Tip of the day: For a chance to win a number of YA novels (in ARC form) which I brought home from ALA, please go to my personal blog and read about a Reader Appreciation Contest I’m having. You get one entry simply for following me at twitter, and there are other ways to get entries as well. Details can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/lbaugy. But hurry, the deadline is tomorrow, August 1st, at midnight EST!
So, last week I said I was going to try the spreadsheet for tracking my WIP and report on how I’m liking it.
Guess what!? I love it!
Right now it only has basic information – word count of each chapter, who is in each chapter, what day of the week the chapter falls on, whether the chapter is action-oriented, dialogue-oriented, etc. But once I finish my first draft, I plan to go back and add columns so I can see some things I’m curious about. Like I think I’ll add a column for smells and maybe one for sounds. How many times in each chapter do I talk about a smell or a sound? If none, maybe I better see if I can add something, to make the chapter richer in sensory details.
I use spreadsheets every day at my day job. I can’t believe I never thought of how a spreadsheet could help me with my writing!
Since I wrote you last, I’ve written two chapters, and just like I thought, it’s very satisfying to click over to the spreadsheet when I’ve finished a chapter and add it to the sheet.
This novel I’m working on is something very new for me. I think it’s a bit of an urban fantasy, but there is lots of mystery to it. I’m having a ton of fun writing it! Who knows if it will sell, but sometimes I think we just have to write something because we really want to. And sometimes, those books end up being the best anyway, because there is no pressure. Just writing for the fun of it – which is what it should be like all the time, I know, but sometimes, it isn’t.
I hope to get some more writing while I’m on vacation next week, before I take off for the SCBWI conference in LA. If you are there and see me, I hope you’ll stop and say hi!
~Lisa, Miss Crafting a Career
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Three Months Out
Tip of the Day: Back-to-School shopping is exciting (or maybe that's just me) but if you can hold off until after school starts, everything goes on sale a week or two in. (Exp. Target usually has all their backpacks, lunchboxes etc. 50% after labor day.)
I'm three months out now until the release of my first book. Eeeeeee! So I've been trying to figure out what I should be doing at this point to prepare. Here's what I've got:
Meet with publicist. Now is about the time when authors hook up with their publicist and talk about things like interviews, booksignings, events, media (if you're lucky!) etc. I have my first call with my publicist today.
Reviewers. I've also been getting a lot of requests from online bloggers to review my book. I've forwarded these to my publicist as I have no more advance copies to pass out.
Promotional Stuff. It's also time to get some promo items. I'm still deciding what I really want and what I really need. I like the business cards with the book cover on one side and the info on the other that I picked up a couple of weeks ago and I've been handing them out to people when they ask me about my book. I think I'll get more of these because they're so convenient and fit in my wallet. And I've ordered bookmarks (I'll do a separate post on these when they come in. And I might get postcards made. I hear it's a good idea to send post cards to independent bookstores to let them know you have a book coming out.
Think about launch. Do I want to do a signing? A party? An online contest? I need to start thinking about this stuff now.
Start filling out interviews. I'm part of a 40+ person blog tour with the 2009 debs and I've been getting interview requests from bloggers so I really need to get going with answering all these questions.
Web site. Alright, this one is all up to the hubby. He's been working on it though and I'm hoping it'll be cute!
Facebook Fanpage. My publisher set me up with a cute facebook fanpage and it has a great What Coffee Drink are You Quiz that I love. I'm so happy they thought to do this!
And...that's where I'm at. There might be more that I should be doing right now but I'm also working on that new book I mentioned last week (yes, I got back into gear!)
Any suggestions from you professional authors out there? Should I be doing something else at the three month pre-pub mark?
Kristina, Miss Delighted to DebutWednesday, July 29, 2009
Subjectivity the Second (Subjactivity: The Activity of Being Subjective)
Tip of the Day: Throwing a baby carrot towards a cute wild bunny in your yard will not attract it to you.
Piggybacking on my post from last week, I want to talk about how one's very own agent can be subjective about her own client's work.
I queried my agent bc her bio online said she was interested in historical fiction, and YA. My historical YA was: (a) really an MG, and (b) also paranormal, which her bio didn't say she wanted. Yet despite all that, she said she was attracted to my characters and setting. She has also since said that she's not into paranormal, yet that story got her attention.
Since we signed on together, she's read another realistic MG of mine, which she liked, and a YA contemporary paranormal, which she said needs work. My CPs love my YA contemp paranormal, and I can see where my agent is coming from, but again, subjective.
So don't worry if your agent isn't into every single one of your works. Are you into every single work that she's sold? Probably not. Instead of worrying, just talk together on what you can do to the manuscript to make you, your agent, and your test readers happy.
