Compound Verbs Are Just Not That Into You

Tip of the day: For mechanics, my favorite book is Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Browne and King. It has great info on dialogue, point of view, etc. that scales up in difficulty so beginners and long-time writers will get a lot out of it.

Last week, I posted a tip about searching your manuscript for compound verbs. It's a basic tip, but one I want to elaborate on: compound verbs are not your friend. They're not starting to like you, they're not beginning to like you, they won't be liking you. They haven't liked you. There's only one way to put this: Compound verbs don't like you.

Oh, was that last sentence a little cold? Maybe you're thinking that compound verbs would never be that mean. You're right, they wouldn't. They're passive-aggressive whiners. They talk and talk, adding unnecessary words to your manuscript. They disguise themselves behind "-ing" and tell you that you need them. You can't write that they cried because they've been crying all along. Do you want your readers to think they just started crying?

Compound verbs began to pack their things, insisting they were leaving.

Oh, sure, compound verbs, you drama queens. Nobody believes you're leaving.

Compound verbs packed their things and left.

Huh, I guess they really meant it this time.

-- Kate, Miss Perfecting the Pages

Falling Leaves (or Down By the Bay)

Tip of the Day: Want to spend time on a crisp Adirondak mountain with a beautiful clear lake? Visit Silver Bay!


I am back from the Falling Leaves Eastern NY SCBWI Novel Revision Retreat and am overflowing with revision ideas and inspiration. Wow. What a fantastic weekend. Not only did I connect with some lovely writers (including a few from Verla Kay's Blueboard), but I enjoyed the sunny weather, peaceful lapping of the lake, and insightful workshops by five kidlit editors.

[We stayed in this cool inn]

I should be working on my revisions, so I'll just quickly post some of the take-aways I gleaned from this weekend:

--Not every book has the same kind of hook or purpose; decide if your book is driven by character, voice, plot, or setting (or a combo of two of these)...

--then ensure that your pitch and synopsis make it clear which part of your novel is the key or hook of your book. (Thanks to the wise Wendy Loggia, Julie Tibbott, and Mary Kate Castellani for approaching these elements in a different way, a way that spoke to me.)

--Aka, don't try to make your book something it's not; let the story and characters speak to you. (Thanks to Kendra Levin for reminding me to take the time to listen to my characters.)

--Also write the first page of the novel in a way that enhances what your book is driven by. (Thanks to Noa Wheeler for the opening session on beginnings.)

What was so cool was how each of these sessions related to the others despite their independent development. They also tied into the 20 page editor crit I received, and the AWESOME peer crit time. I seriously LOVE my chapter one now, thanks to the focus I was able to put on it this weekend.

And here's some more Silver Bay pics for good measure:




If you have a chance to attend a Falling Leaves retreat, I highly recommend it. My advice for attendees: Go in with an open mind, focus on one manuscript all weekend, listen and absorb without constantly taking notes, accept what is offered instead of getting hung up on what you *think* you want before you're there, connect with other writers and listen to their stories and advice. Oh, and remember to thank the organizer. Thank you, Nancy and company! :)

Deena, Miss Subbing for Pubbing

The magic of word of mouth

Tip of the day: Iced tea mixed with a little lemonade is a delicious summertime drink!

I read a book recently, SORTA LIKE A ROCK STAR by Matthew Quick, that I loved so much, I have been telling everyone I know about it. I even sold a copy to someone at one of my own book signings.

Yesterday I did a one-hour presentation at a children's writers conference, and read from some favorite books to illustrate some examples of voice, character, etc. And when I came to SORTA LIKE A ROCK STAR, I couldn't help it. I started gushing about it again. I was like - I just LOVE the vietnam vet who writes haikus. I mean, I LOVE him. And it's not even like he does that much, but him and Amber form such a special relationship... blah, blah, blah. I couldn't stop talking about it!!

