Friday, July 31, 2020

#QueryFriday


It's time for #QueryFriday! Enter for a chance to win a query critique by yours truly! Here's how to participate:

1. Comment on this post and at least one other post from this week by SUNDAY 08/02 at 12 pm EST.

2. Leave your email address in the comment or have it available on your Blogger profile. (If I can't find you, I can't get in touch with you!)

The winner will be chosen via random draw and will be announced in the comment section of this post on Sunday.

See this post for additional rules. Good luck!

-Amren

Thursday, July 30, 2020

Dear O'Abby: I don't like fantasy. Can I critique it?

Dear O'Abby,

I recently reached out on Twitter to try and find some new writers to critique my latest book.  I got a few replies and a couple of people wanted to trade manuscripts, which I was happy with.  The thing is, one of the books I've been sent to critique is fantasy.  And I don't write fantasy.  I don't even read it. I actually kind of hate it.

I don't want to let this other writer down when he's offered to read for me, but I also don't know that I can critique fantasy in a helpful way.

What would you do?

Best wishes,

Anti-fan(tasy)

Dear Anti-fan(tasy),

I hear you!

I'm not the biggest fantasy fan on the globe either, and would never pick it as a genre to read on my own.

But I do critique it when asked.  One of my longest-term critique partners is a fantasy writer and I've been critiquing for her over ten years now.  She has been critting my YA contemporary writing for just as long.  In fact, none of my regular critique partners writes in my genre.  They write horror, sci-fi, fantasy and romance, but they all help make my work better.

At the end of the day, a story is a story, and writing is writing.  The genre doesn't matter when you're looking at a book in terms of its story, character and style.  In fact, you may actually be more helpful to this other writer than the fantasy readers she may already have had looking over her MS in that you don't know the tropes of the genre and can point things out that may not make sense.

The most important thing is to read this MS as a story and point out places where it drags or where you don't understand something, or where a character says or does something inconsistent with the way they've behaved previously.  Y'know...  all the stuff you do when you are critiquing a story that is within your usual genre.

You will probably learn something new by doing it.  I certainly learn a lot about pacing and world building each time I read for my fantasy-writing crit-partner because she manages to create amazingly complex societies with their own set of rules and moral codes, yet I never feel like I'm being told about them.  I just find I get to the end of the book with an understanding of how these imagined world work.  That's clever world-building!

I hope you find this trade valuable.  You may have found your next long-term crit-partner.

X O'Abby







Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Operation Awesome #20Questions in #2020 of #NewBook Debut Author S.G. Wilson #giveaway

Operation Awesome #20Questions in #2020 of #NewBook Debut Author posted by @JLenniDorner of @OpAwesome6


Me vs. the Multiverse: Pleased to Meet Me by S.G. Wilson


1- How many cats have you won over to your side in this universe?

I thought I’d won them over, but it was all an illusion! One of our cats has taken to protest pooping in random places around the house (that was a subplot in the “Cats” movie that was cut, btw), and we can’t figure out why. He refuses to tell us his demands! Current theory: the cat litter is half a millimeter too high. Or he doesn’t like my quarantine hair. I’ll get back to you on this once I have a more definitive answer.

2- Would you please, in 160 characters or less, give a #WriteTip ?

When stuck, change your scenery. If you’ve been sitting down, write standing up. If you’ve been on a computer, switch to a tablet, print-out, or pad of paper.

3- What is the best piece of writing advice you've received?

When starting a story, ask yourself, “What’s different this time?” For some reason, hearing that from a screenwriting friend resonated with me better than terms like “what’s the inciting event” or other terms they use for that sort of thing.

4- Did your previous experience as an editor help or hurt you when writing your book, and it what ways?

How it’s helped: I was a magazine editor (and writer), and punching up ledes was good practice for planning how to start a new chapter or section. In journalism and fiction, I like trying to come up with compelling first lines.

How it’s hurt: AP style is burned into my brain, but I’ve grown to tolerate the serial comma and the spelled-out number over ten. I don’t LIKE it, but I can tolerate it…

5- Would you share a picture with us of your book enjoying this summer?

Operation Awesome #20Questions in #2020 of #NewBook Debut Author S.G. Wilson #Summer #Fun



6- Why, do you suppose, there aren't more books with multiverse storylines?

Yeah, what are people thinking?! People love multiverse stories even when they don’t realize it. TV doesn’t keep showing “It’s a Wonderful Life” because of the Norman Rockwell-ness of it all, they show it because Darkest-Timeline Bedford Falls is an amazing hellhole.

Maybe the multiverse is still a new thing for a lot of people. My dentist didn’t know what I was talking about when he asked about my book. Even after he got his fingers out of my mouth so I could explain better, he was still perplexed. And just the other day an acquaintance with whom I was having a masked conversation said something like, “Multiverse, huh? Do have a degree in science?” I said, “Uh, no, I just read a lot of comics growing up. And watched Star Trek.”

