Review: Dear Ally

Dear Ally, 

How do you write a book?

Love aspiring authors everywhere

This is the hardest question to answer. Ally Carter pens a fantastic novel for teen writers (really any writer of all ages). She answers tons of questions and breaks writing down.

There is no real answer to write a book, but she gives tons of helpful tips and tricks.

Other favorite YA authors chime in with answers too.

Questions about Conflict, Pacing, Worldbuilding, Characters, and more are discussed.

Ally also touches on the business side of writing - agents, publishers, editors.

She talks about Going Pro and trying to find an agent vs writing just for you and for fun.

Library Recommendation: A must have writing book for school and public libraries. There are SO many teen writers out there. Hook them up with this book.

NaNoWriMo completed!

And on the last day of the month, I breathe a sigh of relief because I finished.

I normally finish with a few days left of the month to spare, but this year was harder.

The story is not complete.

 I tried something new this year - an adult Christmas Romance.

I'm hoping to make it read like a Hallmark movie.

And yes, it does need a lot of work.

I debated about writing something new this year, but in the end, I decided (also at the last minute) that I wanted to write something fun.

Did anyone else participate this year?

How did it go?

NaNoWriMo Check In

How's everyone doing?

As of yesterday I have 20K words written.

I haven't started my writing today.

I like to write 2K a day - mostly because I know there are some days where I'm not going to be able to get much done.

And I like to have that cushion.

So I'm trying something new this year - an adult romance.

It's set in Vermont.

I was at 10K before I decided to write a second POV.

So you can see how much work it's going to take to revise.

And that's ok, I'm just about getting the words down.

Tell me how you're doing this year...

and if we're not writing buddies, please add me. I'm YA Book Nerd there too.

Where I am

This weekend I'm in Norwalk, CT for a CTRWA (Connecticut Chapter of Romance Writers of America) conference called Fiction Fest.

This year, I'm on the CTRWA board. I'm the VP of Communications.

This event is awesome - lots of great conference sessions and lots of great people.

If you're a writer, I urge you to look into your RWA chapter (you don't have to write romance books) because they probably put on great conferences like this one - with lots of craft tracks.

In the few years I've been a member, I've learned so much.

It's worth checking out!

RWA: CT chapter

Today's the first official meeting of the year and it 's my first meeting as the Vice President of Communications. 

Wish me luck this year!

NaNoWriMo: 2017

Last year was the first year in a LONG time I didn't participate in NaNoWriMo - because I was working on editing my novel all last year. I realized that if I finished it, then I would be able to write again. This made me get my butt in gear. It's always hard to think the manuscript is finished because there are always things to write differently and ways to improve. But I called it quits on Friday and by Wednesday, I was back writing.

So here's what I'm writing about: it the last companion novel in my book set - all Jane Austen novels. It's the retelling of Sense and Sensibility. 

Here's the mock-up cover:

It's very simple. And I have no idea how lollipops will play into it - yet.

For right now, I'm just having fun writing again.

But since I try for 2,000 words/day, this space might get a little less active. Although I'll try not to make that happen. Plus, I'm reading less because of all the writing. 

Today I'm at 15,000 words and striving for another 1,000 to hit my goal for the day.

If you're also writing, good luck!

And add me as a buddy (yabooknerd)

NaNoWriMo Tips and Tricks

This is the first year in a long while (since 2006) that I'm NOT going to be writing 50,000 words this year. But that doesn't mean that I won't b writing. I'm just going to focusing on editing. So I won't be counting words, but I will be cheering everyone on and sending good thoughts your way.

Here are some tips I learned while writing:

 * Pace yourself 

* Determine a daily word count and stick to it

* Leave off in the middle of a scene so you know where you're going the next day

* Let everyone in your life know what you're trying to accomplish so they understand if you're not available for plans

* Think about your writing when you're not writing

* Join a region and attend some of the Write-Ins (lots of local libraries host them)

* Jot down a few plot line ideas (I like to do this before November hits)

* Take a Day off if you need to, just make up the word count later

* Talk about it on social media, people will cheer your on 

* Know that this is only first draft and you will polish it later. Just get the words down on the page.

* Update your word count daily on the NaNoWriMo page - it helps with the accomplishment feeling

* Talking to people helps if you're stuck with the plot, even if they don't know the whole story.

* Have fun with it and feel accomplished when you finish (no matter how many words wrote.)

About Me: Writing

One of my resolutions this year (and to be honest almost every year) is to talk more about myself on the blog. Me in a nutshell: I'm a Librarian. I'm a blogger. I'm a reader. Here's a little bit about me outside the bookish world.

I've talked about my writing a little bit before on the blog. But here it all is...

I started writing a Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice Fanfiction in 2007. I never finished it, although I think about going back to it. 