But you know what? When I finally did manage to shut up, someone raised their hand and said, "What's the author's name again?" And everyone, I mean, EVERYONE, frantically wrote it down when I shared it again.

I am convinced there is no better kind of promotion than word of mouth.

So what is it that makes people love a book so much they want to tell everyone they know about it?

I think it's a perfect combination of a unique but also familiar story with well-drawn and interesting, admirable characters along with memorable scenes that make us laugh or cry or preferably both.

Think of the book you love so much you tell everyone about it.

Or think of the classic TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, that so many people will say is their all-time favorite book. A unique but somewhat familiar story? Check. Interesting and admirable characters? Atticus is probably one of the most interesting and admirable characters ever written. Not to mention Scout and Jem. Scenes that make us laugh and cry? Check and check.

It has it all.

With each book we write, we should strive for those elements that will make people want to pass the book around and share it with their friends and loved ones. We might not always succeed, but by keeping those elements in mind, and trying to do the impossible, you never know - we might just succeed some day.

~Lisa, Miss Crafting a Career

I love my idea journal!

Tip of the day: I will be talking books, reading and signing at Vroman's in Pasadena on Thursday, July 1st at 7:00 pm. If you're in the area, I'd love to see you!

Last fall, I read THE MAGICIAN'S ELEPHANT by Kate Dicamillo. Now, while it wasn't my favorite book of hers, I still really enjoyed it. There was something a little bit magical about it. And after I closed the book, I had this longing to write a book that felt magical in a way. I can't describe what I was thinking or feeling. But I grabbed my idea journal and I wrote down these words:

A story in the garden.

Events happen in and around the garden, a beautiful flower garden.

There is a bird.

There is a gypsy.

There is a girl and a boy.

There is a mother.

There is a king.

The bird ties everything together

Since then, I've written many other things in that journal. But always, I came back to that page, and thought, what is the story on this page? I want to find it. Someday.

Recently, when I became frustrated with a novel I had been writing for a few months, I flipped open my idea journal, like I often do, to see what I might find. And again, I paused on that page I had written months and months ago. And suddenly, things started coming to me.

I finished writing the book recently - it's a middle grade novel. Once I started, everything came together in a very magical way and I love, love, LOVE the story I ended up with. Not all of the things listed above ended up in the book. And some things are a tad different from what's listed above. My agent has read it, and she loved it as well. YAY!! I have some minor revisions to do on it before it's ready to go, and I've been swamped with other stuff, so haven't gotten to it yet. But hopefully it will be ready for submission soon.

When I bought the journal on etsy, the girl making it asked me what quote I'd like put on the inside, for inspiration. I chose this one:

Do you have an idea journal? Have I tempted you to try one if you don't? I highly recommend it!

~Lisa, Miss Crafting a Career

I've officially lost it

Tip of the day: Have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend.

Lost what, you ask?

That loving feeling.

Oh yes. I have.

Last week, I asked the question, if a writer is struggling, REALLY struggling with a story, does it mean something?

Replies were mixed, and I don't know that anyone can know the right answer, because each book is different and each writer is different.

I kept going for a few more chapters, and then I threw my hands in the air and said, "Enough!" Or maybe I said, "I need cupcakes!" I'm not sure. It's all a blur now.

I'm setting the story aside for now. Because I decided, the biggest problem with the story is, I just don't care. There's nothing there to make me want to care about the story, the characters, any of it. And until I can figure that out, and make it something I do care about, what's the point? Because if I don't care, you can bet no one else is going to care either.

The good news?

I've already started a new story. One that is going to make me stretch as a writer. One that scares me, because it's complex in a way, and really different, and I don't have everything quite figured out yet. But guess what? I ALREADY CARE. This is a story I want to tell. A story that could fly or flop, depending on what I do with it. That excites me. Can I do it? Only time will tell.

So lesson learned this week - I *have* to care. What about you?

~Lisa, Miss Crafting a Career

Why writing for me can't be a solitary profession

Tip of the day: I am HERE this weekend, talking about me, my writing, and my books. Please, come and see me!!

