Written by Lara | Category: Best Practices, Character DevelopmentNo comments

One of the best pieces of writing advice I ever got came in the form of an explanation for writer’s block.

“I kept trying to make my characters do things they didn’t want to do,” my writer friend said. “So my story was stuck.”

This idea was very recently on my mind when I was quagmired in a scene that just wouldn’t go anywhere. I had two “frienemies” who needed to communicate with one another, but the writing just wasn’t gelling.

And then I wondered if it was because I was forcing my characters to act in ways that just weren’t … them. My smart, cynical protagonist, for example, was too easily getting on the phone with her former bestie. Why would my protagonist pick up the phone and dial this girl who had hurt her so much? When I went back and gave the situation more thought, I realized I needed more urgency in the scene so there’s a reason for the protagonist to contact her ex pal. With that one small tweak, the scene started flowing more easily.

If you’re experiencing writer’s block, one reason may be because you’re strong-arming your characters into behaving in ways that aren’t compatible with their personalities. It’s worth going back to the scene that’s giving you trouble and making sure the character actions gel with the character traits.

[Image source: Russell Pollard]

 

The Practice Novel

15
Nov
2011
Written by Lara | Category: Best Practices, Don't Give UpOne comment

Before DONUT DAYS or any of my other novels, I’d penned a manuscript called THE DISAPPEARED. The premise is that a Brittney Spears-like protagonist decides to give up her in-the-spotlight life and fake her death, in order to “retire” to a desert island. There are loads of other “dead” celebrities on the same island as well — Kurt Cobain, Elvis, and even JFK.

The problem is, the island has a seedy underbelly and when the main character decides that maybe this isn’t the life for her, things turn dangerous. And if she dies on the island — well, how would anyone know she was murdered since she’s already dead? A decent setup to be sure, and in fact I think I’ve heard about a couple books and films with a similar premise. But — and this is a big but — the story just didn’t gel. My writing, plotting, and pacing weren’t bringing this potentially great tale to life. It would up being flat, without high enough stakes or a very likable main character.

I wound up shelving it. It’s in a box somewhere in a closet, collecting dust, which is exactly where it should be. That might sound a little nuts since — after all — I have an agent now and a plot like that could be re-worked and re-visited. Right?

Wrong. At least not in this case. THE DISAPPEARED was, for me, a practice novel. The book I needed to write so I could put it out there and get feedback about the fundamental ways in which my writing fell short. A lot of people read this book. And a lot of people had feedback, much of which was hard to hear. But after THE DISAPPEARED, I applied much of that feedback to writing DONUT DAYS. And that book got me an agent and a contract.

The moral of the story here is to not despair if you write a novel that just doesn’t quite … click. It doesn’t mean your effort was in vain. Most writers have a practice novel they can point to and say, “I had to write that so I could write the book that actually sold.” Successful writers often open themselves to feedback on their practice novels, then put all that they’ve learned into the next manuscript.

Do you agree? Do you have a practice novel, or do you believe in sticking with your first project until it sells?

[Image source: Ehow.com]

 

 

NaNoWriMo 411

01
Nov
2011
Written by Lara | Category: Resources4 comments

I’ll admit, when I first heard the word NaNoWriMo (pronounced nah-no-wry-mo) I was confused. What did it mean? And why were all the writers I knew talking about it, asking me if I was going to “do it?”

So you don’t experience the same confusion I did, here’s the skinny:

What is it?

NaNoWriMo is short for National Novel Writing Month. It’s a creative endeavor in which writers commit to using one month to write a novel of at least 50,000 words. (Update: I had previously listed it at 60k. Thanks, Amity, for the clarification!)

When does it take place?

Now! It starts today and goes through November 30. The schedule is the same every year.

How many people do it?

Lots! There is an entire community built around NaNoWriMo. You can go online to “partner” with other writers, and you can also track your progress through some of their web tools.

Is it a good idea to write a novel in a month?

Yes and no. The discipline of sitting down to write every day and reach a goal is great. The problem is when writers stop there and don’t revise/edit. Lots of agents complain about submissions in the month of December, because they receive everyone’s NaNoWriMo text — usually unpolished and fresh off the presses. Completing a first draft is awesome, but that’s where the hard work really begins.

What happens if I reach 50,000 words in a month?

Writers often use the phrase that they “won” NaNoWriMo — and that means they reached the 50,000-word mark. You can also get a little badge for your website or blog showing you completed the endeavor.

