Ava Jae

How I feel about my manuscript most days

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:28:45 -0400

Writability: Writing Tool: WorkFlowy

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:01:31 -0400

So about a week ago, I came across this blog post on YA Stands about A Cool Way to Outline Your Novel. The post was a recommendation for a free online tool called WorkFlowy, and it sounded interesting so I decided to check it out.

The basic idea behind WorkFlowy is to imitate our thought process—you start off with one bullet point, then build off from it to create more points, and before you know it you have several sub-lists with their own sub-lists and so on and so forth. It’s a clean, minimalistic layout and it allows you to open up and collapse your lists and sublists and create a nice, organized, outline-like list.

Here’s a video that can explain it a lot better than I can:

You guys may or may not remember my post from forever ago about how I’m a list person, and that has not changed since writing that post. I still enjoy working with lists, and when I begin my initial brainstorming, I do so with (surprise!) long, bulleted lists. I usually start this brainstorming with a pencil and paper, but there was always the issue of my bullets starting to not line up (straight lines? Who can actually draw straight lines?) and not really being able to add to the previous part of the list, and it can get a little messy on paper.

You can imagine, then, that hearing about WorkFlowy made me a pretty happy writer. And trying it out made me even happier.

The great thing about WorkFlowy is that it makes brainstorming ridiculously easy. The bullets work off of each other beautifully, you can move things around and add and delete points effortlessly, and when you’re done, you can export the list into whatever format or document you’d like and continue writing from there. The only downside is that while it is free, the free version only gives you 500 items a month, which seems like a lot, but if you fall in love with it as quickly as I did, you will use those items up faster than you’d think. Nevertheless, it’s still a great tool for brainstorming.

So if you’re a list person like me, or would like to try brainstorming with lists, I highly recommend WorkFlowy as a wonderful writing tool. It’s easy to use, intuitive, and it makes what can be a very messy part of the writing process simple and organized.

Have you ever used WorkFlowy or something of the like? Do you brainstorm with lists, or use another method?

Twitter-sized bites:

How one writer uses the free tool WorkFlowy to make brainstorming easy. (Click to tweet)

Have you tried this writing tool for your brainstorming and outlining needs? (Click to tweet)

"Its funny how sometimes the people you’d take a bullet for, are the ones behind the trigger."

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:19:10 -0400

“Its funny how sometimes the people you’d take a bullet for, are the ones behind the trigger.”

- Ritu Ghatourey (via creatingaquietmind)

fishingboatproceeds: the-blog-of-anne-frank: I just realized that “pun intended” is a pun on...

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:03:34 -0400

fishingboatproceeds:

the-blog-of-anne-frank:

I just realized that “pun intended” is a pun on “unintended” and I’m literally about to gouge my eyes out I’m so angry

This. Changes. Everything.

QUERY CONTEST--One Sentence Pitch Letter

Tue, 21 May 2013 09:09:44 -0400

hsgagency:

Attention writers! If you have a manuscript you’d like us to read please send us a one sentence pitch of your novel. Include the genre as well as the age group it is written for (YA, Adult, Middle Grade, etc.) Make it tantalizing, exciting, representative of your work as a whole. Make us want to read your manuscript. Ends Friday May 24 at 5pm

Like, reblog, follow—get the word out!

"The writer’s job is to turn the unspeakable into words — not just into any words, but if we can,..."

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:47:27 -0400

“The writer’s job is to turn the unspeakable into words — not just into any words, but if we can, into rhythm and blues.”

- Anne Lamott (via ilivetowriteandinspire)

Writability: Self-Publishing: It’s Not for Everyone

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:01:55 -0400

Writability: Self-Publishing: It’s Not for Everyone:

I have written nine manuscripts. Four of them I have attempted to get published—three of which will likely never see the light of day—and four will need massive, book-altering revisions to stand a chance. Whether or not those revisions will take place remains to be seen.

Ten years ago, having nothing but a hard drive full of unpublished manuscripts and a dream wasn’t uncommon. Traditional publishing was just as hard to get into as it is today, and while self-publishing existed, it was extraordinarily difficult to be a successful self-publisher and was largely not taken seriously as an option.

But now things are different. Now self-publishing is a perfectly valid and wonderful option for many writers. Now you’re just as likely to hear about breakout indie writers as you are successful debut traditional authors. Self-publishing has proven itself, and there are opportunities for writers like never before.

And I’ve noticed for some time now, that there’s been a fair amount of pressure on writers like me—writers with books in the drawer who continue writing anyway without an agent, or contract, or other milestone of publishing success.

I’ve noticed people looking at writers like me and saying well, why haven’t you self-published?

I mean, it’s a valid question, particularly for those with polished manuscripts and a lack of response from the traditional publishing world. But the thing is, self-publishing isn’t for everyone.