I think I've talked here before about how one of my writerly weaknesses is coming up with ideas. I really have to work hard to come up with my book ideas. Whenever I hear authors say they have entire notebooks filled with ideas, I secretly want to break into their house and steal them. I mean, to me that would be better than a treasure chest full of gold!

Even when I have an idea, sometimes the specific plot points that need to occur in the story trip me up. It seems like I'll get stuck on one thing and I'll try to figure out how to make it work, even though it really is just NOT working and I should come up with something else entirely. But it's SO hard for me to do that.

I'm in the process of doing a total rewrite on a book, and pretty much everything has had to change. One crucial element in the story that worked in the first version is just not going to cut it this time around. And I kept trying to think of how else things could play out and nothing made sense. I was to that point where I was ready to just give up. I mean, you've been there, right? It's so frustrating!!

It reminds me of a really hard puzzle and there's one piece you can't find and you look and you look and you look and finally, you think, why am I still looking, this is not fun anymore!!!

And just like with a puzzle, a new set of eyes or ears can make ALL the difference. Writing friends have pulled me from the pit of despair probably a hundred times. Sometimes you just need someone to play the what if game with you. Our own Deena, Miss Subbing for Pubbing, recently helped me pin down a plot element for a new story I was working on recently, and what she came up with was PERFECT.

At first, I'm like, duh, why didn't I think of that? But then I get over myself and am just SO grateful that I have people I can turn to who are willing to listen or read a bit and help out.

Some writers can write a book beginning to end all by themselves. And occasionally, I do that as well. But more often than not, it takes a village to finish one of my books. I can look at each of my books and think of at least a couple of places where it made ALL the difference having input from a writer friend or two on what should be there.

Sometimes I just can't find the missing puzzle piece, and want to smash thing to bits all over the floor. But now I know, before I do that, I should call in a friend. Because most times, they point RIGHT to it, and the picture is much clearer as a result.

~Lisa, Miss Crafting a Career

Mystery Central: General Tips

Tip of the Day: check out this cool mystery book trailer for the latest book in the "Dead Is" supernatural mystery series by Marlene Perez. These books are awesome!!!

Last day here on Mystery Central. Don't forget to check out my tips on characters, crime, and mystery structure. To wrap everything up, I'd like to give some general tips about things I've learned writing mysteries for middle-grade and teen readers.

1.) Watch alot of mystery TV shows. I know you are supposed to read. Yadda. Yadda. Yadda. But this is an excellent quick way to understand how plots fit together, red herrings are thrown at the viewer, clues are given (and mistaken), and how the sleuth figures it out.

Ones I particularly like: Castle and Psych (mainly because both of these take a comedic mystery approach, which I think fits more with younger readers), and Vernonica Mars (why oh why did this show have to get cancelled. I'm still not over it.)

2.) Keep a running list of things you want to add later. With lots of clues you are giving out, it can get confusing (at least it does for me), so I like to have a list of things I need to add later to remind the reader.

3.) There's lots of cool books out there that help with crime solving. One which is especially good for a younger audience: The Nancy Drew Sleuth Book.

4.) If you are wanting tips for more forensic type stuff or just general crime info. The FBI has tons of great stuff on it's Website, particularly on their Law Enforcement Services page and Research page.

There's tons of tips online and in mystery writing books, so you should never be without ideas. If anyone wants to share any other tips, I'd love to hear them.

--Emily, Miss Querylicious

Mystery Central: The Crime

Tip of the Day: happy soon-to-be spring everyone!

Continuing on about mystery novels, in addition to the mystery structure there's a few more things I like to know about my book before I get started writing.

The first one: The Crime

Now since we're talking about MG and YA novels, the crime probably isn't going to be anywhere near as bad as in an adult mystery novel (though never say never, I guess). So the saying that a mystery novel has to contain a dead body, doesn't always apply to mysteries for younger readers. Whatever your crime is, it has to fit the tone of your book.