7- What's your Twitter handle, and do you have two or three writer friends on there to shout-out to for #WriterWednesday ?

Sure:
@SGWilson_Earth1
Twitter friends: @jarrett_Lerner
@joshwhowrites

8- Do you have a favorite #bookstagram image or account/ profile?

I like @bellesmiddlegrade. She never goes overboard with crazy props and the like—just focuses on bringing out the special in every cover.

9- What most motivates you to read a new book?

When I was a high school freshman, we were supposed to show up to school one morning, pile into a bus and go to the state basketball championship. I didn’t care a lick about basketball and dreaded riding a bus with pumped-up teens. So I opted to play hooky and spent the day reading the first three books of Robert Asprin’s “Myth Adventures” series and eating Hostess products. They’re not the best books per se (not the best junk food either), but definitely my all-time BEST READING EXPERIENCE EVER. Every time I break open a book I want to recreate that moment.

10- It's our tenth anniversary! How far has your writing come in the past ten years and where do you see your writing career ten years from now?

Congrats! Let’s see, ten years ago was about the time that I, in the face of getting laid off, going through my most stressful phase as a stay-at-home dad, and probably other horrible things I’m blocking, decided to double down on my goal of publishing a novel. I still did journalism to make money, but fiction proved far more fulfilling over the course of the decade—and it still is!
In the next ten years, I’d love for the chance to publish other middle grade and YA stories I have in mind.

11- 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: Mike Sacks @michaelbsacks
Title: Stinker Lets Loose
Love because: It’s the fake novelization of a 1970s trucker movie that doesn’t exist. Every line cracks me up!


12- What emotions do you hope your book will evoke for the reader?

I want ME VS. THE MULTIVERSE to evoke laughs, thrills and chills in readers, but also self-awareness. Just as my main character has to accept all his multiverse counterparts, I’d love for readers to embrace the many different sides of themselves and be brave enough to become whoever they want to be.

13- What kind of impact do you hope your book will have?

I want to leave readers laughing, but also thinking a bit about the shifting nature of reality and identity.

14- What is the best writing tool, program, or reference book you've ever bought?

I’ve always found useful stuff in the various “how-to-write” books I’ve read, but my fave writing book by far is a slim yellow volume a high school English teacher made us all get, Basic English Revisited. My edition has little caveman drawings throughout, carving commas from boulders and that sort of thing. I still sometimes flip through it just for the pictures, and then I’ll be reminded about stuff like how to use semicolons. Those little cavemen probably inspired the creation of one of the counterparts in my book, Caveman Me.


15- diversebooks.org #WeNeedDiverseBooks What's your favorite book with a diverse main character?

The first book I fell in love with and that got me hooked on reading was A Wizard of Earthsea. I can’t remember how much Ged’s race comes up in the story though, so instead, I’ll go with Colson Whitehead’s John Henry Days. He’s written more ambitious books (and I love them all), but John Henry Days’ take on tall tales and the freelance writing world through the prism of Black experience resonated with me quite a bit.


16- Who is your favorite book review blogger?

Ms. Yingling Reads rocks!

17- What was the deciding factor in your publication route?

I was lucky enough to get an agent who was keen to get the book traditionally published, but it took a while. (Writing the first draft of ME VS. THE MULTIVERSE in second person didn’t help.) At one point I figured the book might get rejected, so I started the THIS WEEK IN THE MULTIVERSE podcast for all my leftover ideas. In the end, I lucked out again and got picked up by Random House Children’s Books. Plus, I’ve loved doing the podcast so much that I’ve kept at it!

18- Which author, past or present, do you feel most resembles your work?

I’ve shamelessly tried to rip off all sorts of comedic writers over the years, but my son has just informed me that my approach, in this book at least, blends Stuart Gibbs (Spy School) with Jeff Kinney (Diary of a Wimpy Kid). I’ll take that.

19- Would you please ask our audience a question to answer in the comments?

Have you ever thought up an alternate Earth and how it got that way? Or maybe an alternate-Earth version of somebody from our Earth? I’d love to hear about it!

20- Anything else you would care to share about your book and yourself?

Blurb:


When Meade Macon goes to Me Con, a gathering of his doubles from parallel Earths, the last thing he expects is to feel left out. After all, aren’t these “Mes” supposed to be just like him? As it turns out, his counterparts—more accomplished and all-around cooler than Meade—want nothing to do with an “average” Me like him. But when an evil-genius Me hatches a dastardly plan that imperils the multiverse and every Earth in it, only Meade and his rag-tag team of loser duplicates are willing to stop him.