Have you ever done it?

No, I haven’t.  I’m great at pounding out stories really quickly. What I like to challenge myself with is taking my time with a story, really developing the characters and the setting.

Where can I go for more information?

I’ve linked to it above, but NaNoWriMo has a website chock-full of information, which you can access by clicking here. It’s not too late if you want to sign up! Just don’t forget to edit, edit, edit after November is complete.

[Image Source: ithree graphic design]

 

Written by Lara | Category: Best Practices, Don't Give Up4 comments

The other evening at dinner, a friend mentioned Roy Baumeister’s new book, Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength. The premise of the book says that willpower is a finite resource: you can deplete it by over-using it, but you can also build it up through certain “exercises” as well as smart diet and plenty of sleep.

This notion that willpower is a finite resource got me thinking about writing, and how hard it is sometimes to overcome writer’s block. How some days, it’s all I can do to look at my laptop, much less open it up and keep pounding away at my manuscript.

Certainly writing takes willpower. And, yes, it takes creativity and smarts and a whole lot of other stuff too. But willpower wise, writing a book is up there. Finishing a novel is an exercise in discipline: sitting your butt in the chair over and over again, working away until you have a completed project — it’s not for the faint of heart. So when the going gets tough and the words just aren’t coming, it might help to think about where your willpower might have been depleted, thereby putting a strain on your prose.

Did you start a new diet? Are you exercising more than usual? Those are two things that require ample amounts of willpower!

How about you moms out there? I bet raising a family and making sure their needs are met — usually before yours are — drains your stores of willpower right quick.

For those of you who work a fulltime job, it can take bucketloads of willpower to keep your head in the game for eight hours every day, five days each week. It can be a true challenge to come home and write after that.

While I haven’t read Baumeister’s book, I know the premise says that willpower reserves can be built up, and that there are ways for conserving it in critical situations, too. Which is great. But even if you don’t read the book, just remember: If you feel too tired to write, or the words just aren’t coming, instead of beating yourself up about it, try instead to examine all the ways your willpower may have been depleted before you sat down to work on your novel. I’m sure many of you have added “write a book” to lives that are already overflowing with activities and goals. So if the process isn’t always a smooth one, that’s okay. It just means that you might write better on a day you didn’t run six miles and give a presentation at work.

[Image source: EurekaAlert.org; credit: Florida State University]

Written by Lara | Category: Best PracticesNo comments

Perhaps you’re an indie author looking for an amazing cover, or perhaps you’re a traditionally published writer who needs exactly the right image to explain something in your book. Whatever the situation, if you’re in need of an image to complement your prose, here are some strategies for acquiring the perfect pic:

Use a stock photo. Sites like Shutterstock and iStockphoto can give you access to a plethora of images for a reasonable price. Some sites like iStockphoto work on credit packages, so you may need to purchase credits to get your image. But don’t worry, they explain how to buy credits right on the site.

Put aside a little cash to get a truly great image. Between $50 and $100 is a standard stock photo price. Depending on your needs and if you’re working with a designer, you may need to purchase an image and then send it to a third party for them to design around/modify. Some places, though, will design a cover for you for a flat fee and you don’t have to go through the hassle of purchasing a stock photo. If you simply google “book cover designer,” myriad options will pop up.

Sometimes, you can get art or images for free. Here are the circumstances under which that might happen:

  • You know someone who has created / will create art for you for free. And you get their permission to use it.
  • You can create your own art for free.
  • You use an image that is in the public domain and you get permission to use it.

Just remember: Don’t expect to be able to take an image off the web and use it as a cover image or in your book as art. It might be free, but it’s doubtful it will be the right resolution, not to mention it’s someone else’s image and you’re not obtaining it correctly – i.e. without permission.

Disclaimer: Many of the pictures I use for my posts I grab off the web and credit to the site where I found it. This is not considered getting permission, and I do this knowing I may be asked to pull down a photo that I’ve used. This is a risk I undertake willingly. If you opt to do the same thing, fine, but just remember that it’s a lot harder to delete a book cover than it is a photo on a blog post.

[Image credit: MoistWorks.com]

Written by Lara | Category: SubmissionsNo comments

nonfiction query lettersA lot of time and attention is paid to fiction query letters. But how about nonfiction?