Once you have a general idea of what your crime will be: kidnapping, theft, murder, etc. then there's a few things I like to figure out:

1. Crime Scenario (Victim, weapon, scene of the crime, etc.)
2. What appears to have happened
3. What really happened
4. Why this crime matters to the sleuth

With MG and YA mysteries the sleuth is often more invested in the crime, merely because they don't have jobs such as a police officer, private investigator, lawyer, or even bounty hunter. Sure you can have them pretend to be one of the above or aspire to be one when they become an adult, but there still has to be something linking the sleuth to this particular crime.

Knowing this ahead of time helps me a ton when writing.

--Emily, Miss Querylicious

Photo borrowed from: http://www.mysterygift.biz/mystery.jpg

A helpful tool for writers

Tip of the day: I was in PW's Children's Bookshelf yesterday! Scroll all the way down, and you'll see me.

When asked the question - are you a plotter or a panster, in the past I've mostly been a panster. I get a seed of an idea, or better yet, a few seeds, and a character to start with, and I jump in and write by the seat of my pants.

That's how I wrote I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME.

That's how I wrote FAR FROM YOU.

That's how I wrote IT'S RAINING CUPCAKES.

Generally I have a rough idea of where I'm going, but not always. With CUPCAKES, I really didn't know. Things just came to me as I wrote, and fortunately, it all worked out in the end.

I have some drawer novels, however, that didn't work out so well in the end. And now that I'm trying this FT author thing on for size, I feel like I can't waste precious time on books that may or may not work out in the end. And yet, I really don't like outlining. It takes all the fun out of it for me. I want the characters to lead me where they may, and to whisper secrets in my ear as I'm telling their story. That just isn't going to happen in an outline.

So I was really happy to find THIS POST by C.J. Omololu, author of the YA novel DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS. Here, she takes us through the 9 steps for plotting fiction.

This has changed my writing life! It allows me to figure out the important parts of my book but still leaves lots of room for stuff to happen as I'm writing.

A little over two months ago, I mapped out a story using this method and as soon as I finished writing out my 9 boxes, I went to work on a new verse novel. Last week, I finished it! And I LOVE IT!! Even better? My agent does too!!!

I don't think you necessarily have to do it before you start, but definitely after you've written the first third of the book, because it can help you make sure you have all necessary elements planned out. Just like anything in life, it's much easier to get to where you're going when you KNOW where you're going.

Have you tried this method? If not, do you think it might be something that could work for you?

~Lisa, Miss Crafting a Career

Pro Opinions (or Y I RACWI)

Tip of the Day: If you'll be in Western NY on Saturday, November 7, check out the Rochester Children's Book Fest!

My local SCBWI chapter contains the Rochester Area Children's Writers and Illustrators (RACWI) and I feel so fortunate to be part of this group! Not only are the kidlit writers talented and friendly, but they are helpful and put on the amazing Rochester Children's Book Fest!

At our last meeting, we got into small groups and discussed problems we know we have with our writing, the business, etc., and the other group members offered their 2 cents. My writing question to the group was, "How do you balance the right amount of setting details with rest of the novel? (How do you make sure that the novel isn't bogged down with environmental descriptions, yet there are enough so that the reader can see what is in your head?)"

Here are some of the helpful responses and suggestions I received:

1) Sprinkle details in small batches, 2-3 sentences or so, around the ms.
2) Write out every setting detail you see in your head in a separate doc, then transfer the relevent bits over to the main doc where appropriate.
3) In a separate doc (after a complete draft/scene is written), write a list of every detail that was included, then a list beside that of what is still important and has not been added in yet.
4) Use the five senses in every scene.

Thanks again, RACWI friends!

Anyone else have any more suggestions for me on making the setting clear yet seamless with the rest of the novel?

