Big, Big World Building

Tip of the Day: Seriously, someone please remind me next Sunday NOT to watch the Buffalo Bills game. It totally buzz kills the weekend.

Do you know what I'd like to write? Science fiction. A big futuristic fantasy with some technology thrown in. I'm thinking "colony on the moon." I really want to write a story that takes place in a moon colony.

I've shied away from this kind of story before because I haven't had good luck with stories with super cool settings and sketchy, vague characters. I have a ton of potential "awesome settings, no characters" ideas: 1900 Outerbanks, 1910 Steampunk Metro New York, the Great San Francisco Earthquake (possibly also steampunk), and also some kind of Gilligan's Island type thing--hey, I never thought of doing Gilligan's Island Steampunk until now! I'm calling that one! Don't you all jump on it first! (Or is Gilligan's Island already Bamboo Punk?)

My moon colony idea is different, though, because it has characters with motivation. I met a couple of restless teenagers on the moon. They're unhappy with their lives and want out of my colony. Of course, there's no air on the moon, so they can't just walk out. They're going to need my help.

If I'm going to explore this story further--and I think I should, because setting, plot, and character all together are hard to come by--I'm going to have to world build. What do they eat? How do they dress? How is the colony heated? Is there garbage? Where does it go? I can't even imagine all the questions I'm going to need to address. This isn't like a paranormal where I can build some magic rules and history and assume a kitchen is still a kitchen. This is going to require more planning before writing than I'm used to.

Does anybody have any tips on where to start? Websites, books, templates? Do you plan out your story world on paper or on computer? I'm at the very beginning of exploring this idea, so now is the perfect time for me to learn new ways of planning. I'd be grateful for any suggestions.

-- Kate, Miss Perfecting the Pages

How much is too much?

Tip of the day: Want to read Tina Springer's book, THE ESPRESSOLOGIST? Of course you do! Her release day is getting closer! You can pre-order your very own copy HERE or HERE.

With my own book's release date less than three months away, I've been thinking about promotion. Specifically, is there such a thing as too much?

I have a little blog tour lined up for the week of the release. But I know some authors set up guest blogs and interviews for an entire month after the release.

I suppose the idea is that the more places you and your book are, the more people who see you. But what about the people who see you again and again? Are you potentially turning them off by showing your book to them over and over?

I have to admit that sometimes I think to myself, okay, enough already. But I may be an odd duck. I understand, we all have to promote ourselves. But I guess I believe that at some point, you have to let go and turn the book over to the readers, and let them tell other people to buy it. If it's good, that's exactly what they'll do.

But I want to ask you - do you think an author can do TOO much on-line promotion, to the point where you're potentially turning people off? Or is there not such a thing as "too much?"

~Lisa, Miss Crafting a Career

How are You?

Tip of the Day: Don't write while wearing spanx.

I've been stressing over launch party stuff the last few weeks as you might recall from my posts. But I'm happy to say I've finally got it all resolved! Whoo hoo! It's going to be at Fat Bean Coffee Bar in Naperville, Illinois on November 7th, from 2-4pm. And Borders will be there selling books. And there will be lots of coffee, (hurrah!) juice, and cake. And I will sing and dance. Okay, I lied, I won't sing and dance. But the rest is true. So if you are anywhere in the area please come and say hi!

And now that I'm not actively freaking out about anything, I need to catch up with everyone. Talk to me blog readers. What are you guys all up to? What projects are you working on? What are you reading? What are you going to be for Halloween? :-)















Kristina, Miss Delighted to Debut

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

Written from Planet Psyche Myself Out

Tip of the Day: Before you buy pumpkins, check them for fruit flies. Liquid pumpkin guts on your porch is a little too gruesome!

I have just begun work revising a very important scene. A big scene where different plot strings have to come together. There needs to be adventure, tension, revelations, and 7 characters interacting, all with different motives. I can't forget the setting, either, or how my main character is feeling extremely worried about her best friend hating her and about being caught sneaking around. She has to find the right things sneaking around that reveal enough of the mystery to take us into the end of the book.