Then in the middle of November I heard about NaNoWriMo and I thought it sounded awesome, but it was too late in the year to start something, so I kept in my mind for the next year. 

I've been writing books (finishing drafts) since 2008.

Being a YA Librarian influenced my writing choices. I wanted to write about a girl heading off to college and experiencing freedom for the first time. It's a novel in verse, influenced by Sonya Sones and Lisa Schroeder's works. I really loved this book and it's the first piece I ever finished.  But, I wrote it before New Adult became a thing and no one was interested in a girl going off to college because it couldn't be marketed or placed on bookshelves. Naively, I thought that because teens in my library wanted stories about older characters, there was a market for them. It didn't work that way and someone gave me a straight answer, which I appreciated. Recently I read Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell and while mine is different and much shorter, it's sort of similar. 

The second year, I wrote a YA fantasy novel about a Princess who couldn't rule her kingdom. Her father died before having the law changed. In order to prove her worth, she must locate a magical item lost to their world. She goes off on her quest with her lady in waiting and a knight for protection. There are dragons (who are the librarians of their world), an evil man who wants control of the kingdom, and a council of men who may or may not take the Princess's side. I really love this book, but the middle needs some work. Of  course there's a feminist side to it and a romance. I'm  coming back to this one because I think I can fix it...

The third year, I wrote about video games and camp - mostly a modern Ender's Game minus the aliens. This one will probably never see the light of day, but it was interesting to write. 

The next year I tried writing an adult cozy set in Vermont. It's about a travel writer who is writing up an article for the grand opening of her best friend's new inn. At the party, her friend's ex-husband shows up and is murdered. Of course, she knows her best friend is innocent and of course she stays in town to hang out with her and to solve the murder. Small town charm. This one is super fun, but needs a little work tying the ending into the beginning. 

After that, I wrote up a sequel to cozy, set in Bath, England during the Jane Austen festival. Mr Darcy is the murder victim (or rather an actor who played Mr. Darcy.) My character spots the body and has the perfect cover to nose around and ask questions. Of course the lovely city of Bath and it's history comes into the novel.

After that, I decided to write a YA novel set on a Christmas tree farm - set in Vermont. Here the main character is a senior in high school and has been dating a boy for just about two years. And it's not going well. Should she stay with him when everyone tells her it's a bad match? They do have fun together - sometimes. They fight sometimes. Her best friend is tired of hearing about her relationship drama. The book takes place during the three weeks leading up to Christmas. I call it my hot chocolate romance (thanks to Jessica Miller) because it's a perfect book to read over a cup of hot chocolate and marshmallows.

Then I decided to try my hand at YA version of Pride and Prejudice - set during basketball season. Jane and Lizzie aren't sisters, but best friends. There's a twist here (doesn't there have to be?) and lots of friendship, family, and romantic drama.

After working on this, I realized that I could do something like Stephanie Perkins and Miranda Kenneally and write about characters in the same high school in a connected series way. So I wrote Emma and then Persuasion. Both are different from the original tales. Emma takes place during the summer and Persuasion takes places during the fall. Emma works at an ice cream parlor and attempts to help Harriet find true love. That doesn't go well. She and her friends spend their time at the beach and meeting boys. Wentworth plays football and it's his ticket for the future. Anne's family owns a chocolate shop that she wants to take over eventually, but right now it's struggling and no one wants to listen to her ideas. Persuasion is a duel POV story (my first).

Next up is Sense and Sensibility retelling.

I also started working on a Taylor Swift song inspired book. I haven't finished the first draft yet. It's a nonlinear unreliable narrator story. And if I can work out the issues, it would be amazing. 

So there you have it - my years of writing in a nutshell. 

This is around the time last year I joined RWA (Romance Writers of America) and the CT Chapter. It's been hard for me because I'm an introvert, but the people are really nice and really helpful. Last year I went to the national conference (it was in NYC). This year, I'm going to the CT conference Fiction Fest. I'm excited about it. Lots of great ideas and lots of inspiration come from these conferences. 

I still have a bunch of ideas to write. I'm still writing. I'm still in the process of trying to find an agent. I don't know if anything will sell, but it would be amazing if they did. I have had some close moments and some good feedback from various agents. One day it will work out. 

Week 3: NaNoWriMo Check In

In case you missed it, this is my current story.

Right now I'm at 30K and steadily climbing.

I'm hoping to finish before going to visit family for Thanksgiving. We'll see if I get there. I have some upcoming plot points that I want to hit, which is always helpful. I'm not sure I'm at the halfway point of the story yet, so that gives me more to write about.

How is your writing going?

Week 2: NaNoWriMo Check-In

In case you missed it, this is my current story.