Deena, Miss Subbing for Pubbing

Listening to the twinges of doubt

Tip of the day: "In the eyes of a child, you will see the world how it should be." American Proverb

So, I hope to have a new manuscript to send to my agent by the end of the month! This both excites me and terrifies me.

You'd think it would get easier over time, but I don't think it ever does.

I'm so afraid I've failed miserably with this story. I think I have a good hook. And these days, that's certainly an important thing to have.

But I ask questions like - have I done the story justice? Are my characters well enough developed? Are the fantasy elements too far "out there?" Do I need more description in places?

And as I write these questions out, I think by the very fact that I'm writing them, thinking about them, I probably still have work to do. Granted, some of these concerns, like whether certain elements are even working, will have to wait until I get some reader feedback. I'm sending it to a critique partner next week, and it'll be interesting to see what she has to say.

But some of the other things, I know I just need to dig in and do some work.

Have you ever read over a manuscript and felt a little twinge of something as you read, but you said, oh no, it's fine, and just kept going? I call those twinges of doubt. I believe most of the time, our instincts know what needs to be done. We just need to listen. The problem is that listening means more work.

But writing IS work. Anyone who thinks otherwise is wrong. For those of you who have written a novel, published or unpublished, I applaud you. It's a lot of work, as I have recently discovered yet again. And revising is work. And revising again is work. And... well, you get the idea.

~Lisa, Miss Crafting a Career

Advice for a PB Dabbler? (or Dare I Try to be Concise?)

Tip of the Day: People-watch at summer festivals for some character inspiration!

I did it. I wrote a draft of a picture book. And not just any picture book -- a RHYMING picture book. Is that a death sentence or what?

It was fun to write! It was great to see the end of my story in just one page -- 250 words! And even coming up with the rhymes was kind of soothing in a poetic way.

Is it perfect? Uh, no. Does it need tons of work on the rhythm and rhyme? Yes. Am I happy I gave it a shot? Very much!

BUT -- I need advice here! How do I know when my rhymes and rhythms are perfect? Bc to be honest, sometimes I read it so much and make the rhymes fit in my head even if they're not right. And then there are some words that people in different regions pronounce differently!

In general, what advice does anyone have for a novel writer who is dabbling in picture books? What is the market like? Is it picking up for pbs at all?

Deena, Miss Subbing for Pubbing

Spreadsheet is a Success!

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

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!

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

First draft tips

Tip of the day: Clear mailing labels make excellent book plates. When someone e-mails me wondering if she can send one of my books in the mail for me to sign, I offer to send a signed book plate instead. It saves on postage and when you peel it off and stick it in the book, you can hardly tell it’s a label and not an actual signature in the book.

Okay. Raise your hands. How many of you have been working on a first draft of a book? Please, tell me! I want to know I’m not alone!!

I’m working on the book I started, got to 20,000 words, and started over. And guess what? I’m back up to 20,000 words again. Yay! It feels great. And I’m really liking this book now, much more than I liked the first version. Here are some things I try to remember when I’m writing a first draft:

1) Don’t get too caught up in details. Details are easy to add in later. If they come easily to you while you’re writing, great. But if they don’t, it’s okay to put something like [need to describe the house better] and then keep going and come back to it later. I promise, it’s not cheating!

2) Make sure your characters sound different from each other. If they all sound the same, it’s not good! A boy should talk differently than a girl. And two girls should have something about them that differentiates one from the other. Maybe one is a talker and goes on and on while the other is more succinct with her language. Whatever it is, figure it out and try to be consistent throughout the book.

3) Try to end your chapters at a place where your reader will want to keep reading AND where you will want to keep writing (at this point). I really try to NOT leave off for the day at the end of the chapter. I’ve learned over the years it’s much easier to reenter a manuscript in the middle of a scene than coming in to a new one.

4) The first draft is not the time to worry much about theme or any of that heavy stuff. That comes later. For now, just try to tell an interesting story. Every chapter, ask yourself, am I keeping the story moving? Am I throwing enough conflict at my character? Conflict is what makes a story compelling. Remember, you have to put your character in a tree and throw rocks at her. I know it’s hard, but that’s our job!

