Category: Writing

Hooked – Writing Guide

Hooked: Write Fiction That Grabs Readers at Page One & Never Lets Them Go

I got a new book. It’s about openings specifically, but it also encompasses the elements to make a whole novel rather than ‘pieces’ we often associate with writing exercises.

It is true we break everything into pieces. We talk about descriptions, or word choice, or dialogue as if we could separate those from the whole. While it is one way to get better, we find ourselves clipping those things and not seeing the entire project.

This book is a page-turner. It’s easy to read, clear to understand, and thought provoking. The woman who did the introduction mentioned another book by Les Edgerton about voice. I might have to find that one, too. I haven’t finished it yet, but I’m very pleased so far.

I organized my library a bit today, though I still have a long way to go. I could review a writing book every weekend for quite a while without buying any new ones.

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Editing…

Writing, or editing. It’s always one or the other that ocupies my time.

I took a chapter from 3600 words to 2500 today. Most of it wasn’t correcting passive voice, either, though I did manage that. My NaNo Novel from last November has a lot of things that need tightening, and it needs added conflict.

The difficult part is sometimes knowing what to cut and what to keep. It’s YA, and since it occurs in school I think I should have some details of school (I like to do little school details here and there), but I don’t want to beat the kids over the head with it, either. There is a balance between how much school and home life is good, I’m sure, but I haven’t found it yet.

I figured out the parts I want to focus on for this story, and I’m trying to dump the rest. I had an unrelated spelling test, so I deleted it in all its gritty glory. (Oh, don’t worry, there’s a copy. I always keep a copy of the original version in case I get rid of too much or I need to change the focus later. No use trying to remember what it was. I can compare drafts if need be.)

My original estimate was 2500 words per chapter, so I find it amusing to hit that now. I think I should be able to do that with most of the chapters in this book. Some of them are under right now – one of the drawbacks of a writing spring – but at least the story is down so I can tweak it as needed. I find it much easier to focus on the essence once it’s written.

Writing sprints like NaNoWriMo give a good opportunity to get the story down. Just can’t forget that it’ll need a few good edits when you finish.

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Novel Writing Software

Black Obelisk

If the only thing you’re lacking to writing a novel is an organization system, this one looks amazing. It has a trial period and a 50% off sale running. (Which means you can get it for only $22.95) There’s also a trialpay offer to get it free, but I’m leery of those. It often seems like you end up paying more for something you didn’t want in the first place.

Black Obelisk keeps your place, has room for pictures, and automatically backs up. It has places for your music so you don’t have a reason to get out of your chair. Timelines and dossiers on your characters give you instant access to that little detail you need to finish your chapter. That is only the beginning to their list of features, however. It uses simple file formats (TXT, RTF, and ZIP) so anything you create, even during the trial period, is available in the future.

Definitely looks worth checking out. I wonder if that snazzy black and gray color is the only theme it has.

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A Theme

Seems like a lot of shows cover teen pregnancy these days – not just TV, but also in the movies. Some make more publicity than others, but often it shows some choices that aren’t the best for teens, but so many of them make – whether they’re thinking about it or not.

It’s a difficult topic for a YA writer. Do you put on your kid gloves and pretend sex doesn’t exist until marriage? Do you get in the gritty and gruesome side and show actual choices teens face? Do you take a middle road and acknowledge it? Do you show your personal opinions in the writing, either way, and risk alienating those on each side of the fence who make up the readership?

Each writer must make the decision for herself. Those decisions color everything we write and make our books more personal. Personal, meaning closer to the writer’s thoughts and closer to readers. I haven’t tackled this topic yet, but it doesn’t mean I won’t.

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Bookstores

I find myself needing to stay away from bookstores. The temptation to go and liberate them to a new and loving home is too great sometimes. I can’t even say a certain section is worse than the others; most of them draw me in.

That’s part of the reason I have a ‘library’ in my home. That, and when we moved in the room just begged to house my books. Two walls are nearly filled with bookshelves, and most of the bookshelves are stuffed with books.

What can I say? I’ve always loved the written word. I’m trying to leave a shelf open for my works; there isn’t much on it right now, but I have high hopes.

Except too man trips to the bookstore may require a re-evaluation at some point. So many things to learn inside: calligraphy, feng shui, yoga, Star Wars, classic cars, science fiction and fantasy worlds to explore, romances to share, mysteries to solve. Each enriches my world and my writing.

