
And don't be afraid to reach out to any of these agents other clients to ask about working with them. If she's a good agent, she has nothing to fear from you doing this and it's an excellent way to learn from someone who is already working with them whether she responds promptly to emails or if she's good at hand-holding during nerve-wracking moments.
At the end of the day, it's decision you have to make and be happy with. Don't ignore your gut feelings, but do your due diligence as well. If you're lucky, this will be a long and successful relationship!
Good luck!
X O'Abby
I've been querying a new book for about six months and finally got some agents interested enough in it to schedule some calls. I wasn't expecting it, but three of the four agents I talked to made offers of representation.
So now I have to choose which one to go with. And I have no idea how to do that. They're all good agents - I wouldn't have queried them if they weren't - and I would be happy to work with any of them.
Do you have any advice on how to handle this situation?
Best,
Over-Agented
Dear Over-Agented,
Firstly, congratulations on having written a book that generates this kind of response. This level of agent interest is a really positive sign!
I understand how difficult this decision is, but you're right - you have to make it. And it's an important decision. You are going to have to work with this agent very closely and you need to make sure your decision is a sound one.
In your calls with the agents I'm sure you talked to all of them about revisions and their plans for the book going forward. Think hard about the comments made. Which agent's vision for your book most aligned with your own? Which revision suggestions really resonated with you? This is always a good place to start. If an agent's vision of what your book is differs from your own, it might point to problems down the track.
Think about other things you spoke about during the call. Did the agent's communication style gel with you? Did she explain her process when taking the book on submission? Did she answer your questions in a way that satisfied you?
If you've got that far through and you still don't have a preference, look at the larger picture. Does the agent work for a larger agency which will support her when her workload is large? What books has she already sold? Is she just starting out on her agenting career or is she experienced? If she's new, does she have a more experienced agent mentoring or supporting her?
And don't be afraid to reach out to any of these agents other clients to ask about working with them. If she's a good agent, she has nothing to fear from you doing this and it's an excellent way to learn from someone who is already working with them whether she responds promptly to emails or if she's good at hand-holding during nerve-wracking moments.
At the end of the day, it's decision you have to make and be happy with. Don't ignore your gut feelings, but do your due diligence as well. If you're lucky, this will be a long and successful relationship!
Good luck!
X O'Abby
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
Elizabeth Chiles Shelburne's Debut Author Spotlight #NewBook at Operation Awesome
Holding On To Nothing by Elizabeth Chiles Shelburne
1- What are some great beers to try this autumn?
@SingleCutBeer Jennie Said, @lamplighterbrew Birds of a Feather, @exhibitAbrewing Cat's Meow and @CollectiveBrew Ransack the Universe.
2- Would you please, in 160 characters or less, give a #WriteTip ?
Don’t write, type. Don’t get hung up on perfection, just move your fingers.
3- What ignited your passion for writing?
My mom was a writer and I always admired that. I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t writing or telling stories. I wrote my first book at age 7 with a friend - it was an illustrated book about homophones, words that sound alike but have different meanings. One of our truly inspired illustrations was a steak on a stake.
4- What are your views on American gun reform laws?
I grew up hunting so have no problems with rifles and shotguns for that, but I find handguns terrifying and can see no justification for assault rifles and semi-automatic weapons.
5- What's your Twitter handle, and do you have two or three writer friends on there to shout-out to for #WriterWednesday ?
@ecshelburne . I would shout out: @kellyjford , @jenniewoodanddid, and @emilyross
6- Would you share a picture with us of your book on a nightstand book pile?
7- In your opinion, what's one way to improve the health, and healthcare needs, of the world?
Preventative care. I grew up in a place that has a distinct lack of good primary care, and is currently subject to what looks like a truly terrible consolidation of care at the hospital level. We need more primary care doctors and more hospitals that cater to the needs of their communities.
8- What most motivates you to read a new book?
The characters and the setting. I’ll read anything that it is set in Appalachia and anything that features regular people trying to live their lives.
9- What is your favorite book by someone else, what's the author's Twitter handle, and what do you love most about that book? #FridayReads book recommendation time!
Author name:Robert Gipe @robertgipe
Title: Trampoline
Love because: It’s an incredibly complex novel/graphic novel about growing up in Appalachia. Dawn Jewell is one of the toughest characters I’ve ever met, and I just couldn’t stop reading her story.
10- What emotions do you hope your book will evoke for the reader, and is there a particular scene you hope will resonate with readers?
I hope my book hits all the emotions! There is a lot of sweetness and laughter, but also a hefty dose of sorrow in my book. I think the scene that will resonate most with people is the one in which Jeptha has to make a tough decision about his dog, Crystal Gayle.
11- Do you have a favorite #bookstagram image or account/ profile?
I have two! I always read Amy at @thesoutherngirlreads. I love her reviews, and her stories always make me feel like I’m sitting on a porch drinking wine and talking about books with a friend. And, of course, Stacey at @Prose_and_Palate. She reads great books, has a wonderful way with words, and she and Amy have both been huge supporters of my book, for which I will forever be grateful!
12- How do you hope your book will help readers in their life?
Jeptha and Lucy don’t have a lot going for them and yet, they keep going. They keep pushing through and trying to achieve their desire. I think we all have those times in our lives and I hope their story, while sad, will leave people with some hope.
13- What is the most memorable trait or visual oddity of one of your characters?
Cody’s mullet.
14- diversebooks.org #WeNeedDiverseBooks What's your favorite book with a diverse main character?
Right now, On the Come Up, Angie Thomas. I recently read this and loved it. Her protagonist Bri is whipsmart, so focused, and determined to triumph over her circumstances. I loved it.
15- Why do you think readers should write book reviews?
My favorite books have come from friends telling me about a book they think I would love, whether that’s over a cup of coffee or in a conversation on social media. It’s such a joy to be able to connect someone with a book they love and reviews help do that!
16- Do you have one question or discussion topic which you would like the readers of this interview to answer or remark on in the comments?
My goal with this book was to try to portray the Appalachia I grew up in more accurately than I saw it being portrayed in the news media. I’d love for people to read this interview and want to read other novels set there, such as Trampoline by @robert_gipe , Southernmost by @silasdhouse and anything by @CrystalWilki
17- Anything else you would care to share about your book and yourself?
Elizabeth Chiles Shelburne grew up reading, writing, and shooting in East Tennessee. After graduating from Amherst College, she worked at The Atlantic Monthly. Her nonfiction work has been published in The Atlantic Monthly, Boston Globe, and Globalpost, among others and her short fiction has appeared in The Broad River Review and Barren Magazine. Her essay on how killing a deer made her a feminist was published in Click! When We Knew We Were Feminists, edited by Courtney E. Martin and J. Courtney Sullivan. She is a graduate of Grub Street’s Novel Incubator. She lives outside Boston with her husband and four children. You can find her at @ecshelburne(twitter), @ecshelburneauthor (instagram) and Elizabeth Chiles Shelburne (Facebook).
You can find an excerpt from the book at: https://barrenmagazine.com/some-things-lost-nothing-gained/
Or see me reading another excerpt at: https://litsnap.org/2019/04/16/holding-on-to-nothing/
Holding On To Nothing by Elizabeth Chiles Shelburne
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