The general premise is the same — you want to hook and editor or agent in one page and make them want to read more, more, more of your book! But there are some key differences.

It’s About You, Baby! It’s important to emphasize why your background and experience make you the ideal person to pen this book. Are you a fitness expert who has a fresh take on getting healthy? Are you a veterinarian with a book about caring for pets? If so, tell the editor/agent, as it’s critical information! Spell out your years of experience in the field and how you’ll use that in your text.

Solve My Problem, Please! Many nonficiton books offer solutions or insights to common issues — whether in the workplace, in finance, in their personal lives, etc. Highlight the specific problem your book will tackle and how it’s different from the other books out there on the same subject.

Tell Me a Great Story. If you are writing narrative nonfiction–think Devil in the White City or The Poisoner’s Handbook — the story will be key, just like in a fiction query. Who is the real-life protagonist in these true events? What is the problem they will solve? With nonfiction, though, you’ll need to spell out your sources, how you researched this topic and, going back to the first tip, why you’re the right person to pull all this together.

A nonfiction book will require more than a query letter, however. A publisher will want to see a complete nonfiction proposal. The best resource I’ve found for crafting a proposal — from penning the query to doing market research to honing in on the right publisher — is The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Getting Published, which has an insanely helpful index in the back that shows samples of everything. But that’s just me.

[Image Source: ehow.com]

Written by Lara | Category: Resources2 comments

The article below on query letters is from the Help for Writers newsletter, delivered quarterly to your email inbox with supplemental tips, information, and pricing deals from yours truly. If you are interested in signing up for the newsletter, please fill out the form after the query letter article. It’s free, and your information always remains confidential. Also, spam sucks and I’d never clutter your inbox like that. And now … on to making your query letters rock!

Pump Up Your Query Letters

How to zero in on exactly the information editors and agents want

Save your query letter from the slush pile by focusing on critical details that highlight the best parts of your story.

A great query will grab the reader’s attention by succinctly outlining the protagonist’s problem. One way to do this is to give an agent or editor a sense of what’s at stake. Think of it as a formula, where you solve for X: Unless the protagonist can accomplish X, then X will happen and then the protagonist will lose X.

Without bogging the query in backstory, you’ll also want to highlight why solving for X is nearly insurmountable. What hurdles are in the protagonist’s way? What is stopping them from achieving their goals? The things that could stop them will be both external (they are poor but in love with a queen!) and internal (they’ve had their heart broken and are afraid to fall again!).

A great query will also showcase a fresh storyline that hasn’t been done before. It’s great if you want to write about a regular boy who finds out he’s a wizard, but you’ll need to convince editors and agents that you’ve done it in a new way. Ask yourself: what’s truly unique about the storyline? For example, perhaps you’re taking readers into a unique world — think behind the scenes of a Depression-era circus as in Water for Elephants, or inside a remote hotel in the frigid winter months as in The Shining. Or perhaps you are putting an empowered twist on a familiar tale — creating an all-female pack of werewolves, for example, and reversing the romantic roles (human boy in love with female werewolf), as author Christine Johnson did in her debut, Claire de Lune.

For more tips on avoiding mistakes that will keep your writing in the slush pile, see this Help for Writers post by Carina Press submissions editor and published author Rhonda Stapleton.

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Written by Lara | Category: Character Development5 comments

Are you afraid to let bad things happen to your characters?

I just read The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton, and I was duly impressed. Not only was the writing amazing, but I marveled at how far Hamilton lets his character fall, how deep he digs the holes for his protagonist. Just when you think another bad thing can’t happen, it does.

For example, the main character (no spoilers here, I promise):

  • Is mute
  • Is in jail in chapter one
  • Loves a woman but is not with her
  • Is manipulated by thugs
  • Is forced to do back-breaking labor
  • Has a traumatic childhood
  • And lots more!

I could go on, but I won’t. The point is, Hamilton is not afraid to really screw with his protagonist in this book, and yet he still somehow delivers a satisfying finish.

I personally marvel at this because it’s often hard for me to let awful things happen to my characters. I care about them, after all! This is usually flagged by my editor as the “almost happens” text. For example:

  • A character is in a car, which is ALMOST in an accident, but, whew, at the last minute everyone is saved.
  • A character ALMOST dumps her boyfriend thinking he cheated on her, but then she finds out that he didn’t and everything is fine.

