Writing Update + GIVEAWAY!!!

Writing Update

Some of you may have noticed that I haven't talked about writing or the progress on my novel in quite a while. I'll confess it. It's because I was stuck. I knew there was something wrong with my story, something that I was missing, but I couldn't figure out what it was.

I tried a variety of things. I tried to convince myself it was all in my head. That didn't work. I tried to push on editing and revising anyway, hoping the flaw would present itself. That really didn't work.

For more than a year I have been struggling with this. Remember that PlotNoWriMo series I did pre-NaNo last year? Just another attempt to fix my book. And while, in the long run, all that plotting is paying off, I still hadn't identified the real problem in my story.

Every time I sat down to work on finishing my MG fantasy Rodney and the Gonjii, I was overwhelmed by this shadow of doom lurking over it. Imagine the frustration! I've been burying myself in book reviews and book vlogging because, hey, that's building up my platform so it's accomplishing something, right?

Some people might have switched projects at that point, but I was loathe to do so. There are two reasons I didn't. One, I'd made a pact with Rodney. This is going to be the first book I finish, if not the first book I publish. Two, I knew the problem arose from my method of writing. What would be the point of switching projects just to write that one into a hole?

Do you know how I finally managed to identify the problem? A two-hour brainstorming session with my dad, who is also a writer, and also happens to know just enough about the series to point out the problem.

There was nothing to connect my villain and my hero.

Yeah, I know. This sounds obvious. Elementary, even. But I was so focused on the plot, what had to be done, foreshadowing, stretching the story across six books, how it all connected -I didn't notice. Worse yet? I didn't know how to fix it. Fortunately, just by looking and discussing what I already had for the story and the universe, he was able to spot not only a plausible connection for the characters, but one whose elements were already included in my plans. It's almost like it was planned from the beginning. Go figure.

 

Yesterday's progress

This is why brainstorming sessions and writing groups are so important. 

Here's the thing. I am a good writer. I've been writing for fifteen years. The actual act of writing is not what I generally have a problem with. Writing a book series, however, is a new facet of the art form to me. And I just learned a hard but needed lesson in it.

This has been my first major trial in the realm of writing. It totally sucked. But I learned something valuable here and you know what? I'm still in love with writing. I'm calling this a victory because for the first time in my life I wondered if I really had the chops for a line of work that I've dreamed of doing since I was nine. I actually contemplated giving up on writing. But I didn't.




So for all of you writing hopefuls out there, this is just someone else telling you that writing is hard. That doesn't mean it's not worth it. We all have our moments of doubt and despair in writing. Don't let it define you. Don't let yourself believe that you're not cut out for it or you're not a real writer just because you're going through a rough patch. Get yourself a good brainstorming partner and a critique group and take that challenge.

Good luck!

And speaking of writing a book series...

GIVEAWAY
Cheree Alsop has just finished her latest series, Werewolf Academy, and I've got three copies to give away!

Werewolf Academy: Chosen

Alex knew choosing the path of the lone wolf wouldn’t be easy, but challenging Jaze Carso for the chance to bring the Werewolf Academy to the public would prove to be much harder. Alex has to decide how far he is willing to go to give werewolves the life he has fought for. Will his trust in humans become the biggest mistake of his life, or will his hope in humanity prove that selflessness can change prejudice? Alex has bled for both sides; now is his time to challenge whether those sides will do the same for him.
Everything Alex has fought and bled for comes together in this final book in the Werewolf Academy series. New threats arise, an old enemy resurfaces, and the bond of love is tested to the extreme in this gripping conclusion.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Find out more about Cheree and her books!

Website | Facebook | Twitter |

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords |

Thanks for stopping by! Good fortune in all your endeavors. ^_^

PlotNoWriMo: Fine Tune

In the final week, we examine your outline so far and fill in any gaps left to make it work as a whole. The most important thing to remember about the outline?

If your novel is causing you undue stress next month, don't worry about straying from your outline or abandoning it entirely, IF it keeps you writing. But the hope is that we've done a thorough enough job of outlining that we've anticipated and fixed plot-related problems that could arise.

One thing to realize is that the actual writing of your outline may not feel as inspired as all the brainstorming and outlining we've done this month. It's possible that when you actually start to write, some of the shine has dulled from your idea. This happens often when our brilliant creation feels bogged with the technicality of writing it or even if the story isn't coming out as we envisioned in the first draft.

Be careful that you don't abandon your outline prematurely. A good way to tell whether a problem lies with a flawed outline or a bored writer is to look at the reason why you're having trouble.

If the dots of your story aren't connecting -if the character isn't cooperating, if the plot points are beginning to unravel- this is a good indication that your outline isn't working and it's safe to try writing without it for a while. (As a cheerful anecdote, while writing The Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien had no idea who Strider was when he met the hobbits in Bree, but Tolkien decided to go with it. Now can you imagine LotR without Aragorn?)