5) Finally, trust your instincts with the first draft. Listen to your heart. And your main character! I believe thinking too much during the first draft might cause us problems. Don’t think, just go with it. Yes, it needs to make sense and yes you need to make sure you’re heading in a general direction. But don’t think too hard about it all at this stage. Just write. Have fun with it. And know that once the first draft is done, that’s when you can dig in and do the real work, to make the manuscript really shine.

I’m excited to do some writing this weekend. What about you!?

~Lisa, Miss Crafting a Career

Writing 101

Tip of the day: Happy May Day! When you were younger, did you leave flowers on a porch, ring the door bell, and run? I used to do that and it was SO fun! I wish a kid would do that to me today, I would love seeing a little bunch of flowers on my doorstep.

Lately I’ve been getting a LOT of e-mails from teens wanting writing advice. So I thought I would use this as an opportunity to post some thoughts on this very broad, and very BIG, topic, and perhaps I can just refer them to this post as I need to!

Sometimes the person asking for advice will say something like, “I really want to write, I just don’t know how to get started.”

Lots and lots of people *talk* about wanting to write a book. I think I read a statistic that said 97% of people in the US have thought about writing a book at one time. The number of people who actually DO it, however, is much, MUCH smaller. And perhaps it is because it seems so overwhelming – like running a marathon is to non-runners, probably.

And so, if we compare this to running a marathon, you wouldn’t necessarily wake up and decide to run a marathon with no training. Instead, you’d go to the track, and maybe start out doing a mile, if you could, right? So why not start small with the writing too? Try a writing prompt, or simply write about your main character and get to know him/her. One easy and fun thing to do is to write your main character a letter, and then write a letter back to yourself as your character. See what she says!

As far as writing prompts, here’s a website I found that has hundreds of writing prompts: http://www.creativewritingprompts.com/# . Move your mouse around the screen and look at all the different ideas you can find!

Sometimes, a writing prompt can turn into something bigger. And that’s great! Go with it. If not, that’s okay too. Writing is like anything else – the more you do it, the better you get. So write, write, write. every day, write something.

When you really feel ready to write a novel, you’ll need a big, novel (ha!) idea. This is not always easy for me, so I know it can be difficult to think of something you could write an entire book about. So, as I’ve suggested before, keep a journal, and write down thoughts and ideas about things and places and people you like. Maybe you LOVE dogs. Maybe you are especially crazy about cocker spaniels. Write it down. Think about a place you love. The beach? Write it down. Just keep writing things down and then, see if you can piece them together to make a story.

A good, simple formula is to ask yourself what your character wants and what is standing in her way. A story will contain characters that seem like real people. They’ll have likes and dislikes, a certain voice, a certain style. Play around until you find the right character to tell the story you want to tell. Then take us on a journey and let us see the character struggle to get what she wants.

Here are some great writing books to check out:

WRITING THE BREAKOUT NOVEL by Donald Maass
BEGINNINGS, MIDDLES AND ENDINGS by Nancy Kress
THE WRITER’S JOURNEY: MYTHIC STRUCTURE FOR WRITING by Christopher Vogler.

Happy writing!

~Lisa, Miss Crafting a Career

Outline Ideas: Planning and Plotting

Tip of the Day: Now that the sun is finally shining in Upstate New York (can you believe it?), it's time for me to remember to apply my face moisturizer with SPF 30 in the morning. I'm so glad someone invented that stuff!

I just finished a later draft of a novel, and I have another novel where I stopped writing at the climax chapter. Nothing beats sitting down and churning out pages for getting things done, but I'm at the point where my projects need organization. I need a plan, and that means I need to spend time planning.

I'm not a great outliner. I'm not sure I'm even a mediocre outliner. I can write them, but they never turn out as expected. What I thought I could cover in a few pages turns out to be two chapters long. Then months later, I'll figure out how I can get from plot point A to plot point B a better way ... but then I'll have to scrap the outline! Horrors! It was so hard to write! Why did I bother?