Those who have self-published know that going indie isn’t a decision you make on a whim—it’s a career move, and one that you have to be fully dedicated to in order to succeed. It involves taking full control of the book publishing process, from first draft to final, fully e-book formatted ready-to-publish draft. It means finding an editor and a cover artist and taking on the full responsibility of marketing, all the while writing the next book. It’s a lot of work, and for some people, it’s a fantastic choice.

But then there are writers who would rather trade the control over the cover and layout and marketing decisions for an opportunity to work with a publishing team—to have an agent by your side and some career guidance along the way. Some writers prefer the collaborative effort of creating a book, and don’t mind trading the lower royalties for the chance at wider, in-bookstore distribution. Not that there’s any guarantee of that, mind you, but for some, the risk is worth it. For some, that’s the choice that’s right for them.

I’m not going to say that I’ll never self-publish, because I don’t know that that’s true. Maybe one day I’ll decide that it’s time to wade into the indie waters, but for now, at least, I’ll continue to pursue the traditional dream. And if it never happens, then it never happens, but I’ll keep writing anyway and I’ll do it with no regrets because I’ll know I pursued what was right for me.

What do you think? For those who have self-published, would you agree that it’s not for everyone? For those that haven’t, have you ever been asked why not?

"Reading a book is like re-writing it for yourself. You bring to a novel, anything you read, all your..."

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:24:18 -0400

“Reading a book is like re-writing it for yourself. You bring to a novel, anything you read, all your experience of the world. You bring your history and you read it in your own terms.”

- Angela Carter (via quotesandnonsense)

ambassador-of-anguish: shouldertappingghosts: If I was a famous author I would publish a book with...

Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00:49 -0400

ambassador-of-anguish:

shouldertappingghosts:

If I was a famous author I would publish a book with ten different endings which all went to print with varying degrees of rarity, but not tell the fans about it so that I could watch their confusion as they disagree over how the story ended. Then when they figured it out I would ‘come clean’, telling them that I had released eleven alternate endings and watch them panic again as they all try to find the last ending.

This is perfect.

tumblr, I love you.

Sun, 19 May 2013 20:29:20 -0400

Don’t ever change.

No really. Don’t.

goddammitfenton: if you ever feel bad about yourself, just remember this one time in my english...

Sun, 19 May 2013 20:26:59 -0400

goddammitfenton:

if you ever feel bad about yourself, just remember this one time in my english class, we were writing horror stories and one of the girls wrote “it was friday the 13th, the night before halloween” for her opening sentence

How to write a book - Now Novel

Sun, 19 May 2013 09:08:42 -0400

How to write a book - Now Novel:

shannahmcgill:

Now Novel shows you how to write a book: a tailormade toolkit helps you find an idea, create structure and stay motivated while writing a book. Start right now!

Seems interesting.

How to meet celebrities: Write a book that's good enough to become a movie.

Sun, 19 May 2013 08:50:33 -0400

How to meet celebrities: Write a book that's good enough to become a movie.

shannahmcgill: Every scene should have at least one awesome, memorable part. Every character should...

Sat, 18 May 2013 10:46:51 -0400

shannahmcgill:

Every scene should have at least one awesome, memorable part.

Every character should do at least one awesome, memorable thing.

If this isn’t true in your story, you may need to rewrite or delete certain scenes and characters.

Writability: Discussion: Do Writers Need Social Media?

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:01:31 -0400

Writability: Discussion: Do Writers Need Social Media?:

remember reading this post by Nathan Bransford years ago on when you should start using social media. His post is actually what pushed me to take the plunge into Twitter and blogging, a decision that I couldn’t be happier with.

Now that I’ve waded around the social media world for two years and written posts on the best social media sites and accounts for writers, I’ve started thinking: do writers really need it?

I’m hesitant to make generalizations about what anyone needs to succeed (or generalizations at all, for that matter) with few exceptions. And while social media is not one of those exceptions, I do believe that being active in social media can at the very least make a writer’s life easier. And a little less lonely.

You see, social media is so much more than telling the world about what you had for breakfast—it’s a community, and lucky for writers there’s a rather large one of wonderful people who love words and just want to tell stories to the world. But more than that, social media is a world rife with opportunity—from pitch contests, to wish list requests from agents, to online writing conferences (which are actually a thing).

And that’s available to everyone long before publication is a reality.

Post-publication, social media becomes even more important. It allows writers to connect with their readers, both future and current. Social media drives word-of-mouth marketing, keeps readers in-the-know regarding your book, and it allows anyone and everyone to share their thoughts on your work.

So while I won’t say that it’s impossible to be a successful writer without social media, I do believe that social media can make a writer’s life much easier (and, dare I say—a little more fun?).

Even if you don’t think you need social media, it might be worth a try anyway. You never know—it might turn out to be one of your best decisions yet.

Do you think writers need social media? Why or why not?

Twitter-sized bites:

Do writers really need social media? (Click to tweet)

It may not be impossible to be a successful writer without social media, but it does make life easier. (Click to tweet)

10knotes: This post has been featured on a 1000notes.com blog.

