NaNoWriMo = Research

When I decided to sign on for this year's Nano, I wasn't expecting to be struck with an idea I find somewhat controversial.  But I was - nonetheless.  The story I'll be working on is about a 17 year old girl that attempts suicide and what her road to recovery is like.  This is not something I'm familiar with, but it feels like a story I need to write.

So how does one go about writing about teen suicide when they know nothing about it?  The answer, plain and simply, is, research.  Of course, I'm not saying go try to commit suicide (seriously, don't do it, your life is worth so much).  The area in which I need to research is what happens to a teen after the suicide attempt occurs.  In my story, she is sent to a Equine (horse) Rehab Camp along with other teens with health risks.  She meets other struggling teens, participates in private and group Psychology sessions and befriends an abused rescue horse.

My character learns a lot about herself through life at camp and with the Psychology sessions she learns to love and trust others, and becomes a better person.  For those interested, this is a Young Adult novel, so (of course) there is a love interest with his own set of problems.

Okay - now, how do I do Psychology research?  Obviously I don't have a degree in Psychology so the next best thing is to find someone who does.  When I attended a writing workshop this past weekend (great by the way), the two presenting authors recommended writing to people in the profession in which you need help.  Seriously, why didn't I think of that?  Today, I've sent an email to a College Regent Professor in hopes of gaining knowledge for my novel - I do hope I'll hear back from her as I know it will only make this novel that much stronger.

By the way, NaNoWriMo starts tomorrow!  Are you ready?

Writing Tips: More On Plots

Let's talk more about plots. You know you want to!

Remember the last post I wrote about plots?  Today I'm going to have you read an excerpt by author (and former literary agent) Nathan Bransford on his description of a plot.  His is amazing and really nails it on the head, in my opinion.  When I read through his description of a plot, it just clicks and makes sense.

And now Nathan's excerpt on plots:

Think of a book like a really big door, preferably one of those Parisian ones that are thick and heavy and last hundreds of years. Here's how it breaks down. Bullet point time!

• The premise is what happens to knock the door ajar. Something sets the protagonist's life out of balance. Preferably something really intriguing or like totally deep man.
• The climax is when the door closes. Maybe the protagonist made it through the door, maybe they didn't make it through the door but learned a really great lesson about door closing, maybe the door chopped them in half.
• The theme is how the person opening the door changes along the way.

What's the plot? The plot is what keeps the door open!! Why can't that person close the door?

So basically, plot is a premise plus a major complication that tests the protagonist. It's what opens the door plus what's keeping the door from being closed.

Check out these examples:

GILEAD: An aging man writes a letter to his young son (premise) because he doesn't think he'll live long enough for his son to really know him (complication -- also don't you want to cry already?)

THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET: A young orphan in Paris wants to repair an automaton because he thinks it will give him a letter from his deceased father (premise -- also tears), but in order to do so he must avoid the Station Inspector and enlist the help of a mysterious toy store owner (complication).

A good plot starts with an interesting premise and an interesting door-block. A great plot also implies a quest and a resolution, which is what makes the reader want to read more. We don't like chaos, we want to see order restored, we want an interesting journey along the way, and we want to see the ways a character changes after facing these obstacles.

Read more from Nathan Bransford on his website:  NathanBransford.com -- trust me, you'll be glad you did!  Be sure to bookmark his site too.

NaNoWriMo or Bust

November is National Novel Writing Month or NaNoWriMo for those who may be interested (and if you're reading here, you should be).  30 days to write 50,000 words beginning November 1 and ending November 30.

Crazy.

I know.

But, it's possible!  The proof is on their website, where dozens of participants have gone on to publish their NaNoWriMo novels.

Here's the catch, the novel you write in NaNo has to be a brand spankin' new project.  This means you can not have written ANY part of the actual novel before November 1st.  This DOESN'T mean you can't have been writing up some majestic outline and character traits and world building.  Actually, all that is encouraged and there are workshops all over the US (and I'm sure outside of the US) that you can attend and start story building -- just not story writing.  Does that make sense?  Good.