Bio:


Alternate versions of S.G. Wilson from parallel Earths have worked as an Olympic shufflepuck commentator (Earth 24), food taster for Emperor Justin Bieber (Earth 101), stage manager for an all-mime version of The Sound of Music on Broadway (Earth 3), and many others. This Earth’s S.G Wilson mostly just writes stuff in Austin, Texas, where he lives with his partner, kids and cats. He’s worked as a magazine writer and editor and hosts a podcast called This Week in the Multiverse.



@SGWilson_Earth1

Me vs. the Multiverse: Pleased to Meet Me by S.G. Wilson

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Libraries and Reading During COVID-19


When libraries shut down in March 2020, I'm not going to lie, I did shed some tears. Even with access to electronic books and audiobooks from Libby or Overdrive, reading or listening to a book electronically is not the same as holding a physical book.

With starting my graduate degree thesis this summer and not having access to physical sources, finding  materials was extremely difficult. I joined an electronic service for a minimal fee that has paid for itself in the last three months. My university library opened, but they didn't have the sources I needed. The local university libraries have not reopened for services yet. I also increased my search for available online journal articles.

My local library opened for carry out services July 7 where I go in and pull my reserves from the shelf and use a contactless check out system.

What are your sources for reading materials during COVID-19? How have you coped during this time without physical library services, and how is your local library currently handling services?

Monday, July 27, 2020

We're having fun with horror - Stephen King

We're still mostly shut down here in SoCal.  How is everyone else handling this pandemic?

To fight the frustration and uncertainty, here at Operation Awesome we're looking at horror novels.  Last week, we considered the master – Edgar Allan Poe.  This week, let's consider the current master – Stephen King.
Stephen King [like you didn't already know that]
I tried to read Mr. Mercedes recently, but couldn't get past the first few chapters.  It's crime, not even technically horror, but the tension level was through the roof and too much for me.  I've seen the movie Carrie but I haven't read the book.  Other than those two, I haven't read any of King's books or seen any of the movies.  I'm too much of a wimp LOL

Which of these King novels have you read?  Which one or ones were the best?  You can define "best" however you want – scariest, most terrifying, most memorable, couldn't put it down, however you define it.  Below are just a few of the 80+ novels and short stories he's written.  Which did you think was the best?

Carrie
Christine
Cujo
Firestarter
It
Misery
Pet Sematary
Salem's Lot
The Shining
The Stand

Friday, July 24, 2020

Flash Fiction Friday Contest 48 #flashfiction

It's time for Flash Fiction Friday! Use this image as inspiration for your piece:


Prompt: Bumblebee
Length: Up to 2000 words
Deadline: Sunday, July 26, 2020, 2am Central Standard Time

Leave your entry in the comments, please. As always, the winner will get a badge and bragging rights!

Thursday, July 23, 2020

Dear O'Abby: Should I Mention it in my Query?

Dear O'Abby,

I recently worked with a sensitivity reader and found it so helpful and insightful. Would it be helpful if I mentioned this in my query letter?

Thanks!

Java Mama

Dear Java Mama,

With sensitivity readers becoming more and more prevalent and important to the editing process, this is a good question.

Personally, I think you should mention any outside input you've had on your manuscript in your query.  If you've used a sensitivity reader or a professional editor or any other respected service you should put that in your query.  It shows a level of commitment to your craft and to ensuring the work you are presenting to a publisher or agent is the best it can be.

In the current climate where people are hasty and brutal in cancelling anyone or anything they perceive as being out of line, it may give comfort to an editor or agent to know that the book has been through a sensitivity reader if the writer is not of the nationality, sexuality or ethnicity of the characters portrayed.  

Just remember that everyone comes to a story from their own perspective and experiences and even if you have used a sensitivity reader, they may not share the perspectives and experiences of other people in the group you are portraying.  Which is why it's often helpful use more than one sensitivity reader or to try and find a diverse group of critique partners and/or beta readers.  

It is also worth remembering that not all sensitivity readers are necessarily great at it and some may even have a bad reputation in the industry.  Before mentioning you've used someone, ensure they are someone respected in the industry.  

I understand that professional sensitivity readers and editors are expensive, so if you have expertise in a particular area, but know you need help in another, try and find writers you can partner with to help each other out. Maybe your ethnic background or sexual orientation can help another writer, while theirs can help you.

While I believe it is worth mentioning your sensitivity reader in your query, please don't count on this as being the thing that will put your query ahead of others.  You still need a compelling query letter and a kick-ass manuscript.  

Hope that's helpful, and good luck with your querying!

XX O'Abby

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Operation Awesome #20Questions in #2020 of #NewBook Debut Author Ramsey Damouni

Operation Awesome #20Questions in #2020 of #NewBook Debut Author posted by @JLenniDorner of @OpAwesome6

Joshua Garland: The Legend of the Kids by Ramsey Damouni


1- What do you feel is the main cause of childhood obesity these days?