Deena, Miss Subbing for Pubbing
Piggybacking on my post from last week, I want to talk about how one's very own agent can be subjective about her own client's work.
I queried my agent bc her bio online said she was interested in historical fiction, and YA. My historical YA was: (a) really an MG, and (b) also paranormal, which her bio didn't say she wanted. Yet despite all that, she said she was attracted to my characters and setting. She has also since said that she's not into paranormal, yet that story got her attention.
Since we signed on together, she's read another realistic MG of mine, which she liked, and a YA contemporary paranormal, which she said needs work. My CPs love my YA contemp paranormal, and I can see where my agent is coming from, but again, subjective.
So don't worry if your agent isn't into every single one of your works. Are you into every single work that she's sold? Probably not. Instead of worrying, just talk together on what you can do to the manuscript to make you, your agent, and your test readers happy.
Deena, Miss Subbing for Pubbing
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Revision Requests
Tip of the Day: swimming can be nice and relaxing on a warm, summer day :)
We've talked about requests and rejection from agents, but what about that in-between area called revision requests? The agent doesn't reject it outright, but they don't accept the manuscript or you as a client either.
Do to the current publishing environment these seem to be popping up more and more (at least that's what it feels like in the blogosphere). How on earth are you supposed to handle these requests?
I've been asked for revision requests twice in my career already. I'm not sure I handled either correctly, but I did gain some insight in the process.
Both of my revision requests ended differently. One of them came from an agent known to make such requests on a frequent basis and then not follow up with them. I was aware of this before hand and took this in to consideration when deciding to revise for them. The remarks were actually quite brief and I agreed with them, so I went ahead and revised the first 50 pages or so based on the request. As a result, the agent requested the full manuscript, but I never heard anything back from the agent even after several follow-up emails.
The second revision request was much more extensive. It involved a three-page revision letter that highlighted three main components the agent wanted to see changed. I decided to make the changes because I thought it would better the book by slightly changing the age of the main character and some of her personality, motivations, etc. It took me a little over a month of really hard work to make the changes. There was a bit more back and forth about specific changes, all of which I incorporated in one way or another. Some of it finding out what needed to "really" be changed and then solving that problem.
The agent loved the changes, but wanted to see one more big change. This time it involved changing the entire mystery plot of who and why he/she committed the crime. I wasn't sold on the change 100 percent. I could see the agents point of view, but I could also see my point of view. I was willing to try the changes, but part of me also wanted some guarentee that putting this much work into it with not being 100 percent sold on the changes that they would take me on as a client. This was awhile ago and I wasn't as knowledgable about the industry and I was so eager for that first contract. But I was also working on two other newer projects I felt strongly about and had limited time to work on stuff. I also knew this agent was a new assistant at a reputable agency and the person had told me they needed another agent's approval before taking on clients. I knew that if I invested all this work into something I wasn't completely sold on that the other agent could just reject it in the end for completely different reasons. So I asked if I could revise a partial, have the other agent look at it, and then discuss further changes or taking me on as a client.
In the end, the other agent wasn't completely sold on the concept of the project combined with the lighter tone of my writing (stuff which I could have never changed even after 100 revisions), and that was the end of it. Period.
So did I do the right things? I'd like to think so. Everytime I did revise the project got better, and it's still a project I would like to sell in the future (possibly with more changes incorporated after thinking about it for two years). I tried to keep an open mind, but at the same time I also knew my project, my vision for it, and my abilities as a writer. I think those are all important things to keep in mind if you do get a revision request.
Anyone else have good/bad revision requests stories? Sometimes they work out, sometimes they don't.
--Emily, Miss Querlicious
We've talked about requests and rejection from agents, but what about that in-between area called revision requests? The agent doesn't reject it outright, but they don't accept the manuscript or you as a client either.
Do to the current publishing environment these seem to be popping up more and more (at least that's what it feels like in the blogosphere). How on earth are you supposed to handle these requests?
I've been asked for revision requests twice in my career already. I'm not sure I handled either correctly, but I did gain some insight in the process.
- Read the request several times and let it sink in as long as possible. I imagine the request is similar to an editors revision note, so it's best to let all the information soak in. This situation is a bit more unique because you don't have any guarantee that if you make the suggestions revisions that anything will come of it with this agent. But what in this business is a 100 percent guarantee anyway?
- Determine if the agent's comments fit with your vision for the book. If you disagree completely with what the agent says then maybe it won't be the best fit. But if you are on the fence or agree with them, it might be wise to try the revision. Yes it may take you several months to complete, and again there is no guarantee. But wouldn't you always wonder "what if" if you didn't do the revision?