Countless topics yet to be explored draw me to the bookstore again. They may or may not show up in future writings, but I’m challenging myself not to have all my main characters be artists or wannabe artists. It shouldn’t be hard with as many research boks I have on hand, but I might have to pick up another book or two – just in case!

That reminds me: I need to get out the books I was building the science fiction world with, and finish it.

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Opportunities

As a writer, bringing in money can be a concern – especially when starting out. There are hundreds of opportunities to be found; each has pros and cons. The best case scenario is to be supported by the craft, but in the beginning it takes time.

Most of us have supportive spouses who try to understand our crazy tendencies to write in spite of what else could be done. Watch TV? No, thanks, I can get another chapter out instead. Weed the garden? I can still see the things I planted, give it another week until I get this drafted. Those examples aren’t always realistic, but we do have to steal time in our schedule to finish our projects wherever we can. We juggle jobs and families and chores in the hope that we can share our creative talents.

Jobs are difficult. They provide security, but also take most of our energy. Few can push on after a full day, and a part-time option doesn’t pay the bills. The indulgent spouse may offer an opportunity to stay at home for awhile, especially to save on child-care.

Even when we do manage some success, publish that novel or several short stories (or both), it can still be a long time between paychecks. Some of us cover it with freelancing, or using other talents to fill the gaps. I’ve been looking at several options lately, and while it surprises me to figure out how many options there are, I struggle to decide what the best option is.

For now, I’m attempting Helium, but that doesn’t mean I won’t keep other things in mind.

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Book to be Illustrated

The Art of Science will be published with illustrations. Looked like we’re done with revisions and the book will be formatted soon. Eight illustrations will be dispersed throughout the book.

I’m excited to see what the illustrations will look like. It takes time to find an illustrator. They will be pen and ink. There are often many options, but this isn’t my area of expertise. It differs from other types of books, in that there are illustrations (different from an adult novel) but that they aren’t showing a story to a child who can’t read yet (picture book). It’s interesting to straddle the line between those two, and it opens my eyes to how much I don’t know about children’s books and their illustrations.

More research, and probably more posts ahead.

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Writing Passion

I read a lot of books about writing. Each one is different and contains some bit of information (or more than one) that takes me in my path to become a better writer.

The most recent one explores, as part of setting goals, passion. Part of it deals with the “one-sentence pitch.” (I’ve always heard it called a premise.) I wrote one before my most-recent in progress novel, “Four young teens whose goal is to each be ‘normal’ are beset by nightmares sent to them by a desperate other-being who wants to regain his freedom.”

Moving on from that, the book also explores goals as a writer to show how to give each story your own unique mark. Examples given:
“I want to write X stories with Y and Z. (I want to write sensual stories with suspense and intrigue.)
X and Y are what writer Z is all about. (Spunky heroines and slapstick comedy are what Jack Doe is all about.)”

I wonder how many of the authors I know use a formula like that. I think I write in several different areas, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love each of them. In one way, you can see it easily getting slated for one genre- sensual stories might put someone in romance, for example. It also works across genres to say that perhaps the action stories the author chose to write would have a sensual side.

I’ve been giving it some thought. I’m working on my own words to fill in X, Y, and Z, but I just haven’t found them yet.

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Reconnections

Social networking sites are fun, time-consuming, and yet still worthwhile for getting the word out. I set up a page on Facebook as a writer, and I have 17 fans! Okay, I knew them all already, so far, but that doesn’t mean  the word isn’t getting out. We all start with people we know and build an audience from there.

At least it’s a nice start.

I heard over the holidays that a bunch of the creative/artist types are at LiveJournal, but I haven’t checked that out yet. It’s always about balancing the time we have between what we want to do (the creative bit), what we have to do (promotion and marketing), and distractions (oh, my friend is online and I haven’t chatted with her in forever).

I like to add things slowly, but then I get excited and do more. Then I remember that I’d really rather focus on my creative efforts, and sometimes I miss something.

Lists are wonderful for that. So are emailed reminders.

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Final Revisions?

Oh, I’ve been getting close to that. This time you know it has to be good if I get to choose where the illustrations are going!

There aren’t going to be that many, but it’s still exciting. I read through the final draft last night, and I’m still considering the illustration options.

I’ve also been working on my press kit. It’s a good thing for any author who promotes a book. There are even services out there to make them for you – but they’re quite expensive. Definitely worth doing yourself. Also, it gives an author the knowledge base to promote herself and a focusing point for bringing it up.

At least, I think so. Either way, progress feels good.

Posted on by ransomnoble 5