So (notice I begin a lot of sentences with that?) I'm not saying that I'm going to make the 50K word count goal in 30 days, but I'm going to give it a shot.  I tried about 5 years ago and didn't get very far.  Remember?  Pantser here.  A pantser then, a pantser now.  BUT, I've actually written down a very basic outline for a new project, oddly enough.  So who knows, maybe I will make it this year...cross my fingers.

Of course, that makes typing quite difficult...

My Reading List: Finale

Finale by Becca Fitzpatrick

Nora is more certain than ever that she is in love with Patch. Fallen angel or no, he is the one for her. Her heritage and destiny may mean they are fated to be enemies, but there is no turning her back on him. Now Nora and Patch must gather their strength to face one last, perilous trial. Old enemies return, new enemies are made, and a friend's ultimate betrayal threatens the peace Patch and Nora so desperately want. The battle lines are drawn—but which sides are they on? And in the end, are there some obstacles even love can't conquer?

My Reading List: The Evolution of Mara Dyer

The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.
She can’t.
She used to think her problems were all in her head.
They aren’t.
She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.
She’s wrong.
In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?

Alright, was anyone as excited as I was to read this?  My copy just arrived in the mail yesterday and I couldn't wait to open it up!

My Writing: How Music Influences My Writing

I listed a playlist a while ago in one of my posts and today, I thought I'd expand upon that a bit.  When I write, I listen to music.  Always.  I'm lucky to have a pretty fantastic amp in my family room that plays Pandora radio (thanks dear hubby for being the techie that you are).  I have my Pandora station tuned to the Gotye channel.  Always.

While I was writing The Phoenix, as song would come on and it would spur the creativity like crazy.  Now, I don't mean I would hear a song and write the lyrics into the novel; but more like it steered the direction of the scene.  Remember, I'm a pantser.  My stories take on a life of their own at times.

So, in the song Run by Snow Patrol, the chorus his incredible - well, the whole song is really.



In this particular song, the chorus really moves me:

Light up, light up
As if you have a choice
Even if you cannot hear my voice
I'll be right beside you dear

Louder louder
And we'll run for our lives
I can hardly speak I understand
Why you can't raise your voice to say

It's one of those bits of music that invokes such a great mental image, that unfortunately, the video (neither the one above or the "official" one) live up to - sorry Snow Patrol.  I still LOVE you.

In my head, I see a man and a woman standing in parking lot on a dark, cold night.  She has her back to him and he's trying to convince her to run away with him.  She's afraid and he doesn't understand her hesitation.  He's reaching for her and she pulls away; but he won't stop trying to reach her...

Okay, now let's talk about Mumford & Sons, specifically their song Thistle & Weeds.  Again, the whole song is great, filled with angst and powerful lyrics.

Just for good measure, here are all the lyrics:

Spare me your judgements and spare me your dreams,
Cause recently mine have been tearing my seams,
I sit alone in this winter clarity which clouds my mind,
Alone in the wind and the rain you left me,
It's getting dark darling, too dark to see,
And I'm on my knees, and your faith in shreds, it seems.

Corrupted by the simple sniff of riches blown,
I know you have felt much more love than you've shown,
And I'm on my knees and the water creeps to my chest.

But plant your hope with good seeds,
Don't cover yourself with thistle and weeds,
Rain down, rain down on me,
Look over your hills and be still,
The sky above us shoots to kill,
Rain down, rain down on me.

(There's a bunch of 'hold on's' here)

I begged you to hear me, there's more than flesh and bones,
Let the dead bury their dead, they will come out in droves,
But take the spade from my hands and fill in the holes, you've made.

But plant your hope with good seeds,
Don't cover yourself with thistle and weeds,
Rain down, rain down on me.

Good stuff, huh?  There are so many great songs out there that inspire me in my writing.  What inspires you?

My Reading List: Little Women

 

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

 Little Women is one of the best loved books of all time. Lovely Meg, talented Jo, frail Beth, spoiled Amy: these are hard lessons of poverty and of growing up in New England during the Civil War. Through their dreams, plays, pranks, letters, illnesses, and courtships, women of all ages have become a part of this remarkable family and have felt the deep sadness when Meg leaves the circle of sisters to be married at the end of Part I. Part II, chronicles Meg's joys and mishaps as a young wife and mother, Jo's struggle to become a writer, Beth's tragedy, and Amy's artistic pursuits and unexpected romance. Based on Louise May Alcott's childhood, this lively portrait of nineteenth- century family life possesses a lasting vitality that has endeared it to generations of readers.