A number of reasons.
  1. Portion control is one aspect. Kids eating far too much in one sitting, and then snacking for the rest of the day.
  2. Eating the wrong foods. There’s not enough of a focus on eating nutritiously dense foods.
  3. Eating at the wrong times – eating very heavy meals at night and eating too much before bed. This excess, unused energy is turned to fat.
  4. A lack of knowledge about food and nutrition.
  5. We’ve become far too sedentary. I see too many kids sitting down on the screens all day. What happened to kids riding their bikes!


2- Would you please, in 160 characters or less, give a #WriteTip ?

My best tip is to think about the objective/outcome, character arcs, and story structure first before you start writing. Then fill in the gaps and make it as interesting as you can!

3- What is the best piece of writing advice you've received?

This is one that I learned for myself – fewer words make for a better description. Leave the rest to the reader’s imagination.

4- What is your favorite vacation spot?

There’s so much, and I really can’t name one. Prior to this unfortunate global situation, I travelled the world with my wife. We absolutely loved Tokyo, Osaka, and New York. We’d heard a lot about these cities, but being there blew us away. Lebanon is possibly the most beautiful country I have been too, and Jordan’s deserts were stunning. But, I live in Australia, and I truly think we’re lucky to be here. We have amazing beaches, incredible mountain ranges, and stunning cities. Melbourne is a great multi-cultural city, with possibly the world’s best food.

5- Would you share a picture with us of your book with something uniquely Australian?

What’s more Australian than Vegemite!
Operation Awesome #20Questions in #2020 of #NewBook Debut Author Ramsey Damouni #Australian #Vegemite #Australia


6- What is your main character's biggest fear?

Joshua Garland is the main character. He’s 12 years of age, and is obese. He’s unfortunately bullied and teased in school about this by not only the other kids, but also by his teacher. As we’re introduced to Josh in the book, he’s biggest fear is about being singled out and challenged about his weight, and his lack of physically sporting prowess. Also indulging in food is his comfort and he does not want to be taken out of this comfort zone.

7- What's your Twitter handle, and do you have two or three writer friends on there to shout-out to for #WriterWednesday ?

My twitter handle is @ramzewrites. Also on Instragram. A shout out to @droneon1 , @happyfeetcrew , @pursoot for their positivity and support.

8- What is your favorite book to movie adaptation?

To Kill A Mockingbird was a stunning movie, and did the book a great justice.


9- What most motivates you to read a new book?

There’s nothing better than the feeling of not being able to put a book down, and practically reading it throughout the night. That’s what motives me to read a new book.

10- It's our tenth anniversary! How far has your writing come in the past ten years and where do you see your writing career ten years from now?

Well, it took me more than 7 years to write and publish my book `Joshua Garland – The Legend of the Kids’. Not because it’s an incredibly long novel, but life just got in the way of making it a quicker write. In that time my writing style did evolve. Similar to what I said in one of my earlier answers, I just learned the value of using less words to be more effective. This was in part thanks to a number of beta readers who provided me with this piece of advice. I plan to use this style in future projects.

11- 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: Graeme Simsion
Title: The Rosie Project
Love because: Many books but a recent favourite was `The Rosie Project’ . Actually a trilogy of books, written by a fellow Melbournian Graeme Simsion. A funny, heartwarming tale. Actually funny is downplaying it, it was hilarious. The main character, Don Tillman, has Asperger Syndrome, and has an interesting take on society and human behaviour. Hmm, couldn’t find a twitter profile, but check out his website.


12- What emotions do you hope your book will evoke for the reader?

I’m hoping the reader will completely emphasize with the main character, Joshua Garland. Not everyone would understand what it’s like to be obese, but I’m sure most people would have been bullied or teased at school at some point. It’s not pleasant and I expect the reader to be in tune with the desperation Josh feels when he’s cornered by his predicament. However, it’s a long journey for Josh and without giving too much away, this is a feel good story. So, I also expect the reader to eventually be cheering him on.

13- What kind of impact do you hope your book will have?

I absolutely expect the book to bring childhood obesity in the spotlight. I experienced and overcame obesity as a youth. I learnt a lot of lessons during this time and I wanted a platform to share these lessons with younger readers. So what this book does is tell a really interesting, inspirational story for the reader. But it carefully weaves in the lessons I learnt (without preaching) and hopefully enhances the knowledge of the reader for either losing weight, keeping fit, or just maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

14- What is the best writing tool, program, or reference book you've ever bought?

Grammerly, hands down!

15- In what ways are the main characters in your book diverse? diversebooks.org #WeNeedDiverseBooks

The book is set in Australia and uses Australian colloquialism and settings. In a twist, a main character is introduced later in the book who comes from Egypt. There’s a brief shift in setting at that point, and a take on life in Egypt.

