Saturday Sketch

I sense a...presence behind me. An evil presence.

Today I must fight my greatest nemeses. They have gone on too long polluting my hallowed halls. It is time to vanquish them. I'm afraid today's sketch is less than stellar—blame the evil that lurks in my house.

Also, I think I might have over done it on the video games last night...

Until Sketch We Meet

Today is one of those days I'm pretending doesn't exist. No, seriously. In my mind I've skipped Thursday and am already on to Friday. Don't worry, it's nothing serious, just a personal thing. I'm taking my own "Staying Positive" advice and keeping away for the internets for a couple days. So I'll see you for Saturday Sketch, aye?

Together! But Not.

You guys were promised a video when Kiersten and I hit 400 followers. Well boy did we hit 400! Kierst pretty much smashed that last week, thanks to her awesome post on submissions. So here's the video. It's...special. This is why I've avoided vlogging. I tend to get, um, a little carried away.

Staying Positive

Why, yes. I DO feel awesome today. What tipped you off?

Every time I read this shirt, I giggle. I mean, what an audacious, ridiculous shirt! Here I am totally owning it. And by owning I mean wearing it because it's just so funny to claim yourself as awesome.

But I AM. Today at least.

Why? Oh, no reason. I just realized all this crazy might be making you think I got a book deal or something. Nope, not yet. Sorry. No book deals here. Nothing exciting at all, really.

There is no reason for my awesomeness except that I decided it.

This writing gig often comes with a lot of self-loathing, despair, and frustration. Like, a lot. With constant criticism (from yourself and others) through most every part of the process, it's hard not to get down. Sometimes I feel like I'm battling with myself, trying to stay upbeat despite that voice in my head that says I suck because insert-minor-failure-here.

But I've always believed in the power of positivity. It's not always easy to find the bright side, but just searching for it changes everything about a situation. It turns despair into hope. You have to have hope in this writing business—no matter how much it hurts at times—otherwise you'd give up or turn bitter quick.

Some Ways I Stay Positive:

1. No Comparing. It's not easy, but when I focus on making my own style as unique and clean as possible, then it's easier not to think about other writers who are further in their journey than I am.

2. Good Friends. Talking, laughing, and sharing with close writer friends always provides a good pick-me-up. They get it. They've been there or will be there. I couldn't do this without them.

3. Do Things I Love. As in non-writing things. Of course I love to write, but too much of anything is bad for you. There has to be a balance.

4. Shut Down The Networking Sites. Sometimes it's just too much for this introvert. Hearing about all the publishing news, etc, just makes me grumpy. If I get that way, I know I've been spending too much time online.

5. Work On Something New. I have kind of a short attention span. If I've been writing for a while, I need to switch to editing to give my brain a positive jolt. If I've been editing a lot, yeah, time to write something fresh.

6. Remembering All The Good. There are so many good things in my life, and when I focus on that then the bad things seem trivial.

7. Exercise. Whether it's DDR, biking, or dancing like an idiot in my living room, moving around always seems to shake off the blues.

8. Chocolate. Dark chocolate. Nuff said.

9. Believing Anyway. Sometimes you just have to tell yourself you're awesome until you believe it. Sure, it feels lame at first, but then you start laughing, and then somewhere deep down you know you're telling the truth.

10. Wearing Really Lame T-shirts. Seriously, it works. I feel awesome today.

Being YOU

First, hop on over to Matt's blog. If you are a nerd, you will appreciate that little gem of genius there. Made my day. Now I'm picturing Han Solo with a British accent. Mmm...wait, what was I doing? Blogging, right.

I'm gonna let you guys in on a little secret. It might be shocking, so brace yourselves:

Not everyone likes me.

I know. How in the world is that possible? I'm the most likable person in the world! Everyone in the Universe should love me! ...Or maybe I actually come off rather aloof in person. And sometimes people read that as me thinking I'm superior, when it's really a wall built to hide how fragile and insecure I am...

Something like that.

This used to really bother me, this whole idea that there are people in the world who don't like me. Oh who am I kidding? Sometimes it STILL bothers me.

I think it's safe to say that most people want to be liked, and sometimes we give up part of ourselves to get it. I don't know how this whole being-someone-else-to-be-liked goes in boy land, but I can tell you it's nearly a disease in girls. Even women. My oh my, I've seen it so many times. In my friends, my family, myself. We try to mold ourselves into what other people expect us to be, and sometimes it feels like we have to cut off limbs just to fit our square selves into that round hole.

To some extent, we all live dual lives, the inside never quite matching up to what people see on the outside. As if being ourselves is something completely unacceptable.

I'm not sure where this way of thinking came from. Maybe it's been ingrained in us so long no one really knows. But I've always hated it, and perhaps that's why I've met with my fair share of bullies. I've never been able to give up much of myself, never been able to pretend I'm someone else for very long. I've tried, and it always leaves me feeling like crap. Like I'm being stifled. Not a fan.

So not everyone likes me, but those who do I am happy to say like me. Not a mask. That's rewarding in its own way. I dare say it's nicer to have the real affection of few than to have the false affection of many.

I've said this before—several times, even—but I'm constantly in need of my own personal pep talks. You gotta Rock What You Got. You have to be YOU. There's no one else who can do it better.

In the writing world, as in any creative field, a lot of comparing gets thrown around. It's hard not to do, but I can tell you it's a waste of time. I've been there, and it just makes you feel ugly and worthless and sad.

And you shouldn't, because there is only one person in the world who can write what you do. Please don't make me tell you who, because I think it's pretty obvious by now.

Sometimes I tease Kiersten—especially after I finish one of her amazing books like I did today (I know, I'm totally rubbing that in)—that I wish I could be her so I'd know everything she knows about her worlds. She inevitably says something sappy like, "But then I wouldn't get to read your books! I love your books."

I roll my eyes, but the truth of that is deep and pure and keeps me going more than I can say. I may never be an award winner or a bestseller or whatever, but my unique voice resonates with some people. That, friends, is the most rewarding part of writing. And it doesn't take a book deal or an agent or anything to get. It just takes the right person connecting with your work and sharing a moment that transcends the words on the page. When writer and reader create meaning together.

I live for that, and I know it can only come through being myself on the page. Yeah, some people may not like it. Fine. But I have to write for me and the people who do connect with my words. Carving myself to fit in a different hole would make me incredibly unhappy.

So, be yourself. You've heard it a thousand times, but I think we all need reminding now and then.