Writing Tips: What is a Plot?

As someone who has only recently began to dig deeper in to the realm of writing, I thought it would be interesting to learn more about the basics of writing.  For the purpose of this blog post, let's talk about the Plot.

Merriam-Webster defines a plot as: "the plan or the main story."

Wikipedia has this to say about a plot: "the events that make up a theme, particularly as they relate to one another in a pattern, in a sequence, through cause and effect, how the reader views the story, or simply by coincidence."

One of my favorite people on the web, Nathan Bransford writes this about a plot: [the] "plot is a premise plus a major complication that tests the protagonist. It's what opens the door plus what's keeping the door from being closed."

For today's plot post, we'll focus on the Wikipedia's definition.  We'll get into Nathan's plot tips in a later post (trust me, the wait is worth it!) .

We all vaguely remember grade school English classes where we learned about the basic plot outline, right?  Okay, admittedly, it's been a long time since I've even seen one of those things, so I've found a sample online for us all to look at.

10 points for anyone that remembers what this diagram is actually called...Give up?  I only remember because I've just looked it up (ha!).  The diagram is called "Freytag's Pyramid", now the lights are flashing on - because for me, after reading the name, it totally clicked and brought back memories of reading through Middle Grade books and picking out the "rising action" the "climax" and the "falling action".  None of which I EVER enjoyed doing.  Maybe that's why I'm a pantser now.

Anyway, getting back to the plot.  So, if you follow Freytag's Pyramid, you begin your novel with the exposition.

The exposition introduces all of the main characters in the story. It shows how they relate to one another, what their goals and motivations are, and the kind of person they are.  Most importantly, in the exposition, the audience gets to know the main character (protagonist), and the protagonist gets to know his or her main goal and what is at stake if he or she fails to attain this goal.

The next phase would be the rising action, or conflict.  Generally, in this phase the protagonist understands his or her goal and begins to work toward it. Smaller problems thwart their initial success, and in this phase their progress is directed primarily against these secondary obstacles. This phase shows us how he or she overcomes these obstacles.

Thus, at the end of this phase and at the beginning of the next they are finally in a position to go up against their primary goal. This part begins after the exposition. It consists of a beginnings of a tension or complication that continues with the development of conflict between the characters.

Ah the climax, the turning point of the story, where the main character makes the single big decision that defines the outcome of their story and who they are as a person.  The beginning of this phase is marked by the protagonist finally having cleared away the preliminary barriers and being ready to engage with the adversary. Usually, entering this phase, both the protagonist and the antagonist have a plan to win against the other. Now for the first time we see them going against one another in direct, or nearly direct, conflict.

This struggle results with neither character completely winning, nor losing, against the other. Usually, each character's plan is partially successful, and partially foiled by their adversary. What is unique about this central struggle between the two characters is that the protagonist makes a decision which shows us one's moral quality, and ultimately determines one's fate.

The climax often contains much of the action in a story, for example, a defining battle.

The falling action is where the loose ends are being tied up. However, it is often the time of greatest overall tension in the play, because it is the phase in which everything goes most wrong.

In this phase, the villain has the upper hand. It seems that evil will triumph. The protagonist has never been further from accomplishing the goal.

The resolution is the final confrontation between the protagonist and antagonist, where one or the other decisively wins. This phase is the story of that confrontation, of what leads up to it, of why it happens the way it happens, what it means, and what its long-term consequences are.

Okay, now that we know the technical definition of a plot, the next time we talk about it, we'll get into the fun part, digging into Nathan Bransford's plot topics!

My Reading List: Before I Fall

 

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

What if you only had one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life? 

Samantha Kingston has it all: looks, popularity, the perfect boyfriend. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it turns out to be her last. 

The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. Living the last day of her life seven times during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing. 

My Reading List: Midnight in Austenland

 

Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale

Charlotte Kinder is in need of true escape when she heads from Ohio to Pembrook Park, a Jane Austen-themed retreat in the British countryside. But as it turns out, this vacation is no time to relax. Hearts are racing and stomachs fluttering in a tangle of intrigues-real and pretend, sinister and romantic-increasingly tough to sort out. It's midnight in Austenland, and Charlotte is about to prove herself a heroine worthy of Austen herself.