I am procrastinating this like mad, and nothing is working to get me working.

I feel in over my head. I can't do all this! So what that I have a million notes. I have too many notes! They all say different things!

I've been trying to bribe myself by telling myself that this is really the last thing that needs to be revised and after I finish, I can send out queries. That isn't working. Now I'm like OMG, everything rides on this scene!

In other words, I'm psyching myself out. I'm rapidly approaching "I'm not good enough, I'm not smart enough, and nobody is going to like this" territory. I wonder what Stuart Smalley would have to say to that.

I deserve good things. I am entitled to my share of happiness. I refuse to beat myself up. I am attractive person. I am fun to be with.

Okay, seriously, how do you get yourself out of a psyche-yourself-out mode?

-- Kate, Miss Perfecting the Pages

The Day My Writerly Life Changed

Tip of the day: Don’t buy Halloween candy yet. You know what will happen if you do!!!

My agent posted about what she’s looking for HERE, and is open to queries now.

Since I know there are people reading this blog on the agent search, I thought I’d point you there.

You may notice that in her post, she talks about my books and the query letter that interested her enough to ask to read my book.

Reading that description again, it took me back to the day I heard back from her after she read my manuscript. Keep in mind what I had written – a novel in verse about a girl being haunted by her dead boyfriend. Not exactly an easy sell.

I had some interesting responses to my query letter prior to Sara asking to read the manuscript. One agent said he wouldn’t know a good verse novel from a bad one, so he definitely wasn’t the agent for me. Another agent said the word count was far too low for a novel, what I had was more of a novella. Obviously she had never read a verse novel before! Others just straight out said – no.

But I kept trying, because of all the books I had written, I really felt like this one might be THE ONE. Thankfully, Sara requested the full, and a couple of weeks later, I got an e-mail from her. I was at work, and when the e-mail popped up, I waited, and didn’t open it for a couple of minutes. You know some of you do that too! I remember thinking, I need to prepare myself. I need to prepare myself for another no.

Finally, I opened it. And when I saw words like “the verse created a unique atmosphere” and “I would be the strongest of advocates,” I stepped up and away from my desk, my hands clutched at my chest as I said, “Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh.”

The secretary in cubical next to me said, “Lisa, are you okay?” I think she thought I was having a heart attack.

Nope. Not a heart attack.

An agent! An agent who loved my work!

And now, I am close to having four novels out.

Dreams really do come true!! So get those queries out there. You never know when it's your turn for a YES!

~Lisa, Miss Crafting a Career

Everyday is a little bit like Christmas

Tip of the Day: It's Deena's birthday! Whoo hoo! Have a fabulous day! :-)

Yeah, I know this is a really weird title for today's blog but it was the best way I could describe how I'm feeling right now. It's less than a month until my first book comes out and the build up to that moment is CRAZY. I'm so freaking excited! There is something happening everyday. You know at Christmas time how the month before everyone is really nice to each other? And you get little surprises like the neighbor stops by with cookies or your aunt sends you a poinsettia? And all the trickling in Christmas cards? Fun right? Well I'm getting lots of surprises like that. Lots of notes wishing me and my book well and reviews coming in with a date of when they will be published. Interview requests and e-mails with attachments of kick-butt ads for my book that will be appearing in magazines or newspapers. Things that I've ordered for my launch party are being delivered. It's really, really cool.

BUT, since it's feeling a bit like Christmas I'm hoping that the after Christmas let down isn't next. You know that day after when you're like, all that work, all that lead up and preparations and now it's all over and I'm left with a stomachache and a house full of shredded wrapping paper and empty boxes and those annoying little silver twisties that come with every toy and oh blech, taking down the tree isn't nearly as fun as putting it up and there are 364 more days until next Christmas. You know what I mean right? Think that's what happens?

Kristina, Miss Delighted to Debut