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:22:42 -0400

10knotes:

This post has been featured on a 1000notes.com blog.

writeworld: amandaonwriting: We are often asked if characters...

Wed, 15 May 2013 23:03:19 -0400

writeworld:

amandaonwriting:

We are often asked if characters should describe themselves at Writers Write. We are asked how they could describe themselves. When we came across this post by Stephanie Orges, we wanted to share some of her ideas with you. (If you want to read the full article, follow the link at the end)

Six Ways First Person Narrators Can Describe Themselves

By Stephanie Orges

1. Don’t describe him at all
Do your readers have to know what the protagonist looks like to understand the plot? If not, consider leaving it out altogether.

2. Give it to your reader straight
If you are actually telling the story with frequent quirky asides to your “dear reader”, your hero can simply describe himself during introductions. But be warned: don’t try to force it if this isn’t your style.

3. Embarrass them
Make them self-conscious about a physical flaw. She only smiles close-mouthed because she’s embarrassed by the gap in her teeth. He wishes he had biceps like the head jock.

4. Compare and contrast with another character
‘My daughter has my crooked smile, but her father’s blue eyes’. These can even create a poetic effect, as you can simultaneously compare and contrast personality traits as well.

5. Use dialogue
Her best friend gently explains dark roots are out of fashion. His father remarks he really ought to cut his hair (he looks like a hippie). Her enemy asks if she’s a natural redhead. Use compliments and nicknames.

6. Show, don’t tell
If they are short, have them struggle to reach something most others could get. If tall, have them duck through doorways. If they are unattractive, make them self-conscious around people of the opposite sex. Your hero’s appearance is reflected in the way other characters react to it.

Read the full article: Source

Source for Image

Awesome advice here! More helpful tips on describing first person narrators can be found in Literary Criticism, the Mirror Cliche, and Describing a First-Person Narrator.

-C

"But most days, if you’re aware enough to give yourself a choice, you can choose to look differently..."

Wed, 15 May 2013 20:33:09 -0400

“But most days, if you’re aware enough to give yourself a choice, you can choose to look differently at this fat, dead-eyed, over-made-up lady who just screamed at her kid in the checkout line. Maybe she’s not usually like this. Maybe she’s been up three straight nights holding the hand of a husband who is dying of bone cancer. Or maybe this very lady is the low-wage clerk at the motor vehicle department, who just yesterday helped your spouse resolve a horrific, infuriating, red-tape problem through some small act of bureaucratic kindness. Of course, none of this is likely, but it’s also not impossible. It just depends what you want to consider. If you’re automatically sure that you know what reality is, and you are operating on your default setting, then you, like me, probably won’t consider possibilities that aren’t annoying and miserable. But if you really learn how to pay attention, then you will know there are other options. It will actually be within your power to experience a crowded, hot, slow, consumer-hell type situation as not only meaningful, but sacred, on fire with the same force that made the stars: love, fellowship, the mystical oneness of all things deep down.”

- DAVID FOSTER WALLACE.

We never really know what is happening in another person’s life.

(via somethingchanged)

Photo

Wed, 15 May 2013 13:12:36 -0400

Writability: Discussion: Do You Finish Every Novel Idea You Start?

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:01:28 -0400

Writability: Discussion: Do You Finish Every Novel Idea You Start?:

Confession time again: I have started several novels that I never finished.

Considering I’ve often written about finishing your novelsand just getting the words down and worrying about the rest later, this may be a little surprising to some of you. But it’s true, and it’s something that I’m actually quite unashamed of.

Most times, these starts are a false start of sorts—more of an exploration of an idea than an actual attempt at writing out a novel. But I have fully plotted WIP ideas from start to finish, written a page or two, then decided I didn’t want to write it after all. On two occasions, I have written more than a couple thousand words, then realized with some disappointment that it wasn’t working.

So there. I’ve said it: I don’t finish every novel idea that I start.

The thing is, that initial writing for me is part of the exploration process. I could have plotted out my most epic novel yet, but if the voice of the protagonist doesn’t work for me, I immediately lose interest and move on to something else. For me, character is king, and if I don’t find an intriguing voice to tell the story, then it’ll remain a snippet of writing and some jotted down ideas.

This is why I don’t really call a first draft an actual draft or WIP until I’ve hit 10,000 words. Even that isn’t necessarily a guarantee that this is a novel I’m going to finish, but the odds are astronomically higher after that milestone because I’ve gotten a good feel for the characters and usually if I’ve made it that far, I know something’s there.

Now, I’m well aware that not everyone works the same way I do, and so I want to hear from you: what is your exploration process like? Do you finish every novel idea that you start?

Twitter-sized bites:

Do you finish every novel idea you start? @Ava_Jae doesn’t, and here’s why. (Click to tweet)

Why one writer doesn’t call a WIP an actual draft until she’s written 10,000 words. (Click to tweet)