16- Who is your favorite book review blogger?

Hmmm, I don’t have one specifically. However, I’m part of a great writing community on Twitter and we share book tips and reviews.

17- What was the deciding factor in your publication route?

I went with self-published because it just gave me much more control in the process. However, I’m open to the traditional format too.

18- Which author, past or present, do you feel most resembles your work?

I found I took cues from a number of my favourite books and my writing style tended to resemble a number of those great authors. In particular Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, J. D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, and I really admired JK Rowling’s sheer imagination in creating the Harry Potter world.

19- Would you please ask our audience a question to answer in the comments?

I would like to see the audience’s thoughts on childhood obesity. Why is it a problem, and what can be done?

20- Anything else you would care to share about your book and yourself?

This is a message to parents. This book is aimed at children from the ages of 11 through to young adults. Ultimately in a lot of cases, it’s your decisions what books your kids read. I really do hope you choose this. Whether your kids have a weight problem or not, I really do believe in the book’s messages. Our kid’s health and fitness, both physical and mentally, should be our top priority. I experienced obesity and bullying as a child. I know how it feels, and I wrote this book with my heart and soul. I hope this book can make a difference for your child. Feel free to direct message me on twitter if you’d like to discuss this further. My twitter handle is @ramzewrites. Also on Instragram.

Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/3kWGyO




Joshua Garland: The Legend of the Kids by Ramsey Damouni

Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Prompt Me to Write

My favorite writing prompts are from dreams. I have "home brewed" story ideas if I write them down fast enough in the morning and can read my chicken scratch when I sit down to write for the day. These are original prompts, thanks to my subconscious. I collect my dreams in a journal.

I also keep a document of interesting articles, characters, and one liners that might inspire a story later. Then I can take two or three and combine them to create a prompt in the moment.

But sometimes, I sit down to write and want a mini break from my current project. A writing prompt would be an excellent choice rather than staring at the blinking cursor and letting my fountain pen drip ink on the page for two hours.

So writing prompts may stir the writing juices and start flowing words.

For a dose of inspiration, check out our #QueryFriday, our #AtoZChallenge, and Dear O'Abby.

Here are some writing prompt generators here, here, and here.

What are your favorite prompts? Happy Writing!


Monday, July 20, 2020

Let's have some fun!

Okay I'm more than done with this pandemic and lockdowns.  I live in SoCal and our governor has shut down the state almost as much as we were shut down last April.

The good news is we can now watch baseball intra-squad games.  It's strange to see the stadiums empty of people.  But it's fun to watch games again.

Take-away: we need some fun!

What genre would you equate with the OPPOSITE of fun?  There's no way this genre is fun.  No one could pay you enough to call this “fun”.  If you said horror, you think like I do.  [This may not be something you want to mention to the others in your life.]

I spent several hours looking at sites like “the scariest horror stories ever written”.  What surprised me the most is that I've actually read several of the stories on those lists.  Yikes!  I would NOT call myself a horror reader.  I hide under the blankets at the beginning of Columbo episodes.  How can it be possible that I've read some of these????

Let's start our exploration of “fun” with the master – Edgar Allan Poe.

Here are eight of his most famous/popular stories.  You've read all of these, haven't you?  I have, which is not something I would have ever expected.  Which one would you say is his best?  You can define “best” however you want.  The scariest.  The best written.  The one you can still remember verbatim from your high school days.  The one that still causes you nightmares.

"The Cask of Amontillado"
"The Fall of the House of Usher"
"The Masque of the Red Death"
"The Murders in the Rue Morgue"
"The Pit and the Pendulum"
"The Purloined Letter"
"The Tell-Tale Heart"
"The Raven"

The ones I can still remember almost 100% of the plot are "The Cask of Amontillado, "The Pit and the Pendulum", and "The Tell-Tale Heart".  So for me, those three are the most memorable.

Let us know your vote for THE BEST EDGAR ALLAN POE story in the comments!  And if you're so inclined, tell us WHY you think that story is the best.

Have fun!


Friday, July 17, 2020

#QueryFriday


It's time for #QueryFriday! Enter for a chance to win a query critique by yours truly! Here's how to participate:

1. Comment on this post and at least one other post from this week by SUNDAY 07/19 at 12 pm EST.

2. Leave your email address in the comment or have it available on your Blogger profile. (If I can't find you, I can't get in touch with you!)

The winner will be chosen via random draw and will be announced in the comment section of this post on Sunday.

See this post for additional rules. Good luck!

-Amren

Thursday, July 16, 2020

Dear O'Abby: My feedback is mixed. How do I know what's right?