On the other hand, looking at a draft of a novel and writing down as my weekly goal "Make this better" isn't working out either.

Right now, I'm really digging this article by Alicia Rasley called Outline Your Novel in Thirty Minutes (http://www.sff.net/people/Alicia/artout.htm). It's a series of 9 questions about your idea. I used it to test a potential plot idea for a new book to see if it had potential. I also used it for the novel I'm working on. That one already has a plot (or so I like to think), but the questions helped me identify a way to build in more tension that I'm excited about.

Here's the first question on the list: 1. At the start of your book, what distinguishes your protagonist from other people? What central strength does he/she have? How does this strength get him/her into trouble?

Isn't that brilliant? What makes your main character different from other people? (Okay, you can all take a minute and answer that one.)

So instead of working on a chapter by chapter outline, I've been working on big, macro-level outlines. I've noticed that it gives me ideas that I can slot into this chapter or that, and I jot them down with notes like "C3" for chapter 3. (Fancy code, right?) I'll still have to whip this into something with a timeline (ahh, the dreaded timeline!!!) but staring at a spreadsheet with a chapter column is so not me.

Hmm, start with the short plot summary and then expand it into details ... yeah, not so revolutionary. I've been hearing that forever. But hearing it and figuring out how to put it into practice are two different things! Any advice?

-- Kate, Miss Perfecting the Pages

Dear Lisa edition - advice for aspiring authors

Tip of the day: If you are a Mac user and struggle with the distraction of the Internet, you might want to try Freedom. It allows you to set a timer so you don’t have access to the internet during that time, so you can write in peace! It’s free to install and easy to use!

I’m feeling this need to try and say something helpful today. To give you guys advice of some kind. It's fun to play "Dear Abby" once in awhile, isn't it?

In interviews, I often get asked, what’s the one piece of advice you like to give to writers? And I think I usually say something like, read a lot and write a lot, make sure you experiment and play and discover where your strengths are.

And I believe that. But there are probably ten other things I could tell you I believe as well. So today, I'll give you a few other nuggets of mine. Oh boy, aren't you just so lucky! They’re all over the place as far as topics, but that’s okay. As you know, there are many pieces to this writing and publishing puzzle!

1. Don’t let the desire to be published ruin your life. Please! I know it’s something that can make your heart ache, wanting to see that book you sweated over sitting on a shelf in a bookstore. I certainly understand that desire to have someone read your words, and to connect with you through the story you created. I know. I get it. But I also know it’s a tough business, and it can be years of trying and writing and writing some more and trying some more. Life is short! Don’t live in misery while you wish and wait for a book to sell. Find other things you like to do and that bring you joy, and recognize when you need to take a break from the madness of this business.

2. Learn how to write a hook that describes your book. How? By reading others. If you have never joined Publishers Marketplace before, I recommend you do it for a short period of time (cost is $20.00 for a month) and study deals, retype them, and work on writing up a short, juicy description for your own book. Learn how to write a really short one, a medium one, and the longer one-page synopsis. Again and again, I’ve seen how this skill is so important. Yes, my editors write my jacket copy, but I like to read it and provide input. Even now, when I don’t have to try and woo an agent, I certainly want to try and wow the one I have! So I’ll write up a one or two sentence pitch about the book I’m working on, to give her an idea. If you’re still looking for an agent, practicing and getting this skill down is only going to help you when you’re writing your query letter, trust me!

3. More than anything else, work on craft. Sometimes I hear of writers who keep trying and trying and trying to get published with one book. If you really want to be a writer, guess what, you have to KEEP WRITING. I know it’s hard sometimes to think you spent all that time writing a book that won’t ever be published, but it’s really not wasted time. Think of those books as schooling. I’m guessing most first books don’t sell. Do some? Sure, of course. But you have to be willing, at some point, to let go and move on, I think.