- Take your time with revisions. Make sure they are done right. If an agent takes the time to send you notes they are seriously considering your work. You don't want to blow it by not taking your time to do the proper revisions.
Both of my revision requests ended differently. One of them came from an agent known to make such requests on a frequent basis and then not follow up with them. I was aware of this before hand and took this in to consideration when deciding to revise for them. The remarks were actually quite brief and I agreed with them, so I went ahead and revised the first 50 pages or so based on the request. As a result, the agent requested the full manuscript, but I never heard anything back from the agent even after several follow-up emails.
The second revision request was much more extensive. It involved a three-page revision letter that highlighted three main components the agent wanted to see changed. I decided to make the changes because I thought it would better the book by slightly changing the age of the main character and some of her personality, motivations, etc. It took me a little over a month of really hard work to make the changes. There was a bit more back and forth about specific changes, all of which I incorporated in one way or another. Some of it finding out what needed to "really" be changed and then solving that problem.
The agent loved the changes, but wanted to see one more big change. This time it involved changing the entire mystery plot of who and why he/she committed the crime. I wasn't sold on the change 100 percent. I could see the agents point of view, but I could also see my point of view. I was willing to try the changes, but part of me also wanted some guarentee that putting this much work into it with not being 100 percent sold on the changes that they would take me on as a client. This was awhile ago and I wasn't as knowledgable about the industry and I was so eager for that first contract. But I was also working on two other newer projects I felt strongly about and had limited time to work on stuff. I also knew this agent was a new assistant at a reputable agency and the person had told me they needed another agent's approval before taking on clients. I knew that if I invested all this work into something I wasn't completely sold on that the other agent could just reject it in the end for completely different reasons. So I asked if I could revise a partial, have the other agent look at it, and then discuss further changes or taking me on as a client.
In the end, the other agent wasn't completely sold on the concept of the project combined with the lighter tone of my writing (stuff which I could have never changed even after 100 revisions), and that was the end of it. Period.
So did I do the right things? I'd like to think so. Everytime I did revise the project got better, and it's still a project I would like to sell in the future (possibly with more changes incorporated after thinking about it for two years). I tried to keep an open mind, but at the same time I also knew my project, my vision for it, and my abilities as a writer. I think those are all important things to keep in mind if you do get a revision request.
Anyone else have good/bad revision requests stories? Sometimes they work out, sometimes they don't.
--Emily, Miss Querlicious
Monday, July 27, 2009
Help me Google! Give me strength!
Tip of the Day: With newspapers slashing their comics lineups, why not read your favorites online? The Houston Chronicle has the best online selection.
Thank you Darby Conley for pointing out the separation of Google and State. Meanwhile, I've converted to Google Chrome. Now if only I could win more converts away from Internet Explorer, I wouldn't have to worry about partisan websites who give download and print instructions as if everyone believed in Microsoft.
You know what else Google does well? Google Groups. My online critique group uses Google Groups for our critiques and discussions. Anyone can set up an online critique or writers' support group with Google Groups. A group will contain places to post documents and a discussion area that works like a message board such as the Blue Boards.
My online crit group tried a few online venues before settling on Google Groups. Our group is private, meaning we have to approve anyone who wants to get in online. That's because we post our writing there and we discuss our submissions and fears. That was one of my top concerns in deciding on an online crit venue: privacy.
Here are some tips for using Google Groups for your writing group:
1. Have more than one administrator. Otherwise, you won't be able to give a new member access if your one administrator isn't available.
2. Come up with a file naming system. You'll be able to find your critiques and save them to your computer much faster.
3. Post the group rules. Groups can be more or less formal, but if you have a word count cutoff for submissions, for example, it's nice to always know where to find it.
4. Set your discussion option to "Digest." You can set up your Google Group to email you once a day with any messages posted to the Group.
Does anyone else use Google Groups for writing? Yahoo Groups seemed a little less flexible, but perhaps I'm wrong about that. Go ahead, try to convert me!
-- Kate, Miss (Internet Nerd) Perfecting the Pages
Thank you Darby Conley for pointing out the separation of Google and State. Meanwhile, I've converted to Google Chrome. Now if only I could win more converts away from Internet Explorer, I wouldn't have to worry about partisan websites who give download and print instructions as if everyone believed in Microsoft.
You know what else Google does well? Google Groups. My online critique group uses Google Groups for our critiques and discussions. Anyone can set up an online critique or writers' support group with Google Groups. A group will contain places to post documents and a discussion area that works like a message board such as the Blue Boards.