Dear O'Abby,

About six months ago I entered a writing contest. I didn't win, but the email I was sent from the organisers told me I'd made the shortlist of ten.  They also included some feedback from the judges, which was overwhelmingly positive for the most part, while pointing out a few areas where my story could be stronger.

This contest is run twice a year, so I polished up my MS, using the feedback from the judges, and entered again the next time the contest opened to entries.  I didn't expect to win, but I certainly didn't expect to get an email with judges' feedback that was completely different to the feedback I got last time.

These judges seemed to think my story was TERRIBLE.  The characters were poorly drawn and weak.  The plot was full of holes and the reader was asked to suspend disbelief to a degree that stretched plausibility.

What is going on here?  How can the same contest give such different feedback on what is essentially the same story?

Yours,

Gobsmacked

Dear Gobsmacked,

I'm sorry you got this kind of feedback.  It's disappointing, I know. Unfortunately, this kind of thing happens all the time.

You've probably heard before that reading is subjective.  What one reader loves, another might hate.  It sounds like you've come across one of these situations.

Contests are often judged by volunteers or 'celebrity' judges and if the contest runs frequently, the pool of judges is likely to change regularly.  Therefore, judges who may have loved your story last time, may not be there the next time you enter to see how you used their thoughtful feedback.  And the new judges may not have the same taste or experience with your genre as the previous ones.

The trick is to not let this get you down.  And certainly not give up on your story.  If you're happy with it and you like it, then that's good.  Don't let an email from a stranger make you give up on it. 

Let that email sit for a few days, until the sting wears off.  Then go back and read it again.  Is there anything you can use in there?  Is there anything that actually resonates with you?  I often find that once I'm over being hurt by negative comments, I can often find something useful in them.

In fact, negative feedback is often more helpful than positive feedback, although I think people giving feedback should always try to balance the good and the bad.  There's got to be something to like about almost every story, no matter how badly written it is.  Even if they just like the fact the main character has a dog they are kind to, it's important to mention that before diving into everything they perceive is wrong with the story.

So see if there is anything you can use.  Is there some truth in those comments?  Something that's been nagging at the back of your mind, but you haven't quite acknowledged to yourself yet?

If there really is nothing useful, or the feedback is so generic you feel like the same thing was said to every contestant, then you might want to write to the contest and let them know how unsatisfactory the feedback was this time around.  Not all judges are going to give the same kind or level of feedback, but if that's something the contest offers, it's a problem if some of the judges are offering something very unhelpful.

Hope that helps.  Don't give up.  There are other contests and other places you can send your story if this one doesn't work out.

X O'Abby.

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Operation Awesome #20Questions in #2020 of #NewBook Debut Author Rue Sparks

Operation Awesome #20Questions in #2020 of #NewBook Debut Author posted by @JLenniDorner of @OpAwesome6

Daylight Chasers by Rue Sparks




1- You asked a great question on Twitter, so let me toss it back to you: As a writer, how do you handle the guilt and frustration when you can't be as active as you feel you ought to be on social media?

I suppose turnabout is fair play!
I’m reminded of what I used to say when I had to turn down design jobs when I freelanced because I was overbooked. “It’s not an opportunity if I can’t do it.” Meaning, opportunities are only opportunities when you have the time and resources to do them. Otherwise, you simply can’t count them or you’ll drive yourself mad.
It would help to consider social media the same way. You can’t consider what you’re missing when you’re not there to miss it. We simply cannot be in two places at once. We need to make value decisions on what is most important in our lives and stick to those decisions. Easier said than done though!

2- Would you please, in 160 characters or less, give a #WriteTip ?

Don’t write something you’re dispassionate about thinking it’s what people want. We can tell you’re not invested. Write what you love. The audience will follow.

3- What is the best piece of writing advice you've received?

“Originality is overrated.” This goes not just for writing, but any creative pursuit.

A lot of writers second guess their ideas or even don’t pursue them because they’re afraid they’re too cliche, that they’re not innovative enough. That fear misses the point. There’s truth to the adage that it’s all been said and done before. So if it’s all been said, all that’s left is to tell our stories in our own way. That is the only true originality any of us has to offer—our unique voices as individual as our fingerprints.

4- Do any of your characters in Daylight Chasers use they/them pronouns, and could you offer tips on incorporating gender-neutral pronouns in fiction?

Daylight Chaser does not use gender-neutral pronouns for any of the characters, but the protagonist in the novel I’m currently querying to agents is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns.

The biggest challenge when including non-binary characters is that you can’t assume that all readers are going to understand the nuances of what that means. Personally I want non-binary characters to be more prevelant in a wider variety of fiction, which means being presented to audiences that may not understand what non-binary means. I like to think we’ve come a long way as a society when it comes to gender acceptance, but we’re not all there yet.