 

My Writing: On Smiles

I've noticed that in my writing, my characters do a lot of smiling.  A.  LOT.  Okay, you may think.  That's not a bad thing, is it?  Smiling is good for the soul.

Yes.  That's true.

Unless every page has someone smiling, or grinning, or they smile...

As in - Jane smiled at Bobby's joke.
Next page:  Bobby grinned while Jane grabbed the rolling pencil.
Next page:  Susan's lips curled into a smile wider than the English Channel.

I just went  through the 109 pages of Untouchable (still a work in progress) and reduced the "smiles" from 100 to 33.  How does one do that?  Let me show you:

Before:  Her mother forces a smile as she tells me now is not a good time.
After:   Her mother’s face draws tight, almost pinched as she tells me now is not a good time.

Which way do you prefer?  I feel like the "after" gives you a better feel for the look on the mother's face, don't you?

Contests: 6 Word Pitch

Author Natalie Whipple is hosting a creative contest that I decided to enter.  It's kind of crazy, here are the details:

How To Enter: In comments, pitch your book in six words. Yup, six. It'll be like extreme Twitter.

Prize: Each winner will receive a query and 10-page manuscript critique.

How You Win: I will choose SIX favorite pitches—those will be my winners.

Deadline: Midnight (Mountain Time), October 14th, 2012 (Winners will be announced Monday, October 15th)

Visit her website for more info: http://betweenfactandfiction.blogspot.com/

By the way, here is my 6 word pitch for The Phoenix: A Gathering.

Girl meets boy.  Boy combusts...naturally.

My Writing: On Inspiration

An idea popped in my head the other day and I was able to write it down.  I love it when they come to me unexpectedly, though sometimes it interferes with a project I'm already working on.  But -- when inspiration strikes, you've got to run with it.  At least with the main thought that occurs.

I've found when the inspirations hit, if I don't write them down then they flit away.  Faster than I would like to admit.  So my advice to anyone that has a desire to write, or if you already write, is to have a notepad and pen handy at all times just for those moments when an idea strikes.  You never know what it may turn in to.

Below is the inspiration that I was able to write down.  If you care to comment about what you think the ending to the last sentence should be, feel free.  I'm cool with input, and who knows, if this idea becomes a novel, maybe you'll get credit for those four little words!

UNTITLED

My Query Critique

I received my Query Critique back the other day and was more than thrilled with the comments and suggestions.  You may recall I won a Query Critique by the members of the Writer Therapy blog [see here].  I've removed names for privacy, not that it really matters I suppose, but I thought it would be fair.

Here is what the email said about my query:

Kristie,

Wow, you have a great query here! I was really impressed. I think the biggest things you need to look at are

1. Shortening your query pitch -- the MAXIMUM length an agent wants to see is around 2 paragraphs. That will help you really get to the heart of the story, and give your query great focus. 
2. The consequence (the final sentence of the query pitch) is too muddled. She is faced with enslavement, but I'm not quite sure what that means. I would cut the "breaking down defenses" bit, because it just confuses me further, and focus on the enslavement, and how she'll lose her freedom forever (or whatever that entails) -- that is an AMAZING consequence if you nail it right.
3. You mention the Phoenix, and I am never clear if they are paranormal creatures (ie: werewolves) or if that is just the name of their group. Rather than clarifying, it might be easier just to take the name out and leave it vague in the query. You want the reader to be asking the right questions -- questions that pull them in -- rather than questions about the clarity of the story. If you do want to keep it in, just move Phoenix closer to the area where you describe what that is. I think that will solve the issue easily.   
4. The Title: Titles changes so often in the publishing company, but it is something that can really be used in a query letter to set you apart. Mostly because it is in the subject of the email, and if it is something that really appeals to an agent, they might be tempted to open it right away. So use the title to your advantage. The Phoenix: A Gathering -- that doesn't set it in a genre. It could even be non-fiction about the city of Phoenix (which is how I read it, at first). So you want something that really sets apart your story. 
5. Paranormal - I don't read this as a paranormal. The paranormal genre has pretty much trimmed down to anything that is werewolves/vampires/paranormal creatures. Your Phoenix people seem human enough. So I would look at the story and see if it is light scifi or fantasy, or some sub-genre of those. Also, paranormal is out, so sometimes that means automatic rejection. Sometimes it won't, but you don't want that risk. It reads more like a suburban fantasy to me (if it's set in a city and has a darker edge to it). 