Saturday Sketch

I'm really early on the sketch today! That doesn't happen often. What do you think? Bet you didn't think I could draw like that, huh. My realism isn't so great, thus I tend to shy away from it. This still looks pretty cartoony, but I love it.

This is Cade from Spork. He's a Raider, and Gil doesn't exactly trust him, which is probably a good idea since Cade has loads of motives he prefers to keep to himself. But he knows the Moors, and if Gil and Adair want to get across safely (or at least as safely as possible), they're going to have to follow Cade's lead.

Whew, now I'm going to bed. You think the kids will let me sleep in? Hmm...my bet is no. Dang.

The Betas

Krista G. asked a good question in comments yesterday: How do you know when you're ready for beta readers, and how many of those drafts did you go through before you reached that point?

I realized Beta isn't talked about in too much detail, so I thought I'd use my long-winded skills to cover everything I can possibly think of about this thing called Beta. Because really, Beta isn't exactly the easiest thing. It can be a very trying period for a writer.

Definition according to me: Beta is when a writer sends his or her work to readers for feedback, and then takes that feedback to improve their work.

Simple, right? Yeah...not really.

First, you have to get your manuscript to a place where you think it's "ready" for readers. I wouldn't say you have to think your MS is perfect—then what would be the point of Betas? But it should be something you'd feel comfortable showing someone. It should be your best effort.

For me, that point is usually when I'm thinking, "This is pretty good, but in my gut I know there are a few issues I'm missing. I don't know what they are, so I need help seeing them." Usually I'm on about my second or third draft when I'm ready for Beta readers. I do mine in several phases, as you'll see, so that might be early to some people. Everyone is different, and it's good to find a process that works for you. It took me a few books to figure out who was most helpful to me and when I should send things out.

Okay, so you've decided it's time for Beta! Who do you send it to?

Many of you know I'm a huge proponent of Alpha Readers. They aren't for everyone, but they are a huge help for me when I'm shaping my first draft. They are supportive, which helps me to move forward. Yet they are also honest, which helps me plan out my story and make it the best I can on the first round. I ask them for input first, and they help me shape the book pre-Beta.

Then I send it to my crit group. Don't have one? This is my guide for finding one. But here's the thing—I don't send it to all my gals at once. I pick two at a time.

Why?
Reason 1: Too many cooks in the kitchen can get overwhelming fast. You don't need 20 people to make you think differently about your book, and when you get that many betas who are you going to listen to?

Reason 2: Then I can save my other Betas for the next revision, instead of forcing them to read it again.

Reason 3: When I send it to the next round of Betas, I can easily see if I fixed the issues from last round. If they don't bring up "that one plot hole," then likely it's been fixed. Revision success!

Now, your Betas have sent you their feedback! You read their comments...and then you panic about how in the world you're going to fix your stupid book. Why did you ever write it in the first place? How did you not see that massive plot hole? The untrue character development? The pointlessness of that scene?

Wait...what? You guys don't panic about that stuff? Well, I do. Humor me here.

Yes, even with two Betas I get overwhelmed by all the things they bring up in my work. I have really good Betas, let me tell you. To curb the freak out, I plan. I think about what they said and why they said it. I decide if their suggestion merits a substantial change, or if I just wasn't clear and I need to tweak wording.

I do not, under any circumstances, touch the book.

It took me a while to figure this out, but I've learned Betas are for getting you to look at your book from a different viewpoint. You don't have to take their suggestions. Sometimes you shouldn't, even. But you should think about what you want to change to make things clearer. That takes a little bit of time. Stupid time, like we need to wait more, right? But I promise it's worth it.

Once I decide what I want to change, then I run it by my Betas to see if that would quell their concerns. Usually they approve, and if they don't they explain to me more of what they had issues with. And I think more.

Then I plan. This part curbs my panic a lot. Having a plan of attack makes the changes seem doable. I open up the Word doc, pull out my notebook, and make notes about what I want to change in each chapter. It looks a little like this, but, you know, not backwards:

I highlight the change once I've entered it, just so I feel like I'm making progress. Editing feels very stale to me in comparison to creating, so this helps me a lot in revisions. I even do it when line editing.

I don't look at my Betas' comments until after I've done the revision. Then I take another glance to see if there is anything else I want to apply.

After that, I pick two more Betas and repeat the process. And repeat and repeat.

I think the biggest thing I've learned about Beta is that it's not just one round. It's a long-term process of improvement. I would strongly recommend going through several rounds. Like at least three. I know it can get exciting to get your work out there to agents, but it's amazing what you can learn by spending time in Beta land and really thinking about your book.

Authentic Characters

I've so enjoyed reading the comments from yesterday. I can't tell you how much I worried about getting flamed, but you all offered such great opinions. And you were nice about it! *hugs readers*

But due to my inarticulateness, I may have accidentally implied that people who write "Idealistically" can't write authentic characters. Or that Idealism in general isn't authentic. Not true! Authentic characters come from both views.

What I was referring to yesterday was simply the writer's approach to their work. We all bring different "spins" to the written word (and to life), and I'd just noticed this "real world" vs "how the world should be" thing a lot lately in YA discussions. I think it's a very appropriate thing to be talking about as YA writers, since part of adolescence is grappling with reality in contrast to the ideals we learned in childhood. (Whew, look at me trying to be deep, ha.)

I have many friends who approach writing from both perspectives, and all of their books contain authentic characters who act in believable ways and face hard situations/decisions.

Many of you talked about staying true to the characters you create, and I think that is the key to making any story real. That's often easier said than done. At least for me.

When I first think of a character, it's like meeting someone for the first time. I know I like them, and I find them interesting. But I just don't know everything about them. Sometimes as I write I miss their cues. I write them too mean or soft or sad or happy. Once I get to know them more, sometimes I realize I didn't portray them right. Then I have to fix my misinterpretation.

My characters always surprise me, which is one of my favorite parts of writing. Sometimes I go into a book thinking my MC is a goody goody, and then I discover that's not exactly true. Or I assume someone is bad, but I quickly learn that's not the whole story.

Attempting to translate a whole (imaginary) person into words is quite a task. I wrote a post about it once, and I think that's the best I can articulate it. Whether you lean more towards Idealism or Realism, your task is still the same: Make your story believable.

Choosing Lines

I'm about to get into some touchy territory today, but it's something I constantly think about. I want to talk about lines—the "moral" ones we draw for ourselves as writers.