4. Find writers who are in the same place as you. This is SO important. You need friends by your side, to laugh with, to cry with, to read with, to critique with. How do you meet people? You can find them at places where writers hang out on-line, or go to a conference with the goal of finding a couple of people to start a group with.

I think that’s all I have time for today, but if there’s anything you’d like to know about, leave it in the comments and we’ll tackle it in a future blog post!

~Lisa, Miss Crafting a Career

Short v. Long (or Quickies v. Lingering Eyes)

Tip of the Day: Make sure at least one book you're reading is a manageable sized paperback for easy reading while on the exercise bike/treadmill.



After months of writing and revising novels, I decided in March I'd focus on reworking some short stories. Over the past couple years, I've drafted pieces for children's magazines and either stopped subbing them after one rejection, or put them aside to focus on novels. I've never had a mag story published, but I'm still motivated to keep trying.



I have to say, it's a welcome break! The different pace of the stories, and the feeling that the end of the piece is always in sight are good things to dabble in once in a while.



So what differences have I noticed so far in writing short stories for mags as compared to novels -- things I definitely need to keep in mind while I play around with my writing in March -- that I can share?



1. Short stories need to jump right into the conflict. While the same is said for novels, it is also said that novels can start too soon, like before the reader has any empathy for the MC. But in a short story with a very limited word count, the conflict needs to happen almost immediately.

2. Short stories need voice. Yes, this is also needed in novels, but the voice of the narrative and voice of the MC both need to be super strong from the first word. There are less words allowed to build characters, so a lot of the characterization must come from the voice.

3. Short stories need every word to matter. In a novel, a few extraneous sentences here or there can get buried in the large number of pages. In a short story, each word that doesn't matter will stick out and make the reader ask why it was there. Or precious words that could be better spent on areas that do need developement for the short story are wasted elsewhere.



What tips do you have for writing short stories for children's magazines?



Deena, Miss Subbing for Pubbing

Be yourself as a writer

Tip of the Day: Don’t ever be afraid to be yourself!

It’s strange Kate brought up writing challenges/exercises yesterday because they have been on my mind. I recently went to a local writing group led by a newspaper humor columnist. Each session he assigns a writing exercise for the group. When we were talking about what type of exercise might be good for that week, someone mentioned maybe it would be helpful to write a humorous piece, even if that’s not in the style of writing we typically write.

He seemed very leery and decided to go a different direction because his feelings with humor were basically you either have it or you don’t. And you can’t force it.

Now I’m never one to think you shouldn’t at least try something once. Because you never know you could be the next Meg Cabot and don’t even know it. But I do think there is some truth to the fact you have to figure out your writing voice and stick with it.

Because let’s face it, most of us aren’t the next Meg Cabot, are we? So it’s best to accept it, move on, and figure out what makes our writing stand out of the pack. If we are just imitating others, it just ain’t goina happen.

Actress/writer Amber Benson wrote an interesting blog article last week about how as an actress it was important for her to figure out who she was and play that up to get roles in Hollywood. Pretending to be the part she thought executives wanted her to be wasn’t working. I think that’s just as important in writing.

Are you good at complex characters? Witty one-liners? Quirky, yet lovable heroines? Dark, mysterious plot lines? Good! Then don’t be afraid to play up your strengths and use them to your advantage.

We don’t always have to be improving our weaknesses. Sometimes it’s just as important to capitalize on our strengths and be ourselves as a writer!

And because I just saw the most hilarious cheerleading movie ever, I thought it might be good to finally whip out my cheering skills:

Picture much hand clapping and cheesy smiles to the rhythm of the Be Aggressive chant:
Be Yourself.
Be ee Yourself.
Be Yourself
Be ee yourself!

(Okay, yeah, maybe I should skip the cheerleading. But at least I tried it once, and figured out it wasn’t for me ;-) Moving on…)

--Emily, Miss Querylicious