Too In Love

I've entered different territory in the sequel I'm writing. The first book hinted at a romance between my two main characters. This second one cements it and makes them a "couple," so to speak. I have to say, it's super fun to write. Yes, I am a huge romantic.

                                         

The one thing I'm wary about is making it too over-the-top. I'm not writing a romance novel, but a young adult retelling of a classic. A touch of romance is great, but a cup full would be overdoing it.

                                        

Which is why I ensure there are different types of relationship in my book, and that the romance aspect isn't the most important one.

There are close friendships.

                                        

There are enemies.

                                        

There are people who were once in love,  but were driven apart by twists of fate.

                                       

There are individuals who plainly don't like each other, but work together for a common goal.

So as you're writing, check yourself. Make sure more than one type of relationship maintains dominance in your story. Don't be like those TV shows where the couple finally gets together and everything gets boring.

Happy Writing!

A Writer's Wounds

I got another rejection yesterday.

Well, more like yesterday at 5 AM. Why did I voluntarily put my email on my phone again?

The rejection stung particularly more than the others. Why? Because now I only have one submission out, a full request. Of course there are still some odd twenty query letters awaiting responses, but still. The realization that I might not get an offer of representation for "After Alice" was terrifying.

               

It still is, honestly.

I allowed myself to mope for an hour or two. I googled "way to deal with rejection" and all the sucess stories of writers who were rejected tons of times. I even contemplated the possibility of driving to the store and purchasing Woe-Is-Me Chips (aka Cool Ranch Doritos). Luckily for my waistline, I didn't.

                                

Instead I started writing "Shattered," the sequel to "After Alice" and the book I'm doing for NaNoWriMo. At first the words didn't flow.

And then they did. Oh, yes they did!

Yesterday, in the midst of my despair and self-doubt, I hammered out over 6,000 words in five hours. And by the end of the night, I didn't care what any agents thought about my book. I know it's worth publishing, I've just got to make them realize that too.

                      

Vlog #5: Judging & Interviewing Books, A Confession

Thank You, Elementary

I'm a huge fan of anything Sherlock Holmes. Not that I've ever read the books (it's on my bucket list, okay?), but I love the spin-off TV shows. Sherlock, Psych (it sort of counts), and Elementary.

                                                       

Earlier this week I got season two of Elementary out at the library. Commence binge watching. 15+ episodes in three days. Huge accomplishment. Now you can probably see why I was so behind on my NaNo-ing!

                                          

Anyway, in one episode, Sherlock was trying to solve a particularly difficult case. Watson came downstairs to see Sherlock doing sit ups and push ups. Sherlock explained that physical activity helps get blood flow to the brain, which aids in thinking.

                              

Elementary, my dear Watson.

So what have I been doing before I sit down at my desk to write?

I stretch.

I do push ups.

I do sit ups.

                                             

Then I get a glass of water and start working. The difference between "warming up" before writing and just sitting down is enormous.

Give it a try. You may be as surprised--and efficient--when you start writing as I was.

Rocking My NaNo

Okay, that title was false advertising. I'll admit it.

Am I on track to finish by the infamous November 30 deadline? You bet! Did I sprint out of the word count gate on November 1? Not so much. Because I'm a fan of self-inflicted humbling here's my word count chart so far.

Yup. Those first two days, I didn't write. At all. Then I wrote a lot and managed to catch up, even get ahead. Then I didn't write anything on Sunday. Laziness and Procrastination were paying me a lengthy 24 hour visit.

                                       

But that's how it works with NaNoWriMo. You get behind, catch up, get ahead, and fall behind again. Or maybe you're one of those insanely awesome people who have already hit your 50,000 word mark.

                                        

No matter what word count is reached come November 30, the point is that major writing was done. And I plan to blow 50,000 words out of the water. Or so I hope.

So excuse me while I bang my hands against a keyboard and attempt to make words.

Preferably words that make sense.

Got Magic?

This week I rescued a boy from drowning in a half-frozen river, soared above the streets of Manhattan, and returned to the arms of my husband after six months away...

Hold on a second. One, I'm a horrible swimmer. Two, I can barely walk without falling, let alone fly. And three, I'm 100% single without any prospects of a fiance, let alone husband!

So how exactly did I do all those things this week?

I read a book.

                                   

Books may be physically composed of paper and ink, but they are truly made up of magic. They act as a transportation device, hurling you into the minds of different character, forcing you to wage battles against impossible foes, placing you at the head of a rebellion.

                                                 

Seriously, magic.

Which is why when I heard people say that they don't like reading (after I get over my initial horror and shock), I ignore them. They just haven't found the right book yet.

Luckily I have. In fact, I've got a huge stack of books from the library waiting for me. The only thing holding me back from reading is NaNoWriMo, but more on that later. As in Thursday.

To quote Stephen King, "Books are uniquely portable magic."

Query Critique: THE FEATHER

I had the opportunity to critique a query letter of one of my favorite writer friends. She told me I could share it on my blog with all of you. Just a disclaimer that I am no expert when it comes to query letters. Any comments are just my own thoughts. Ready?

                                     

13 year old Ariana has a lot of things to worry about. On top of the normal worries like grades, homework, and making friends, she finds herself taking care of her mother who fell into a deep depression when Ari's father went missing several years back.

What Ari doesn't know is that things are about to get worse. A lot worse. This is all unnecessary background information. The next paragraph is where things actually get interesting, so let’s have the query start there.

After a fishing trip turned nightmare, thirteen-year-old Ari finds herself trapped in a parallel universe, with terrifying shadow creatures close on her heels Why are they on her heels?. Her only friend ally is a talking weasel, who informs her that not only can she never go home, but that she's expected to save an entire kingdom from an evil mage who turned his own son into a bird. Why does she have to save the kingdom? She’s the outsider after all.

Can she rise to face the challenges presented to her, or will she turn her back on the people who desperately need her help? Questions at the end of queries are big No-No’s, apparently. Try putting the stakes into just one sentence.

THE FEATHER is a 70,000 word novel that tells the story of Ari, a young girl who is whisked away from her normal life, into one that is almost too impossible to believe.  Though her journeys Ari must come to terms with her inability to control the path she has been put on, or learn to take charge and change it. What kind of novel is it? Sounds like a middle grade novel to me.

Okay, final thoughts. You could stand to make this query longer, especially since it’s a 70,000 word novel. The annoying thing about query letters is you don’t want the agents asking questions. Let me just list mine to help you figure out what direction you want to go into:
    1. Why are the shadow creatures after Ari

          2. Why does Ari have to save this kingdom? Is she the only one? Does she have a special power?        3. What are the stakes? Why does Ari have to save the kingdom? Does she end up caring about the weasel or any of the inhabitants?

Thank you for the opportunity to critique your work. This book sounds incredibly interesting. I can’t wait to see it in print. Good luck!