We all have them, and they all stop in different places. As a religious person, I find this topic particularly fascinating. Many of my writer friends share my faith, and yet the line for each person is different. Personally, I respect all perspectives, and I think each one is important to YA lit.

From what I've seen, my writing friends fall somewhere between two "camps," as I like to think of it. There are the ones who tend toward Idealism and those who are drawn in by Realism, and then some who end up somewhere in the middle.

Idealism
Idealists are writers who want to "lead by example." They believe that kids should have good examples in books, whatever that view of a "good" example is. Idealists sometimes vow never to use swearing in their books, or even kissing. Their characters make "right" decisions more often than not, and when they don't they're always, always punished. Idealists often write children's lit so they won't be "penalized" for being squeaky clean. They have chosen to write uplifting stories that don't touch the "gritty" issues.

I agree with this. There are many teens out there who don't want to read about sex, drugs, and the like (heck, I was one of them). They deserve books that cater to their sensibilities, and I'm very grateful there are writers out there writing these books.

But not every teen is like that—not every teen has a squeaky clean life, and to them those books come off fake. To them, the world isn't so black and white. People do bad things and get away with it. People make mistakes. They make mistakes. And that's where the "other side" comes in.

Realism
Realistic writers believe they should show life as it is—warts and all—not as it should be. They want to write stories that tell it like it is and let their readers bring the morals to it. The world to them isn't so much black and white as it is gray gray gray. They talk about things that make some people squirm, but other people pump their fists and go, "Yeah! That's exactly how it is!"

I agree with this, too. There are many teens who need these stories. They need to know that they're not the only ones who've been through crap. They need to see, even if it's fiction, that someone can make it through and move on. What some people see as "gritty" is their life, and to them it's just how it is. I'm grateful that there are writers out there writing these books, who face the "issues" with skill and grace.

The Middle
So those are the two camps I've seen in YA land, but I've also met many a writer who sits in The Middle. These writers see the value of both views. They can identify with both and pull their own set of rules from both sides.

I'm in The Middle, leaning a bit to Idealism at times, and Realism at others. I am religious—I personally don't swear or drink, etc—but that doesn't mean all my characters are. I have chosen my own limits in writing, which to some are quite scandalous and to others are incredibly tame.

It has been an interesting road, one where I'm constantly standing up for my choices. I've thought about them a lot, and I am happy with them. On the same manuscript, I've had comments that it's "inappropriate" AND "super clean." That makes me laugh.

From these experiences, I've learned that it's the reader that brings their own moral code to your work. And you just can't please everyone. If you write a "clean" book, there will be people out there that say it's not realistic enough. If you write a "gritty" book, there will be people out there who try to ban it from libraries because it's evil.

In the end, you have to write the book that you're happy with. Whatever lines you choose, you have to stand by them and not let others dictate your stories. There is room for every kind of story, and we should respect them just like we respect the people who write them.

And Wow

I just hit 400 followers! Holy crap! I mean, uh, I'm supposed to be professional and stuff...

Hi, how are you? Welcome to the blog, pull up a chair. I made cookies—best chocolate chip in The Universe, if I do say so myself. Have as many as you'd like. Why thank you, I have been exercising my rear off, thanks to this "health insentivised" insurance my husband's company decided to instate. But that's another story...and not a very nice one.

Warning: Blatant and shameless plug ahead.

So me and my best friend Kiersten have been chatting about this 400 thing. See, she's just TWO away from 400 herself, and we were thinking that if we both got to 400 this week we'd do something awesome. Well, awesome to US, and possibly awesome to you.

We've been playing around with a vlog series idea. Yes, both of us on video. Together. At least virtually, since there happens to be a couple states between us.

But we're not working on this until we both have 400 followers, so I'd highly recommend you run over to Kiersten's blog and follow her. Besides, even if you don't want to see the video, Kiersten is funny. Seriously. And more than funny, she's smart and kind and my favorite writer in the world. I would have given up if it weren't for her constant pep talks. AND she's getting published this year. THIS YEAR! Which makes her way cooler than me. So if you haven't made you're way over there, don't miss out.

Do It Anyway

There are days where I really don't want to write. No, scratch that. There are weeks—months—where writing feels like the hardest thing I've ever put myself through. Sometimes I want to walk away, shut this blog down, and take up blacksmithing or something. Maybe coopering. Some days my finger hovers over the delete key as I wonder if anything I've written is worth while. Lately, getting any words on paper feels simultaneously like a miracle and a mistake.

But I do it anyway.

Most of the time, I really don't want to edit. I don't want to be reminded of how imperfect my writing is—of how far I have to go to create a respectable book. I don't want to read my stupid idea again. I don't want to put in hours, hoping that I'm changing the right things but not really knowing. I despise the ever-present pit in my stomach, the anxiety that keeps food from my mouth and sleep from my fried brain.

But I do it anyway.

Why? Sometimes I wonder that. Why in the world do I put myself through this? And more than that, why do I love writing? I think most of you know it's no free trip to Disneyworld.

But then there are those moments—the golden specks in all that dirt. When I nail a description. When I create an unforgettable character. When I blindside a reader and they go, "I totally didn't see that coming!" Man, I love that one. There's also the moment when you know you finally got that scene right. And the one when you finish a book, and you sit back in awe of what you've just accomplished. Let's not forget that overwhelming moment when a real professional—an agent—says that all your work was, indeed, worth something. Those golden moments, somehow, make all the dirt not so bad.

A lot of people would walk away, saying it's just too much to do with not enough chance of a pay off. Those people are probably right. But just like prospectors, writers know they're missing the point. They see potential. They see something of value, if they're patient and willing to work at it. It's not about the chances of making it big—it's about possibilities. For even the smallest fleck of gold is worth something, and discovering it is the true pay off.

And so I pan for literary gold. I write when it's the last thing in the world I want to do. I edit when I'd really rather not. Even when all I get is dirt pan after pan, I do it anyway.

Fishy Saturday Sketch

Okay, I'll admit it. I like drawing mermaids—and faeries and elves and girls in pretty dresses. I try to pretend I'm tough, but I guess most girls have that princess-loving tiara side, too. Hey, I just have broad interests, right?

So, mermaid. Hope you like her. I don't think I've ever drawn one for the blog. Though I did draw a merpire for Carrie, which turned out pretty awesome seeing as I laughed the whole time. Good times, that.

Answers: Video Games, Etc.