I have more notes in the query itself. If you have any questions, feel free to email me to clarify. Hope this helps!! You really have a great story idea there, and I'd love to see this on the book shelf someday. Good luck!

So, in case you were wondering what a critique looks like, here you go (click on the image to enlarge).

 

Thanks to everyone at Writer Therapy, you guys are great!

My Reading List: Wesley the Owl

 

Wesley the Owl by Stacey O'Brien

This New York Times bestselling "sweet, quirky memoir" (USA TODAY) tells the "heartwarming story" (Publishers Weekly) of a biologist and the owl she rescued and raised. 


A book of unforgettable emotional resonance, Wesley the Owl took the book world by storm, with a 4-star review in People and a starred review in Publishers Weekly. Stacey O’Brien’s pioneering work about the emotional lives of owls is nothing less than enthralling.


When adopted, Wesley could not have survived in the wild. O’Brien watches him turn into a voracious carnivore (eating up to six mice a day), an avid communicator with whom she develops a language all their own, and eventually, a robust adult who preens in the mirror and objects to visits by any other males to "his" house. She makes important discoveries along the way, and tells how the playful, reasoning, and loving creature she set out to save ended up saving her.

Charting a unique partnership, Wesley the Owl is for animal lovers everywhere.

My Reading List: Destined

 

Destined (Wings) by Aprilynne Pike

Tamani looked at her gravely, and reached up to tuck her hair behind her ear.
He hesitated for an instant, then his hands found the sides of her face, pulling her to him. He didn't kiss her, just held her face close to his, their foreheads resting together, their noses almost touching.
She hated how much it felt like good-bye.
Laurel now knows the truth: Yuki is a rare Winter faerie, the most powerful—and deadly—of all, and Klea plans to use her to help conquer and destroy Avalon. But Klea's reach extends far beyond one wild Winter faerie. With Tamani, David, and Chelsea by her side, Laurel prepares to face what may be Avalon's final days, in the stunning conclusion to the Wings series.

My Reading List: Illusions

 

Illusions (Wings) by Aprilynne Pike

"I don't do patrols, I don't go hunting, I just stick close to you. You live your life. I'll keep you safe," Tamani said, sweeping a lock of hair from her face. "Or die trying."
Laurel hasn't seen Tamani since she begged him to let her go last year. Though her heart still aches, Laurel is confident that David was the right choice.
But just as life returns to normal, Laurel realizes that a hidden enemy lies in wait. Once again, Laurel must turn to Tamani to protect and guide her, for the danger that now threatens Avalon is one that no faerie thought would ever be possible. And for the first time, Laurel cannot be sure that her side will prevail.

My Reading List: Spells

 

Spells (Wings) by Aprilynne Pike

"I can't just storm in and proclaim my intentions. I can't ‘steal' you away. I just have to wait and hope that, someday, you'll ask," Tamani said.
"And if I don't?" Laurel said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Then I guess I'll be waiting forever."

Although Laurel has come to accept her true identity as a faerie, she refuses to turn her back on her human life—and especially her boyfriend, David—to return to the faerie world.
But when she is summoned to Avalon, Laurel's feelings for the charismatic faerie sentry Tamani are undeniable. She is forced to make a choice—a choice that could break her heart.

My Reading List: Promised

 

Promised by Caragh M. O'Brien

After defying the ruthless Enclave, surviving the wasteland, and upending the rigid matriarchy of Sylum, Gaia Stone now faces her biggest challenge ever.  She must lead the people of Sylum back to the Enclave and persuade the Protectorat to grant them refuge from the wasteland.  In Gaia's absence, the Enclave has grown more cruel, more desperate to experiment on mothers from outside the wall, and now the stakes of cooperating or rebelling have never been higher.  Is Gaia ready, as a leader, to sacrifice what--or whom--she loves most?