I went on vacation for a while, so the first two days, I busted my butt so I wouldn't fall too far behind. I'm just starting to get back into the swing of things.I'm hoping to write 2K today.

Right now I'm at 16K and steadily climbing. 

I have the next few chapters outlined in my usual way - where I know that something is going to happen in each chapter.

If you're writing this month, let me know how you're doing!

NaNoWriMo: Year 8

My current WIP

Title: Chawton High 3: Chocolates and Everlasting Love

Genre: Young Adult

Synopsis: The third book in a loosely connected series set in New England - all retellings of Jane Austen novels with high school students. This one is Persuasion. 

It involves chocolate - lots of chocolate.

And there is kissing.

NaNoWriMo Tips and Tricks

Happy writing month to all my fellow writers out there.  Yesterday was the start of the fast and furious novel writing month. I've been taking part in this for 8 years now and because I've learned a few things, I'm sharing them with you. 

Also if you're on twitter follow #NaNoWriMo15 or #NaNoWriMo for updates from writers everywhere! 

Here are my past posts:

1. Are you thinking about it?
2. Tips 1
3. And finally, it can happen to you: Authors who wrote their first draft during NaNoWriMo and after edits and revisions, became published.

Most importantly, have fun with it!

If We Were Having Tea

 Jamie over at The Perpetual Page Turner featured this on her blog ages ago. I loved the idea of sharing a little bit more about myself. I don't write too many personal pieces on the blog and maybe it's time I change that. I'm not a coffee drinker, so I changed it to tea.

If We Were Having Tea....I'd tell you that it's been a month since I quit my dream job...for my other dream job. While I miss being a librarian, I'm still very connected to the library world and that makes me happy.

If We Were Having Tea....I'd tell you that it's strange going into the library as a patron. I still go in about once a week. But everything's different. I have to find a new place to park. I have to remember the hours of the library. I have to say hello to everyone. I'm still getting used to this.

If We Were Having Tea....I'd tell you that I JUST finished a first draft yesterday of a WIP that I've been working on and off for two years. It's a YA version of Pride and Prejudice with a twist - oh and basketball.

If We Were Having Tea....I'd tell you that I'm going to work on the revising the first cozy mystery that I wrote and haven't gotten a chance to go back to in a  couple years. I'm excited about the idea - even though I remember that the ending REALLY needs some work. 

What would you tell me if we were having tea?

NaNoWriMo completed!

How is everyone doing?

NaNoWriMo Check In

How's everyone doing? It's a little over than halfway through the month - which means, everyone should be near 25K or a little over.

I'm at 31K and I know that it's going to be a rough writing week for me because I'm crazy busy this week. I wrote a little extra yesterday because of it.

Are you on target?

Are you enjoying it or does it feel like a chore?

Are you needing to find some creative juices (I like dancing around the room like maniac - it helps loosen me up and makes me feel a little silly.)

Are you finding yourself trying to edit your work (Try to avoid this - that's what the new year is for - editing process)

Do you know where you're going in the story and how to get there? If not, maybe a plotting session is in order.

Leave a comment and let me know how it's going for you!

NaNoWriMo Tips

I've been writing for six years and I thought I'd share a little bit what I learned the past few years.

Plot - at least a little bit for each chapter so you know what's coming next. Get a notebook (I'm addicted to notebooks). Write out character details, chapter notes, or maps.

Word Count - create a personal word count and STICK to it! I use 2000 words/day because I know there are days I might take off. Also I want to finish before Thanksgiving - which is later in the month this year. Update your word count at the end of each day on the website - it makes you feel accomplished.

When Writing - After hitting your word count, leave off writing at place when you know what's going to happen next - this will make your next day SO much easier.

Environment - If you're some who can't work with quiet, play a little music in the background, something that gets your creative juices flowing, but that's not going to interfere with your writing.

Writer's Block - When you get stuck (and this WILL happen), talk about your story with someone. I usually talk my plot issues out with my husband and often he has some great ideas on where to go next - or he triggers something by asking questions of the story.

Perfection - Don't expect it, the point of this month is just to get words down on paper. There will be many more drafts as you polish it up. If you concentrate too hard on perfection, you won't get anywhere.

Have Fun - This is a fun event - don't get stressed out about it.

If you're writing this year, Good Luck, and friend me under YA Book Nerd:  http://nanowrimo.org/participants/yabooknerd

Christmas in the Summer: YA Hot Chocolate Romance

Inspired by Ginger at GReads, I'm sharing my work in progress...here's the first page. I have a few more detail to work out before it's complete...but what do you think?

