When you know your story is working--or not

Nathan Bransford recently posted about when you know a story idea is going to work or not. Is it after you've written the first chapter? The first ten chapters? I think each writer needs to find that out for him or herself.

I started a new project at the beginning of 2010 that I'm slowly but surely working on. Yesterday I reached the ten thousand word mark and I think this one is going to work. I feel it in the writing and in the characters, who keep giving me new ideas and turns for the story. The biggest reason I know this story is working though is because I'm still PASSIONATE about it. Most story ideas grow stale after a few chapters and I end up coming to a dead end or I stop caring what happens. If I stop caring I know the reader will too and I know it's time to ditch that story and start fresh.

My goal for this book (a middle grade novel) is to have the manuscript complete and ready to submit to agents by the end of summer. That's four months from now. I guess I better get busy and go write!

Writing without a computer

    My computer decided to retire without telling me, so for the next few weeks I fear I will be without one at home.  This means I'll have to find time at work during lunch hour or breaks to squeeze in some writing.  As a writer of the modern age, I've always typed out my stories.  I wrote a few stories by hand when I was a kid, but mostly all my writing has been done on a computer.  You can imagine how difficult it is to write without access to one.  I'm hoping this doesn't put me too far behind the game, as I was hoping to have a finished rough draft by the end of May.  I guess I better go computer shopping! 
    It's also hard to keep up on all my online activities, such as following blogs and participating in sites such as Facebook and Twitter without a computer.  Luckily, just before my computer retired I read the e-mail newsletter I recieve monthly from the Nelson Literary Agency, which projected dystopian and futuristic fiction as the new, hot YA trends that should be hitting shelves in about 4-6 months.  I was pretty excited to hear that the book I'm working on  hits the trend right on the head and should be ready to submit by the time the trend really takes off.  And now, the search for a new computer begins!

Kindle Vs. Book

With all the recent uproar in the publishing world concerning the change from physical books to e-books, it's enough to scare a writer and librarian, which I am both. This major change threatens both of my passions. However, after watching a little series on Youtube known as "The Book Vs. the Kindle" I feel slightly better that physical books will never completely go away. For example, childrens' picture books can't really translate to the Kindle with all the colorful illustrations and large words. With a Kindle you can't swap books with your friends or get a copy from the library. You also can't find those hidden treasures in a used book store with a Kindle. And forget about taking the Kindle on vacation; if you're going anywhere with a beach you'll have to be extremely careful not to get water on your Kindle or leave it in the sun too long...something you don't have to worry about with cheap paperbacks that are meant to go on vacations. You also can't get those precious author signed copies of your favorite books with a Kindle. The Kindle is a good idea in theory, but will it last or is it merely a trend?

The changing face of publication

Almost every day I read news of the changing face of publication via literary agents' blogs and newspapers and it scares me and excites me. On one hand, it may be easier for new voices to break into the market with the surge towards electronic books. On the other hand it might be harder; with more people trying to find an easy way to publish their writing how will you get noticed? If e-books are cheaper to produce, will there be more of them out there and therefore more writers in the way of you finding readers? I don't know, and nobody else seems to know yet either, not even the big wigs of the publishing world. The publishing world as we know it is on the brink of change and it's all happening so fast. I just hope there's room for me when I finally have my manuscript finished. Here are just a few of the changes that have taken place in the past year:

• E-book sales are on the rise as sales of Kindles and other electronic reading devices increase
• The bad economy effects the publishing world with a decrease in overall books sold, therefore a decrease in books published, which means publishers are tightening their belts and taking less chances on first time authors
• Some publishers are no longer offering ARC's (advanced reading copies) to authors, a powerful tool in gaining positive books reviews before publication to boost reader awareness of their book
• Several magazines and newspapers have ceased publication 

It's a scary time for authors right now, especially new ones like me who haven't even gotten a foot in the door yet. It all makes me wonder if I will still get my chance. But when it comes down to it, I love writing with all my heart, and I will keep writing no matter what. So what if there's more competition, there's always been competition. The world will always need literary agents and publishers to be the gatekeepers and help people find the cream of the crop to read, even if everyone can self publish an e-book. I am determined to be a childrens' author and no amount of competition or change is going to bring me down. 