I kind of love how many video game questions I got this Q&A round. I also love that many of these questions came from GIRLS. Gamer Chicks FTW! w00t! I almost feel like I can discuss the decline of World of Warcraft since expac 3 and most of you would get what I meant. (Seriously, does anyone else miss the good ol' level 60 days? Sigh.)

Anyway...the video game and other media answers are up today, making all the questions you asked officially answered! Thanks again for all your questions. It might be lame, but I totally enjoy answering them.

Nick said...Top 5 favorite Final Fantasy characters, and why!
Gah, that’s hard! I like too many! Um…okay, I can do this.

1. Squall (VIII): He’s just such a punk. He’s that sad, cute boy you really want to get through to but he won’t let you. I like that he’s quiet and often reluctant; most of the MCs are more outspoken. How cute is this? Sigh.


2. Waka (X): He’s just cooool. And in the American version he’s got a Polynesian-like accent, which is hot. Then there’s that whole Blitzball thing…it was Blitzball, right? It’s been a while.

3. Yuffie (VII): Hello? She’s a NINJA, and she’s hilarious. I spent many an hour trying to get Cloud to go on a date with her instead of Tifa or Aeris. It’s a hard thing to do, I’ll tell you that.

4. Tidus (X): Minus the weird clothes and the fact that he’s a cartoon, the boy is gorgeous. (Yes, my husband, I said it.) I mean, he’s blond, but then he looks Asian! Swoon! I spent the whole game just staring at him…that one cut scene in the water with him and Yuna? Must share:


5. Penelo (XII): I haven’t played all the way through yet, but Penelo is so spunky! I have her using a big old sword, and she beats the crap out of stuff. It’s awesome.

Sandy Shin said…Also, what are some of your favorite Japanese manga/anime/drama/etc.?
My all time favorite is still Escaflowne. Love love love. I've watched it at least 3 or 4 times and I'd watch it again I love it that much. I recently watched Ouran High School Host Club and loved that as well. Full Metal Alchemist was awesome. And also everything in this post.

I'm currently working on Bleach, which is really cool. And I got some great recommends from my Twitter peeps that I plan on investigating next. It's been way too long since I watched anime regularly, but now that I don't have TV I've found many an hour to watch. Go figure.

Debbie (Nerd Goddess) said...Have you ever played Chrono Trigger, and if so, have you played all of the endings? Which time period is your favorite? (And if you haven't played it, why in heaven's name not?)
I played Chrono Trigger as a kid! Maybe when I was…13? So it’s been a while and I can’t remember all the time periods. I do remember loving the game though! Obviously, I never played all the endings either.

Other classic game I loved: Earthbound. If you know what I’m talking about, I’ll make you cookies. And Secret of Mana, too.

Jenn Johansson said...What movie are you most excited to see in 2010? :)
Umm, I don’t really know what’s coming out. Since having kids, I must admit I don’t pay attention to movies much. I can never go see them! It’s expensive, and babysitters are often busy. I hate putting people out just so I can sit in a theater for a couple hours.

I’ve tuned out most previews, because I know I’ll just be disappointed that I can’t go see it. I mean, I still haven’t even seen New Moon or Avatar or whatever other popular movie is out. What was the last movie I saw in theaters? Hmm…maybe Harry Potter? I can’t even remember. Julie & Julia, perhaps? One of those two.

So basically, I'm excited for any movie that I actually get to see without my kids screaming in the background as I watch it at home.

Yunaleska said…Out of Final Fantasy 7 through to 12 (excluding 11 because I don't have it), which is your favourite? (they are probably all your favourite....but pick one!)
I haven’t yet played all the way through 12, but I'm really enjoying it so far. It's kind of like the FF Tastics series, which I love very much. So it's neat to see the world of Ivalice rendered in better graphics.

But ultimately, I have a soft spot for Final Fantasy VIII. I know a lot of people really didn’t like it, but I loved the story and thought the world was really different and cool. I also liked the idea of syncing with your summons as a way to gain skills and such. And the end villain was female, which I thought rocked. It's usually a guy, and I'm thinking we need more evil chicks out there. Girls aren't always healers!

Falen said…If you had to absolutely pick between Squall and Cloud - which one and why?
Squall. Though I kind of hate his name, heh. Don’t get me wrong—I love Cloud—but Squall is mine! Mine!

Cat Clarke said…Which Owl City song do you listen to the most?
I listen to all of them on a loop, actually. Sometimes my husband gets whiny because he gets tired of hearing Owl City so much. I guess he can’t be completely perfect. As for favorites though, I love Vanilla Twilight, If My Heart Was a Home, On The Wing, Hot Air Ballon, and Strawberry Avalanche.

Answers: The Hypotheticals

You guys love to put me in weird/entertaining circumstances—so much that they get their own post! And I love that I answers these questions as if it's completely normal.

Kiersten White said...Okay, your turn: If we were to co-write a book, what would it be about?
Well, you’re under the impression that you could never co-write a book, but I think we honestly could and it would be freaking awesome. I imagine something contemporary, about two high school girls who feel super lonely though no one in their lives would ever guess. We’d have alternating chapters, of course, and in or near the end they’d meet and realize they aren’t so alone after all.

Can you see the Printz award? Because I can.

Alternately, how is it that I can be such a good speller and still mess up word verifications EVERY. FREAKING. TIME?
Okay, so that wasn't hypothetical, but I had no idea how to categorize this question so here it is. It’s because sometimes the letters are ambiguous! Is it a "u" or a "v"? Is that an "n" or a really jacked up "h"? It’s okay, you don’t have to be perfect all the time. Word verification keeps you humble.

Dominique said...If the Witness Protection people showed up at your door right now, gave you fifteen minutes to pack, and said you could only bring three [published] books to your undisclosed location, which would you bring?
At first glance, I thought this question would be hard, but I already have it figured out!

1. My scriptures—they’re freaking long and full of crazy stories.

2. The Lord of the Rings—it’s freaking long and full of crazy stories. That, and I haven’t actually read it. Please, don’t stone me! They were so intimidating to me as a child, but they’re on the Reading List of Shame (along with Pride and Prejudice).

3. The Chronicles of Narnia. Hey, I’ve seen them combined into one book, so don’t call me a cheater. They were my favorite growing up, and they are still the only books I’ve ever reread.

L.T. Elliot said...If you could live the life of one of your characters for a day, which would it be?
I’d want to be Stacia Starfall for a day—not any more than a day, since she can read minds and see the future and stuff. It’s a little exhausting to be a Mentalist all the time, but I’d like to try it out just to see.