If the plot still works, but your inspiration and passion for putting the words together has waned, there's a good chance the problem is you and the answer is to sludge through. Assuming the idea felt inspired and brilliant during the outlining stage, you still believe in your story and want to write it, you've just hit a rough patch. As with any creative pursuit, there are going to be times that you want the finished project without going through the hard process of creating it. We've all been there. If you really want to be a writer -or a person of any creative pursuit- we need to take the technical and/or boring side of the project with the thrill of the ingenious craze. Don't give up on your outline just yet. If you keep writing, you should find that the boredom will vanish and the inspiration return, you just need to stick with it.


On a personal note, I've (almost certainly) decided that I'll be skipping NaNoWriMo myself this year. I have my work cut out for me completing my MG novel Rodney and the Gonjii, and most of this is fine-tuning and arc-mapping, so word count does not really apply.


For those of you participating, the best of luck! And hey, I'd love to hear about your progress during NaNo. A vicarious experience, if you will. Be sure to tell me whether or not this outlining process has helped you, as I hope it has. Just #PlotBender.

PlotNoWriMo Schedule: 

• Introduction 
• Week One -The Idea
• Week Two -Brainstorm
• Week Three -Major Plot Points
• Week Four -Organize
• Week Five -Fine Tune

PlotNoWriMo: Organize

That's right, it's time. To get organized!

Step four in the PlotNo process is dedicated to filing and organizing all of your notes and brainstorming, converting them into hard copies to have on hand (WORLDBUILDING BIBLE! *throws confetti*), and taking satisfaction in the fact that all relevant information is now at your finger tips. Mua ha ha.

Having trouble? #PlotBender

Finding success? #PlotBender
Scared of what's coming come November? #PlotBender

Want to share your own tips? I think you know where this is going. =) 

PlotNoWriMo Schedule: 

• Introduction 
• Week One -The Idea
• Week Two -Brainstorm
• Week Three -Major Plot Points
• Week Four -Organize
• Week Five -Fine Tune

PlotNoWriMo: Major Plot Points

We've formulated The Idea. We've survived the Brainstorm. Now, at week 3, we're going to lay a course for our novel by charting out the necessary Major Plot Points.

The third week is focused on identifying the major plot points, scenes, emotional developments, and other necessary events you foresee for your novel and filing them into a preliminary outline.

Ask any questions in the comments below or with #PlotBender on Twitter. Heck, let's make this a party. Let me know how you're doing and whether you've discovered more effective ways to plot. What story are you working on? How's your progress been? I'm dying to know!

 

PlotNoWriMo Schedule:

• Introduction
• Week One -The Idea
• Week Two -Brainstorm
• Week Three -Major Plot Points
• Week Four -Organize
• Week Five -Fine Tune

PlotNoWriMo: Brainstorm

Arr, look at that horizon. A brainstorm's a-brewin, matey!

I apologize this is up so late this morning *coughcough* -afternoon. Things got a little crazy when I came down with a fever, but no fear! I'm doing much better, and Step Two in the plotting process is here.

Brainstorm 

This second week is aimed at fleshing out The Idea from week one, with the dual goals of providing you with enough material for a novel and filling in the inevitable gaps and holes of The Idea.

Brainstorm like the wind, my plotters!

Ask any questions in the comments below or with #PlotBender on Twitter. Heck, let's make this a party. Let me know how you're doing and whether you've discovered more effective ways to plot.

PlotNoWriMo Schedule:

• Introduction
• Week One -The Idea
• Week Two -Brainstorm
• Week Three -Major Plot Points
• Week Four -Organize
• Week Five -Fine Tune

PlotNoWriMo: The Idea

Confession: I've never been very good at plotting and planning and organizing. Especially organizing. *shudder*

 

O, the messiness!

These three things happen to be very important for (successful) writing. I realized it's the reason I've been having such a hard time finishing my book. I didn't know enough solid, sorted details about what was coming next. Without that, I felt like I was stumbling in the dark.

Having never been good at the plotting and organization thing, I turned to the Internet. No single suggested method worked quite to my taste, so I wound up cobbling my own process. It's been working wonders for me, and with NaNoWriMo just around the corner... Well, I couldn't resist sharing.

This is that process.

Introduction

The Idea

The first week is focused on getting that story idea from your head to paper. Write down your idea. All of it. Every thought you have about your future story and its characters.

PlotNoWriMo Schedule:

• Introduction
• Week One -The Idea
• Week Two -Brainstorm
• Week Three -Major Plot Points
• Week Four -Organize
• Week Five -Fine Tune