Ten random things

Ok, so I stole this from Leah's blog, I shamelessly admit it. This post has nothing to do with writing, but I'm random like that. You'll learn this soon enough if you stick around. Here goes...
1) Favorite Jim Henson Creation: Jen, a Gelfling in "The Dark Crystal" movie. Yeah, dark fantasy is how I roll.

2) Nail polish color: Sometimes neon blue, sometimes black with pink sparkles...the funny part is when I paint them really crazy colors men notice and comment more than women do.

3) Hair style: Shoulder length, straight and boring.

4) Favorite Music Video: "Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga. It's so strange and alluring I can't look away....

5) Currently Researching: Outer space...spaceships, planets, etc. Ok, this one actually does have to do with writing.

6) Current Cellphone Ring: Some upbeat tune known as "Da Club."

7) Comedy or Horror: Both!

8) Favorite TV Show: Since I don't have cable and watch only DVDs: Big Love, Dexter, Lost, True Blood, The Office, Beverly Hills 90210, One Tree Hill, Firefly, The Tudors.
 
9) Bed Sheet Color: Gray. Boring, right? I know. I'm on the search for Harry Potter sheets as we speak, though I'd settle for Lord of the Rings too.

10) Tattoos: I used to want one until I realized everyone has a tattoo and I'd be more of an individual not having one. I'll stick with piercings, because at least you can take them out. 

Procrastination is motivation

    In school I was always a procrastinator. There's nothing like a deadline to light a fire under my ass, and deadlines were my motivators for essays and projects. The funny part is, I do better work when I'm pressed for time. I focus better and work harder and for some reason brilliant things end up finding their way into my writing when I'm facing a nearing deadline.  Anytime I worked ahead in school and got my essays and projects done ahead of schedule I always received worse grades than when I whipped something up the night before. Strange, isn't it? I wonder if I'm the only one who finds creativity and motivation under pressure. Perhaps this is why my new buddy system is working so effectively. Knowing I need to have a chapter done each Friday really forces me to pry myself away from the television and just write for a few hours each week. I realize a few hours a week isn't much, but when you work full time it's a lot.
    Speaking of my weekly deadline, I am behind this week. The first two weeks of Leah and my buddy system I wrote about 1-2 pages per day and was done by Friday morning. This week I am seriously behind schedule. I've only written two solid pages and it's Wednesday evening...actually it's an hour away from being Thursday morning...ACK! But it's all okay. Because this means the fire under my ass is about to be lit and I will get some good writing done, even if I finish my chapter by Friday afternoon instead of morning. It was only a matter of time until my procrastinating side came out I suppose.
   

The buddy system

The buddy system is a helpful tool in writing. Find a good friend whom you'd trust with your precious, infantile writing and allow them to tell you what they think. Take the bad criticisms along with the good, because the bad ones are what will help you see the flaws in your story. Take the good criticisms and let them motivate you to keep writing. This is week 3 of my BFF and I holding each other accountable by having a deadline every Friday by which we have to swap chapters. And guess what? Just knowing I'd let my best friend down by not having a new chapter ready for her every Friday is enough to make me want to write and I've written more than I had during the last three months of 2009. So I highly recommend using the buddy system in writing.

New year, new book!

Whew, the end of last year was crazy! Now it's a new year and I have a new book I've started writing, so it's back to the grindstone. Let's play catch up since I haven't posted in over two months!

• I submitted my manuscript to several agents and a couple of first time YA contests, but got rejections or never heard back. I'm going to be totally honest, for awhile this bothered me and made me kind of doubt my writing but after some healing holiday time with family and many talks with my best friend and fellow writer I'm back on the writing wagon.
• Starting out the new year fresh, I decided to revamp my writing style and try my hand at childrens' lit instead of YA, which I thought was my passion. I'm finding my style and voice fits childrens' lit much better and I enjoy writing for kids. My best friend reassured me by reading the first finished chapter and declaring that she thinks I found my voice!
  

• Said best friend and I have decided to start our own critique group, just the two of us. Every Friday we must submit one chapter of at least five pages to each other. Since we both work better under pressure, deadlines are good, and this way me are made accountable for having something done each week. It's also a motivation booster because each week you get to have your chapter edited by someone else so you can immediately see areas that need work. The good comments make you feel good and like your writing isn't total crap, which it always will be with first drafts.

So, my goal for 2010 is to finish a chapter each week and hopefully have a completed first draft by summer. Do you have any writing goals for the year?