Roxane B. Salonen said...If you could back to any age in your life, what would it be?
Is it sad that I’d actually go back to high school? Specifically, the summer before my senior year. I’d make sure I didn’t chop off all my hair, since I’m pretty sure that’s why I never had a boyfriend. (It’s a long story.) Also, my senior was fun. I was in student council, in drama tech, in art. I had my beat up old car and time to play video games. And then there was Brennan; I’d go back and make that right.

Second to that would be the time I was dating my husband, because that was just fun. Except I’m still kind of living that, since we still have fun together.

Jenni said...If you could kiss any of your MC's which one would it be? (supposing of course they were legal, and you er, were uh.. yeah...)
Wow, um, I don’t often think about kissing my characters, mostly because I imagine them kissing the person they “belong” with. It might be weird, but they’re so real to me that I’d feel like they were cheating. I’d hate to make my characters cheat on their loved ones!

That said, I’d totally kiss Adair, since he’s single throughout Spork. And Cade, too, though I think Kiersten would fight me for him.

Carrie Harris said…Other than an automatic tissue dispenser, what cyborg enhancements do you plan to get?
I’d love to get a language chip, so I could speak every language fluently and travel the globe with ease. I’d also like the chip that prevents me from feeling cold and flu symptoms. And the emo chip, which dulls unpleasant emotions, is a must have. Though it’s very expensive and only available to military personnel, I’d be willing to make that sacrifice just so I didn’t have to deal with the anxiety that comes with waiting.

Falen said…If you had to choose to only eat one food for the rest of your life (this is assuming of course that it would sustain you, and also you wouldn't get any fatter or waste away to nothing in case you pick celery (why anyone would pick celery i don't know)) what would it be?
I’m going pizza, mostly because you can put just about anything on pizza and it’ll still be good. Then I could have a variety of flavors and foods, but it’s technically “one food.” Mwahaha.

Southpaw said…What planet would you most like to visit?
Hmm, I’m not much for space travel, since I can’t breathe out there and that makes me nervous. I mean, how do those astronauts not freak out? If anything goes wrong they’re toast! That’s scary!

But if we’re going under the assumption that space travel is as normal as it is in Star Trek, then I’d like to visit Pluto. Hey, I feel bad for it! To be called a planet for so long, and then it just gets demoted. That’s low. Pluto would totally get a pity visit from me.

Answers: The Biz

Alrighty, round two of answers! Today I tackled the publishing-type ones. Thanks again for asking such great questions. You guys always get me thinking.

Renee Pinner said...I know you're in the submissions process with Relax, I'm a Ninja. How long do you wait that out before your agent wants other work to submit and do you have something else on the back burner? Ha, 2 for 1 question!
It varies based on many things—editor feedback, passion for the project, market, number of submissions, etc. Every agent is different, as is every client and their work. I believe it’s one of those gut things, no set time.

I’m still pretty early on in the process (though I admit some days it doesn’t feel like that), but I always have ideas waiting in case things don’t pan out. Always. I am an idea machine. Seriously, I could come up with good ideas all day. Execution is another matter—it takes a long time to execute one idea well enough to make it to publication. That's where I'm at right now, trying to polish up one of those ideas just in case it's needed.

ann foxlee said...Being a visual artist as well as a writer, it sort of drives me nuts to think that if my book is ever published, I'll have little to no input over the cover... which is only the first thing that makes me pick up a book... you know, not important or anything ;-P

My question is: since you are also a visual artist, does the same thing keep you up at nights? After you're done worrying about the actual writing, I mean.
Actually no, it doesn’t bother me at all. But along with being an artist, I was also once a layout designer for a magazine. Since I devoted about four years of my life to visually gearing this magazine to its audience, I understand that sometimes it’s more about what the audience wants than what you want. If I had my choice, the magazine I designed would have been edgier and more contemporary, but that wouldn’t have appealed to my audience of university multicultural alumni.

A publishing house’s art directors are Pros. They know the market—they know the covers on the market. They know what will stand out and what sells to that market. That’s their job.

We all have visions for our covers, but when it comes down to it the cover is meant to sell the book. We as authors don’t know that side of the industry like art directors. Yes, sometimes there can be big mistakes—and I plan to freak out if that ever happens—but for the most part I trust I’ll be in good hands if I ever get that far.

JC Webprints said...What words of wisdom do you have for someone who is trying to break into writing as a career? I currently program full time, and hope (like many) that I can write for a living. I REALLY enjoy it, and can't imagine a better line of work.
Patience. Hard work. More patience. Love. Work. And did I mention patience?

I’m gonna be straight with you. If you want to write for a living—as in no other job at all—try and picture that about 10-20 years from now. Otherwise, you’re just gonna get frustrated with this business. I know, that sounds horribly pessimistic, but let me keep talking and hopefully I’ll make you feel better.

I’ve been writing my whole life, but I’ve only been pursuing it seriously for about four years. Yes, I have an agent, but let it be known that I have yet to receive a penny for my creative writing. And even when that book deal someday comes, it’ll likely be many more months until I see a check. And when I do see a check, it probably won’t be enough to sustain a living.

See, publishing is SLOW. No, way slower than you’re imagining. Double all your time lines, and then maybe you’ll be closer to actual publishing time.

I learned this the hard way. I thought it would take a year at most to get an agent. It took two. And from all my soon-to-be-published friends, I’ve learned not to expect speed from submissions either. Even if I do sell, I’m looking at a year minimum (more like 18 months to 2 years) before my book is in stores.

But here’s the thing—I don’t write because I want to be rich…or even to make a living off it. I write because I love it. I love it a lot, even. I hope to see a monetary profit someday, but I’ve already gained so much spiritually, mentally, and even physically that cash would only be icing on the cake.

So when it comes to advice about trying to make money off writing, I say: Beware. Enjoy writing—work at it, love it, learn it, grow in it—but planning to live off your words any time soon will only bring a bushel of frustration.

Jessie Oliveros said...My question...How much does your agent share with you through the publishing process? Does he let you know when he sends it to a house, which house, and what their response was? And is the waiting harder or easier now that you have an agent to share it with?
Hmm, how to answer this question…

First part: He shares what he needs to share, and I can ask him whatever I need to ask.

Second part, the waiting part: Yes and no. The waiting, for me, is actually worse overall.