Chapter One: 21 days until Christmas (Saturday)

The two boys run past Kate, almost knocking her over. Instead of telling them to slow down, she watches their mother run off after them.  Turning away from the family, Kate notices a car pulling into the lot.  She grimaces as she recognizes Lila’s car.  She has no desire to get into a tussle with her arch enemy, especially in front of her mother. Neither does she wish to act as if Lila hadn’t just tried, unsuccessfully of course, to seal her boyfriend. 

Plus under her mother’s eye, she’ll have to behave perfectly.  Kate looks around and spies a family coming off the farm with their chosen tree.  Kate hurries forward eager to help them.  As she moves, her foot catches a piece of ice.  Kate tries to balance herself, but before she can, her feet slide out from under her.  She lands hard on her butt, dazed for a moment. She glances up to see Lila smirking down at her.

“Do you think you can help me, if you’re not too busy attempting to ice skate?”

Kate grits her teeth and smiles, “Of course.” She hauls herself up, taking care to brush off her butt, wincing at a tender spot.  “What sort of tree are you looking for?”

                “The perfect one, of course.”

                “Of course you are. Now, what shape are you looking for?”                        

                “Did I not just say the perfect tree? Maybe I need someone else to help me.” Lila looks around.

                Kate catches her mother’s eye who looks at her questionly.  Kate can’t afford another customer mishap.  She holds in a sigh and recovers, “I meant, how tall and how wide of a tree are you looking for?”

                Lila nods and thinks for a moment.  “Well it has to be the focal point of the room.”  Kate nods in understanding.  “I’m having a party, you see, and everything must be perfect.”  Kate nods again.

                “What room will you be placing the tree?”

                “The parlor of course.” Lila looks at Kate as if she’s stupid.

                Kate fights the urge to roll her eyes. Only Lila would call their living room a parlor. “What about needles, do you want short or long?”

                Lila shrugs, “Whatever’s best really.”

                “Do you want to look in our lot or would you like to see our selection of pre-cut trees?”

                Lila gives me a look, “I don’t think you really understand. I want you to find me the perfect tree. God is that so hard?  I’ll be in my car. Don’t take too long either.”

                Dumbfounded, I watch as she flounces towards her car.  Rooted to the spot, my mom startles me, “What was that about?”

                “That was Lila, I’m supposed to find her the perfect tree while she waits in the car.”

                Not surprisingly, my mother doesn’t comment on the rudeness of Lila’s behavior or commiserate that picking out trees is not in my job description.  Instead, she mutters, “We get all kinds.  Your Dad just brought down some fresh cut trees and put them in barn. Why don’t you start there?”

Teen Book Character Outfit

I'm at a writing retreat this weekend, my first ever. I've been looking at a lot of pictures trying to strengthen my world.  Here's a peek into my main character Princess Raphaela. She's a girl fighting for her crown and her people, fighting for the right to rule as a female. There's friendship, romance, and dragons.

If you want to read the Prologue, check it out here.

NaNoWriMo Update

As of this morning, I'm halfway towards my writing goals. This last few thousand have been tough to write, just because it's at the point in the novel where I'm not sure where everything's going. But I do have some ideas. I've been participating in NaNoWriMo for five years (And won the four previous years). I heard about a year before my year, in the middle of November, so I couldn't join that year. Since then I've written three YA novels (one verse novel about a girl in college during her first year, one fantasy novel about a girl fighting for control over her kingdom, and one Christmas romance about a girl who's family owns a tree farm) and one cozy mystery about a travel writer who's writing about her best friend's inn opening and there's a murder at the party. The 5th year, I'm writing a sequel to the cozy mystery called Killing Mr. Darcy where the main character and her best friend head to the Jane Austen festival in Bath, where an actor who played Mr. Darcy on stage, is murdered. 


Here are some tips I have about completing NaNoWriMo, which is great in motivating me to write.

1. Get a notebook and in October start plotting by chapter - write down something that will happen at each chapter so you have something to write about
2. Plot at least halfway through the novel - I like the to stop there, because I don't always know where I'm going and I like my characters to lead me there.
3. Stop writing for the day in the middle of a scene or when you know what's going to happen next. it makes it so much easier to start the next day. 
4. I try for a word count for 2000 daily because I know there are going to be days when I just don't have time to write. It's nice to have a little cushion.

Are you writing this year? Good luck if you are! 

A poem

A memory caused me to write this poem. I found it fitting to share during the last day of April 

in celebration of National Poetry month.

Memories

I saw a pair of red shoes
just like the ones she used to wear.
I wanted to buy them even though
I knew I'd never wear them.
I miss her.

I wanted to show her the photo
of the huge tree decorated
with hundreds of Easter eggs
just like the tree we used to decorate
but I can't.

I want to tell her so many things
and share so many stories.
I want to laugh with her.
I'll never be able to again,
because she's gone.