So depending on your intended audience, you may need to include a moment where your character ‘comes out’ to the reader as non-binary to clarify. It doesn’t have to be involved—simply referring to their pronouns to another character can be enough. This is not necessary in all fiction, but consider the breadth of your audience and genre when approaching the subject.

5- Would you share a picture with us of some incredible artwork related to your book?

Picture from Daylight Chasers of Isabella with the Passenger Pigeons.
Operation Awesome #20Questions in #2020 of #NewBook Debut Author Rue Sparks - Picture from Daylight Chasers of Isabella with the Passenger Pigeons.


6- Would you please tell us more about what it means to be a Spoonie Author?

“Spoonie” references Christine Miserandino’s The Spoon Theory, which talks about the additional challenge of limited energy faced by people with disabilities.

Being a Spoonie Author means I’m an author with a disability. I personally have several auto-immune disorders that primarily manifest with chronic pain and brain fog. There are times where writing is just not possible for me because of pain, or because my verbal recall isn’t what it needs to be. It’s heartbreaking and frustrating to experience having my body betray me that way. It means I have to be very purposeful in my actions, and take advantage of the times I am capable of creating because I never know when I might have my next opportunity.

7- What's your Twitter handle, and do you have two or three writer friends on there to shout-out to for #WriterWednesday ?

My twitter handle is @sparks_writes . Here are a few people I’ve had the honor of interacting with quite a bit on twitter: @lw_writes @scinerd28 @KevinEmmons4

8- Do you have a favorite #bookstagram image or account/ profile?

I love the #bookstagram of @neverthelessshereads She takes such great photos and always has interesting picks.

9- What most motivates you to read a new book?

Admittedly I have a hard time getting motivated to read sometimes! I know that may sound strange from an author, but I think part of it is having worked in such a fast-paced job for so long it’s hard for me to give myself the permission to focus my attention onto something fun for any length of time.

Once I do start reading though, I go through books quite quickly! I love books that have a strange or quirky part to their premise—either a ‘remix’ to an old trope, or a redux of a tried and true genre, or even just an interesting character. The weirder the better.

10- It's our tenth anniversary! How far has your writing come in the past ten years and where do you see your writing career ten years from now?

I have only been actively considering myself a writer over the past two years. Before that, I wrote comics in script format, along with the occasional poem or flash fiction story. A few years ago, I never would have thought I’d be able to finish a novella, let alone a novel. I’m proud of myself for my progress, while recognizing I have a long way to go.

I want to work on my technical abilities over the next decade, but also just get much, much more practice in. Having been a professional artist, I know that practice is one of the best teachers, and I simply haven’t had as many years and I’d like under my belt. Ten years from now, I’d like to be able to write faster, with greater ease, and with greater confidence. Career wise, the usual I think! I’d like to have more published books under my belt.

11- 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: Erin Morgenstern @erinmorgenstern
Title: The Starless Sea
Love because: Most people know Erin Morgenstern for The Night Circus, but if you haven’t read it, The Starless Sea is a beautifully written book with diverse characters, a unique premise, impeccable worldbuilding, and loveable characters. The prose reads like a dream, and the format is so unusual that it really stands out. I read it this past year, and it bolted up to my favorite book of all time.


12- What emotions do you hope your book will evoke for the reader?

Daylight Chasers is an emotional novella under the guise of a fun, sci-fi influenced road trip through the heart of the United States.

I approached it as a fable, where each guide Isabella meets has something to teach her. Some of it may be hard to hear. The lessons may hit close to home for some readers. But ultimately they’re lessons we all learn at some point in our lives, whether we’re ready to listen or not.

The final reveal in Daylight Chasers is something very personal, that is a little bit of me opening up my ribcage to reveal my own heart. My hope is that readers can begin to understand that pain and sadness are not the enemy, and that sometimes both need to be experienced before we can move forward in our lives.

13- What kind of impact do you hope your book will have?

Because I approached Daylight Chasers as a fable, there are some specific things I want readers to consider about their own approach to life. But the ending has its own question as well, one that I don’t necessarily give the reader an answer to.

Ultimately I hope that my readers come away from the book with a renewed sense of hope for a new day grounded not in foundless positivity, but in the belief that they are stronger than they ever believed they could be.

14- What is the best writing tool, program, or reference book you've ever bought?

It’s not a reference book per se, but Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert is an amazingly inspirational treatise on creativity, and has gotten me through some rough times when it’s come to my self-confidence in my writing. I highly recommend it to anyone who creates… well, anything! Her advice toes the line of practical and fantastical, all presented in a way that’s so down to Earth. I often listen to the audiobook while I drive or do menial tasks when I need an extra pick me up before I work on something challenging.