In querying, there’s this underlying feeling that you can keep trying. There are many agents, you can revamp your query, you can revise and resubmit to the same agents, etc. In submission, the underlying feeling is more…permanent. This manuscript has one chance—if it fails, you really do have to walk away from it. Maybe for forever. It’s not a pleasant feeling.

But having an agent does help relieve some of that crushing fear. Because even though I may have to walk away from a project for good, my agent isn’t going to walk away from me. We’ll move on and hope for better luck next time. It’s nice to have a guide through the icky-ness that is submission. I don’t think I’d survive otherwise.

Linguista said...Not sure if you can help, but here goes. I'm just starting out as a writer, and trying to gain entry to a writing program or MA. Many of them ask for references from "established" writers. How do you go about getting these things, as an unpublished writer?
Wow, since I’ve never attempted to enter a writing program, I’m not exactly sure. You can’t just email Stephen King and expect him to read your work…or even “little” authors. Maybe the references are referring to your professors or other writers you’ve been in contact with? I find it a tad harsh that they expect you to seek out an "established" writer for a referral. And what does that mean anyway? Published? Writing for 5+ years? A professor in writing?

If they actually do mean a published writer, networking just takes time. I mean, I originally started this blog so I'd have a place to report (mostly to myself) about my writing progress. It was a way to keep myself accountable to my goals. I never thought it would become a networking tool, never dreamed so many people would care enough to come back to read and comment.

I've met so many writers just by getting outside my comfort zone a little. But the key to networking is doing it genuinely, not for your own personal gain. You have to honestly want to get to know and connect with people. You can't just pick a famous writer because they coud get you somewhere, start commenting on their blog constantly, and expect them to become your best friend. Networking turned out best for me when I found people with similar interests and stories. I made friends with unpublished writers—writers who are now succeeding in big ways.

So I'd say keep talking to people, and eventually you’ll have opportunities and connections and referrals. I mean, two years ago I never thought I’d know published writers, but now I do! Once you know someone better, it won't be as awkward to ask for a referral. And maybe you already know a few people that would count as "established" writers. Good luck! I have no idea if that answer helps or not.

Answers: My Writing and Stuff

Whew, thank you for all the questions! I had so much fun answering them. I even got a tad wordy on some, so I'll be posting the answers over the next few days. If you don't see your question today, it's coming. Promise. Now, on to the answers:

inthewritemind said...Do you have "theme songs" for your novels or characters?
Sometimes, if a song strikes me. I don’t go seeking them out, but I can think of a few songs that match my characters. I’ve mentioned them on the blog here and there (see music label).

Sandy Shin said...This might have been asked before, but what inspired you to write RELAX, I'M A NINJA?
I have been asked, but there are so many things that inspired it that I’ll just throw out a new one.

One of the themes in the book is masks. I’ve always been fascinated by the duality of people. Most everyone you know is not just one person—they are many, depending on the occasion. For example, most people in high school would have described me as confident and even cocky, when inside I was extremely insecure. The only people who saw how little faith I had in myself were my family and a couple close friends, if that.

You never know what people are hiding, and I drew upon that principle a lot in Relax, I’m a Ninja.

Josin L. McQuein said...Do you ever take being sick/miserable out on your characters? Do you make them sick in the story, or skip to the scene where the villain gets his and use it to make yourself feel better?
Hmm, nope, though that sounds like fun. Actually, it’s more the other way around—I often take on the feelings of my characters. Either that, or I instinctually purge my own feelings through them.

Like right now I’m writing a character who’s tired of living in his best friend’s shadow. He never feels good enough, and he just wants to be better than him at something. In turn, I’ve been feeling not good enough lately. (And no one read into that with Kiersten, because this idea is over a year old. Besides, she’s too short to cast a shadow over me.)

When I wrote my MC with anxiety? I was a nervous wreck. When I wrote the one with identity issues, I questioned my identity as a writer. When I wrote the potty mouth, the swear words slipped more often than I want to admit. Yeah, I’m method like that.

Tamika: said...Do you think you will ever write anything that's not YA?
You know, a few months ago someone asked me that, and I said I’d probably always write YA. Now? Maybe not.

See, I got this idea about a month or so ago. It’s a pretty spectacular one—the kind you know has to sit in the back of your head for years before you dare touch it. I won’t talk about it in detail, but I will say it’s a retelling of a Greek myth from a different pov. It would likely be adult, I think.

Candice said...Of all your books which are you proudest of and why?
Evil question, Candi! But luckily, I have an easy answer this time: Relax, I’m a Ninja. I put so much work into it—more than any of my other books so far. I love all my stories, but the ninjas have been through the ringer and are still alive. Go them.

JenE said...You have such great writing/revison advice on your blog. Where did you learn all of your tricks? Did you take classes? Learn from other writers? Or did you major in English or Writing in college?
Honestly, most of my advice comes from that great school—The University of Hard Knocks.

I took AP Language in high school, where I learned a lot about essay writing. With that knowledge I got a job at my university’s multicultural magazine, where I also learned much about expository writing.

But I took a whopping one class in creative writing. One. As an elective.

I majored in English linguistics (i.e. studying the actual language of English, not the literature [making me astonishingly ill-read]) and minored in editing. I spent my time learning Middle English, memorizing The Chicago Manual of Style, charting phonemes and morphemes, discerning semantics, scouring the OED, and analyzing sociolinguistics. So I have a pretty decent grasp of the actual English language and its history, but I didn’t take more than the general required writing courses.

I’ve just practiced. A lot. I’m not writing book #13 for nothing! Book #1 was really, really bad. In fact, I’d say they were all pretty terrifying until maybe #7. That’s when I started to take revising more seriously.

So every time you read some “great” piece of advice on my blog, rest assured you’re reading it because I’ve messed up my own writing and wish to save others the trouble.

Krista G. said...Since I just checked my first graphic novel out from the library, I was wondering, given your penchant for writing AND drawing... Have you ever thought about writing (and illustrating) a graphic novel?
Yes, I have. This is how it usually goes:

Me: Oh, writing a graphic novel could be so fun!

Me: Except…drawing that many pictures would take a freaking long time.

Me: And I’m not even as good as an actual graphic novel artist would have to be. (I’m serious on that, guys. I’m not dogging on myself—I’m capable—but my skills would have to improve drastically.)

Me: Then I’d have to write and draw…and I barely have time to write with two kids.

Me: Yeah, self, you better not go that route. Remember how trying to publish was funner in theory than in reality? I’m guessing this would be the same thing.