My online crit group tried a few online venues before settling on Google Groups. Our group is private, meaning we have to approve anyone who wants to get in online. That's because we post our writing there and we discuss our submissions and fears. That was one of my top concerns in deciding on an online crit venue: privacy.
Here are some tips for using Google Groups for your writing group:
1. Have more than one administrator. Otherwise, you won't be able to give a new member access if your one administrator isn't available.
2. Come up with a file naming system. You'll be able to find your critiques and save them to your computer much faster.
3. Post the group rules. Groups can be more or less formal, but if you have a word count cutoff for submissions, for example, it's nice to always know where to find it.
4. Set your discussion option to "Digest." You can set up your Google Group to email you once a day with any messages posted to the Group.
Does anyone else use Google Groups for writing? Yahoo Groups seemed a little less flexible, but perhaps I'm wrong about that. Go ahead, try to convert me!
-- Kate, Miss (Internet Nerd) Perfecting the Pages
Friday, July 24, 2009
The first draft blues
Tip of the day: The internet can make it really hard to write. If you have a Mac, consider downloading macfreedom which will disconnect your computer from the internet for a specified period of time so you can write without that distraction.
So, I've got the first draft blues. I'm at that halfway mark where you start to question everything and wonder how in the heck you're ever going to get to the end, and not only get to the end, but do so with a plot that makes sense, interesting and real characters, and on and on.
The middle is hard, no doubt about it. So I was thrilled to find THIS POST by Justine Larbelestier titled "How to Write a Novel." The best part of the post? The idea that when you get halfway into your novel, you create a spreadsheet to help you see what you have so far. She shows us an example, but also says we can add columns that let us use symbols - is it an action chapter, is it a dialogue chapter, is it a sitting-around-thinking chapter? It gives you a visual of what your book looks like, so you can see how much action you have, and if you don't have a lot, you know you better be stepping it up!
So, I've got the first draft blues. I'm at that halfway mark where you start to question everything and wonder how in the heck you're ever going to get to the end, and not only get to the end, but do so with a plot that makes sense, interesting and real characters, and on and on.
The middle is hard, no doubt about it. So I was thrilled to find THIS POST by Justine Larbelestier titled "How to Write a Novel." The best part of the post? The idea that when you get halfway into your novel, you create a spreadsheet to help you see what you have so far. She shows us an example, but also says we can add columns that let us use symbols - is it an action chapter, is it a dialogue chapter, is it a sitting-around-thinking chapter? It gives you a visual of what your book looks like, so you can see how much action you have, and if you don't have a lot, you know you better be stepping it up!
I think we can each take this idea and make it our own. Want to keep track of how often a secondary character shows up? Make a column and check a box when he/she appears in a chapter. Want to keep track of sensory details? Make a column for that, and see where you need more. The possibilities are endless!
I also love the idea that once the spreadsheet is created, from now on, when you finish a chapter, you add the chapter to the spreadsheet! I am one who does well with little rewards along the way, so I think this will work well for me.
I'm going to go and make my spreadsheet right now. I'll report back and let you know if it's helped me and how my word count is going next week.
Those of you working on first drafts right now, how's it going? Any tips you'd like to share?
~Lisa, Miss Crafting a Career
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Switching Gears
Tip of the Day: Use Pandora.com to set up a radio station that only plays songs you like to hear.
I'm feeling like an old rusty bike chain these days. Reason why? I'm having the worst time switching gears between projects. I finished the first round of line edits on My Fake Boyfriend is Better Than Yours a couple of weeks ago. And I haven't done a bit of writing since. I know, I know, I need to get back at it-- and I actually have the first three chapters of a book I love ready and waiting for me to get back to. But I'm resisting for some reason. Like, I just don't want to completely change my brain and turn it on to that book when I know I'll have the next round of edits for Fake Boyfriend coming back any time.
So, I'm trying to think of ways to turn my mind onto my newest WIP.
1) Make a playlist of music for the book.
I see that a lot of authors do this for their books. I'm not really that into music though so I don't think this will help me.
2) Set up my writing environment to reflect the book.
This I could probably do. My newest book has pumpkins in it so I could see burning some pumpkin candles or making pumpkin bread or getting a pumpkin spice latte to drink while I work. (yes, any excuse to get coffee!)
3) Make a collage.
This could be fun. I did this when I was writing Boy Swap. I can find old magazines and cut out pics of things that represent my book. And then tape it on the wall when I'm writing.
Um...okay, I'm stuck.
Oh wait, new e-mail. It's my editor. She overnighted edits for Fake Boyfriend again. Yes! Forget everything I said. No, wait, don't. Just in case this happens again, leave me your ideas for switching between projects in the comments. Thanks!
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