15- In what ways are the main characters in your book diverse? diversebooks.org #WeNeedDiverseBooks

The biggest diversity I focused on in Daylight Chasers is racial diversity. It takes place in America in a few different areas of the country, so I wanted to make sure I was representing the breadth of characters you might find in a country made up of mostly immigrants.

Of the three ‘road trippers’ who we follow through the majority of the book, one is African American (Keenan, our protagonist), one is Hispanic (Isabella), and lastly Billy is Caucasian. There is also an Indigenous character that’s a ‘guide’ at one of the activities. Another one of the guides is a Hispanic woman who raises passenger pigeons.

16- Who is your favorite book review blogger?

I actually get most of my book recommendations through the grapevine on Twitter, Book Review groups on Facebook, or through friends recommendations on Goodreads. I have somewhat specific tastes when it comes to books so I tend to find specific people I know personally and cling to their every recommendation!

17- What was the deciding factor in your publication route?

For me, self-publication made the most sense for Daylight Chasers because of its length. It was short for a novella, which are already hard sells to publishers. I didn’t want to pad it with extraneous words just for publication, so self-publishing or a small press was my best bet.

I also wanted to get hand-on experience in all aspects of the publication process right off the bat, so I decided to try self-publishing. Having experience in design and marketing, I wasn’t as intimidated by those aspects as I would have been otherwise, and I liked the idea of having full control. I’m glad for the experience, even though I’m going the traditional publishing route for my next novel.

18- Which author, past or present, do you feel most resembles your work?

I haven’t reached his level, but an author I aspire to be like is TJ Klune. He’s written in a variety of genres, styles and moods, but every book he writes keeps this innate quirkiness. His characters are all well-rounded and loveable, his worldbuilding flawless, and I love his range of themes. He seems to write what he wants, not sticking to any one mold. It’s that flexibility that I admire and strive for.

19- Would you please ask our audience a question to answer in the comments?

I got this from the Big Magic book by Elizabeth Gilbert, but it’s a good question to ask ourselves to understand what’s important in our lives. Instead of asking yourself, ‘what would you do if you could not fail’, consider this:
What is worth it to you to do, even knowing failure is likely? In other words, what is that thing that’s so important to you to do, that whether it fails or succeeds is irrelevant?

20- Anything else you would care to share about your book and yourself?

About Daylight Chasers:


"I wish this day would never end" - One heart's desire leads to a tumultuous journey for an unlikely pair.

Keenan, a guide at Daylight Chasers, is hired to lead Isabella through a day that "nearly" never ends. As the top agent, he excels at calming the excitable and inspiring the timid, as they journey across the globe one time zone at a time. Despite his years of experience, Keenan soon realizes that he is going to need a lot more than his familiar script when it comes to Isabella's expedition.

When the planned activities all start going south, Keenan finds himself struggling to respond to Isabella's mercurial moods. With each adventure sending them further from the planned path, Keenan begins to wonder how can he be the guide when even he is feeling lost?

About Me:


Artist, animator, writer, designer, professor—I've worn a lot of labels, but the one thing I’ve always aspired to be is simply a storyteller. I cross genres and formats, mixing together metaphor and expressive characters to teach the viewer something they didn’t know they already knew.

Where to Find Me:


Twitter: @sparks_writes
IG: @rue_sparks_makes
Facebook: https://facebook.com/rue.sparks
Patreon: https://patreon.com/ruesparks
Website: https://ruesparks.com



Daylight Chasers by Rue Sparks

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Q: What Are You Reading? A: Young Adult Thriller



So you want to write young adult thrillers? It’s time to read some! But what stories are considered thriller? According to StoryGrid, thriller has a protagonist “negotiating a complex world, struggling at the limits of human experience, and triumphing (usually) over seemingly overwhelming forces of antagonism?” Check StoryGrid for more information. The plot combines the genres of action, horror, and grim. The excitement of death, damnation, injustice, and justice is common.

What stories are considered young adult? Some resources are available about the differences between adult fiction and young adult fiction. Check them out here, here, and here.


Some examples are One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus, The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas, I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga, The Hunger Games by Suzanna Collins, and This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp. Check out a list of more young adult thriller titles here.

Upcoming young adult thriller titles can be found here, here, here and here.

Check out OA’s recent blog posts on how you can support #WeNeedDiverseBooks

Authors and Videos of Support #WeNeedDiverseBooks 

Support Black Lives Matter

This blog post is part of a series called Q: What Are You Reading? by Suzanna Anderson on Operation Awesome. Please note that this book list is not comprehensive. This list is a starting point, an introduction to Young Adult Thriller titles. Suzanna reads a book and usually finds at least ten more books to read. Use this list as inspiration to check out titles at your local library, support your local bookstores with purchases, or wherever you get your books. Please do read, share, and write reviews (if you want to). Comment below what you’ve read and what you’re excited to read next!

What are you reading?