Bethany Mattingly said...What book has influenced your writing the most and why do you feel that way?
I can’t think of one book that influenced my writing, really. I’ve never read a book and thought, “Oh, I want to write this or that.” But I did meet an author, Michelle Medlock Adams, when I was in kindergarten. She read us her book—it was called Sister for Sale—and I can remember thinking, “I want to be like her. I want to write books.” I wrote one for the Young Author’s competition, and I won at the county level. It’s still in their library, even.

Myrna Foster said...What are your favorite books on writing?
Hmm, would it be horrible to say I haven’t read any since…high school? Wait, I think I read a few for training where I worked in college. None of them really stuck out as exciting or groundbreaking or helpful. See my answer about The University of Hard Knocks.

Patti said...Do you ever read anything other than YA?
I haven’t in a while, but that doesn’t mean I’m not open to it. YA just interests me the most, always has. What I have read lately that’s not YA is research. Like books on samurai and the American Revolution and stuff like that. If only I had more time!

Questions?

You know how sometimes you can feel a cold coming on, and so you do everything you can to push it back? Yeah...that worked for about 3 weeks, but now I'm sick sick sick. I guess mind over matter can only work so long, huh.

Anyway, my brain is shot, and it's been a while since we had a Q&A session on my blog. So ask away! I'm gonna go make really good friends with my tissue box, and cross my fingers that maybe my kids will let me lay down at some point.

Saturday Sketch

I love drawing character studies. It's my own way of getting to know the people in my book, since I have to think about their personality and appearance to capture them.

This is Adair Lefrevre, from that one book I named Spork. Dreamy, no? He's cocky, overzealous, and rebellious—too bad he doesn't have the ability to change anything. But his brother, Gil, does, and Adair is determined to make him see it.

Now, I got my hands on a used copy of Final Fantasy XII, so if you'll excuse me...

In Which I Pick Winners

I cannot tell you how hard you guys made it to pick winners! Thank you so much for all your wonderful entries. I truly enjoyed them all—they were so different and fun and well written! It amazes me how many stories could come from one little picture. Talk about being worth a thousand words.

But I had to pick just three, and so I did.

Please keep in mind that I picked these based on my own personal tastes. I didn't use criteria or a point system or any form of measurement. I simply choose the ones that resonated with me even after the third and fourth read. You are all fabulous writers, and I hope that you enter my future contests.

Now that I've dropped the flagrant disclaimer, shall we get on to the winners? Oh wait, let me put up the picture again:

3rd Place Winner: Brian Buckley!
Happy Thoughts

"You-can-do-it-you-can-do-it-you-can-do-it..."

The strange little creature in Saafie's hands had been chirping these words for almost a minute. Saafie's long ears twitched in annoyance. The Sundry Stone's magic had always been dubious, but this was simply...why...it was unacceptable.

"You-can-do-it-you-can-do-it..."

She gazed down sternly at the indigo jewel in her pendant and spoke with what she hoped was an air of command.

"Stone!"

"Elf!" croaked the jewel. Its voice sounded like a dying toad even on its better days, and today hardly qualified.

"Explain yourself, Stone! You know you are bound by the Seven Oaths, sworn on the Tree of Graysummer, to obey with your magic any wish - "

"...demanded by one of the Royal Line," wheezed the Stone. "Fealty for strength, honor for honor, till the last shade falls. Yes, Duchess Saafie, gods help me, I'll wager even the squirrels could recite those words by now. I granted your wish. What are you griping about?"

Saafie's eyes narrowed. "This is NOT what I asked for."

"Duchess Saafie came to a river," said the Stone with infinite weariness. "Duchess Saafie never learned to swim, because Duchess Saafie was too busy with nobler pursuits, like sighing over Lord Minwald. So Duchess Saafie did what she always does, and turned for help to her noble, wise, ever-faithful, wise, humble companion - "

"I said, AND-I-QUOTE, 'Give me a ferry to help me across the river!'"

"A mighty silly wish, if you ask me, but since when does anyone ever ask MY opinion on - "

"F-E-R-R-Y!" said Saafie. "Leave it to you to come up with the most ridiculous possible spelling..."

"Nothing wrong with my spells," pouted the Stone. "But as I can cast only one per day, you shall be glad to know I will not trouble you again this evening!" The bright color of the jewel fell gray, and Saafie knew she would get no more out of it for a while.

Sighing, she looked back to the thing she had cupped in her palms.

"You-can-do-it-you-can-do-it-you-can-do-it..."

"Do WHAT?" she snapped.

"Cross the river, of course!" chirped the faerie. "I'm HELPING! You-can-do-it-you-can-do-it-you-can-do-it..."

"Stop! That is NOT helping! Listen, can't you do any magic or anything like that?"

"Nope! Not even a little bit! You-can-do-it-you-can-do-it..."

"Well if you can't do anything legitimately helpful then for Tree's sake, STOP THAT RACKET!"

The faerie looked at Saafie.

Saafie looked at the faerie.

"I'm sorry," said the faerie.

"Quite all right."

"I have a better idea now."

"I'm glad. What's your idea?"

"I think you're really going to like it."

"What is it?"

The little creature drew in such an immense breath she threatened to burst. "You-can-do-it-you-can-do-it-you-can-do-it-you-can-do-it..."

This one just made me giggle. I could just picture this poor, spoiled elf Duchess stuck by the side of a river, that adorable fairy driving her insane. And I love how he personified the stone on her dress! So creative.

2nd Place Winner: Myrna Foster!
Vixie's Quest

Vixie stood in the palm of Elyrie's hand, chewing her lip and watching the darkness around them. Asking this Healer to help a Warrior could go wrong in so many ways.

“Did the amethysts work?” Elyrie asked.

Vixie shook her head. “They helped, but the poison is stronger. It will kill him unless we find a Healer, and he asked for you; you're the only Healer who would help a Warrior.

Elyrie sighed. “There aren't many of us left, Vixie, and you know it's their fault.”

“It wasn't Landre's fault.”

“No, it was his father's, but my father hates them all.”

“His father is dead.”

“I hadn't heard.”

“Someone poisoned everyone in their family. If they thought it would throw the Warriors into chaos, though, they were wrong. The Warriors are more organized than I've ever seen them, and they're searching for surviving Healers.”

“They think Father did it.”

Vixie nodded.

Elyrie put a few bottles and stones in her pockets. “Did Landre send a message with you?”