Great, the character is wholly in tact, but who wants to read about someone like that? No one. That’s why we as writers have to up the stakes.

But how?

One writer I know had such a hard time letting her characters suffer that she created a third-party narrator, who could tell the tragic tale of this family FOR her. It gave the writer enough distance to be able to let the chips fall where they needed to.

The Great Donald Maass says to up the stakes by looking hard at your plot and figuring out what your character loses, then adding to it. For example, is your character devastated by a divorce? Fine, now take away their house, too. Is your character a dancer? Give them a leg injury. It’s brutal stuff, but it makes for such compelling reading.

Forcing your characters into those tragic holes can be hard – but helping them dig their way out is totally satisfying.

[Image credit: TheChive.com]

Written by Lara | Category: Best Practices2 comments

I meet a lot of people who tell me they are writers. This is awesome!

Sometimes, said writers want to tell me their book ideas. In exhaustive detail. Which is slightly less awesome because it gets kind of … long winded. Okay, really long winded. Why? Because they don’t have a log line, a one-sentence synopsis of their work. Which means usually their book explanation goes something along the lines of this:

Author: My book is about a girl who hunts sharks. On a desert island. With one hand. It’s called One-handed Shark Hunter.

Lara: That sounds really exciting! [Turns to go get a coffee.]

Author: Except, there’s this part in the book where a plane-load of football players crashes on the island and they become wild really fast, and before shark girl knows it, she’s being hunted like a  boar through the underbrush by a really hungry Aaron Rodgers.

Lara: [Puts ideas of coffee on hold] Oh. Well. That certainly complicates things.

Author: Yes! And it only gets worse. You see, there’s this one place on the island where no one is supposed to go. Bodies were buried there thousands of years ago and it’s terribly haunted. But of course the one-handed shark hunter stumbles upon it when she’s running from Aaron Rodgers.

Lara: [Gazes longingly at espresso bar] This maybe sounds a little like Lost.

Author: Like what?

Lara: Nevermind. It’s great. I wish you all the best writing it. Thanks for sharing. [Starts out again for coffee]

Author: But I didn’t get to the part where the radioactive dynamite washes up on the shore and starts turning all the sting-rays into killer, man-eating, land-walking sting rays.

Lara: [Turns in disbelief] Land-walking sting rays?

Author: Yes. And it’s up to the one-handed shark hunter to save everyone because only SHE has the experience to do it.

Lara: But I thought she hunted sharks, not sting-rays?

Author: It’s a transferable skill.

Lara: Ah. I see. Well. Thank you for sharing. But I really should be going.

Author: Except, then —

Lara: Sorry. Must go. Bye. [Bolts for coffee. Does not look back.]

Don’t get me wrong. Sharing ideas is awesome. But condensing book ideas into a singe sentence?

That is priceless. And that’s also what’s called a log line.

For the Implosion of Aggie Winchester, I worked out my log line in a writers’ workshop. It wasn’t easy, but I came up with this:

In the Implosion of Aggie Winchester, a prom scandal forces a Goth girl to discover who she is underneath all the makeup.

This article from Daily Writing Tips has great insights on how to write a log line. In the article, they summarize Taxi Driver and Silence of the Lambs, which, while not books, are stories most of us are familiar with and consequently provide useful examples.

The super smart and insightful Donna Newton offers this post in which she explains the construction of a log line:

The format for a log line should be something close to this:

An ADJECTIVE NOUN (protagonist) must ACTIVE VERB the ANTAGONIST before  SOME REALLY HORRIBLE THING HAPPENS (stopping the protagonist from reaching her goal).

Log lines don’t have to follow that format exactly, but they do need to be punchy and engaging.

Got a log line? Share it in the comments, as I’d love to hear it!

Ink Stains

30
Jul
2011
Written by Lara | Category: eBooksNo comments

Do you ever wonder what writers talk about when they talk to each other? Do you ever think, “I wish I could just pick that author’s brain for a little bit?”

Enter Ink Stains, a new ebook that features interviews with nine authors with more than 25 published books between them. These honest accounts feature authors overcoming self doubt, waging war against writer’s block, coming to terms with the editing process, and learning to trust their literary instincts. Their raw authenticity will inspire and encourage other writers. If they can do it, so can you.

I compiled and edited these wonderful interviews. You can click here to buy from Amazon (Kindle), or here from B&N (Nook). I hope these literary insights will help your writing leave its ink stain!

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