“No, I couldn't stretch his voice over such a distance.”

“But you are here in an instant, a thought.”

“Not when I have to carry something.”

“We'd better go then.”

Vixie felt weak with relief. “You'll come then? I wish I could promise you safety, but—if he dies or you fail—you know they'll kill you.”

Elyrie nodded. “He's my friend, Vixie, or at least he was. He must have been wearing the amethyst I gave him when we were children, or he'd be dead like the others.”

“He never takes it off.”

Elyrie ran through the trees, following Vixie. They reached the outskirts of the Warrior settlement an hour before dawn. Vixie wanted to fetch a disguise for Elyrie, but Elyrie refused; she didn't want to waste time when Landre could be dying. They made it to Landre's room without being stopped, but the guard there recognized Elyrie.

Devoral barred the doorway, his sword ready. “You'll not finish our Landre, Gaelen's daughter.”

Vixie wanted to bite him. “She doesn't want to kill him, you idiot. Landre asked for her help.”

Devoral shuffled his feet. “I don't believe you.”

Elyrie sighed. “Why don't you open the door and ask Landre?”

Devoral pointed his sword at Elyrie and waggled it like an accusing finger. “I'm not opening the door for you. Just because the traitor fairy called me an idiot doesn't mean I am one.”

Vixie flew under the door. “Elyrie's here, but Devoral won't let her in.”

Landre looked at the door. “Dev,” he whispered. He tried to say it louder. “Please hear me, Dev, and let her in.”

Vixie caught Landre's words and pulled them under the door. Devoral scowled, but he opened the door and ran to Landre's side, Elyrie close behind. Landre lifted his hand to Elyrie's, and Vixie watched him heal.

This one kind of blew my mind a little. There is so much packed in there! And it's not even 500 words. I feel like I have a sense of the world, characters, and conflict—like I'm there. And more than that, it's a complete story that's resolved by the end, one I wished went for pages more. Bravo.

1st Place Winner: Josin McQuein!
It's a little known or acknowledged fact that wishes aren't really made on stars. Stars are, in fact, made on wishes.

Breathed into life with the fluff blown off a dandelion or carried along the smoke trail when candle's flame is doused, a wish grows wings. It's a living, vibrant thing, far removed from the daydreams and mumbled fancy of those who do not know the power of their own words.

You would not know a wish if you saw one for its semblance to a firefly. If you are lucky enough to still have wonder in your world, you might mistake it for a faery fast in flight, lit from within by the hope it carries. Such things are dimmer now than they were in the past, for the world is a darker place.

A wish's life is short. From the moment it is spoken in to being, it seeks its purpose knowing that if it fails, one more fragile heart will shatter into jagged glass. One more dreamer will succumb to the cobwebbed existence of a reality with no accommodation for what might be... if only they believed.

It travels far in the span of a night - born where the wind begins and dying where the shadows end. For it is only while the world sleeps that wishes have any hope of survival at all. Time stands still to aid it in its flight and what magic there is left in this world sees it on its way. It's helped along by all those things people have grown too intelligent to recognize: elf and fae and wonders beyond their greyed imaginations.

And in the end, those protected few borne of trust and faith and innocent belief amass wherever they are able. They join a silent dance of celebration where each will rise and fall like embers around the bonfires of old. They all soar away as one - the shining form of a comet rising. It's a race with the dawn to reach the sky before the sun, and so the sun can hardly be faulted for slowing his ascent. For even he grieves the loss of even one of those precious sparks.

They settle in among their brothers, evidence of the dreams still living from past generations, and find their rest beyond the reach of those who would steal them away from any daring to believe.

This one makes me shiver. I can't really put into words why I love it so much—it's just beautiful. I guess it makes me feel like I'm sitting at a bonfire in front of an old storyteller, waiting for magic to happen.

And there we have it! Winners, please email me with your choice of prize, and we'll get to work. Whatever you choose, I look forward to getting to know your projects!

Stages of Revision

I love my readers—you guys ask such fabulous questions! Thus saving me the stress of coming up with my own posts. Several of you asked about what kind of revisions I do, so today I'm going to attempt to break down my process.

Please note that during all these phases I attempt to clean the text, removing typos and such, but it's not until the end that I really dig into that. Also, there is some overlap. Oftentimes in later plot revisions I start refining characters. Sometimes in line editing I see some minor plot issue I missed and I have to tweak it. It's not an exact science.

Stage 1: Plot Revisions
If I have plot issues—which I often do—I like to tackle these first. Mostly because they are usually the Big Problems, the ones that cause cuts and moving and additions and rewriting. Really, why spend time refining prose when a whole section could go? Why spend time bringing out a character's emotional arc when the events could change? And thus their reactions to it?

The plot is your base—your story relies on this as a firm foundation. If you have weak areas, you risk readers putting down your book. Because of that, my first revisions always revolve around tightening the plot.

How do you revise your plot? Actually, it's something I learned this year, and it improved my writing so much. In my greener days, I didn't think I could change plot without changing the whole story, but that's completely untrue. In fact, I wrote a whole post about my epiphany. Basically, you have to ask yourself one thing:

Is that the best way for this story to unfold?

Other questions to determine "best":

• Is this passage repetitive?

• Is this information necessary?

• Does this passage propel the story forward?

• Is the story focused on the most compelling parts?

• Does this happen in the right order?

• Can this plot arc be drawn out? Should it be shortened?

• Is the action happening on the page? If not, how can I make that happen?

• Do all the plot arcs continually build in intensity?

• Do all the arcs climax at/or close to the same time?

• Can this information/action be folded into another area of the book?

• Does every scene work overtime? (i.e. You don't write one chapter just to explain a character's back story—there should be more than one reason for every scene.)

• Does this seem plausible? Does the action ring true? Will readers see plot holes?

• Are things overcomplicated? Not complicated enough?

• Are there actual stakes? Or does the danger feel false?

I usually go through several drafts where plot revisions are my main focus. Since Void was one of my greener attempts, I feel like I've just finally made it out of major plot revisions. And I'm on draft 8. Though with some of my newer work, like Transparent, I was able to solve my plot issues by draft 3 (though I still have some serious character development things to address).

I wish I could tell you exactly how to refine your plot, but it's extremely case sensitive. As I've improved my writing, I've been able to curb many plot issues, but they still arise. Betas are very helpful in pointing them out. Yet in the end, only the author can decide what is best for their book.

Stage 2: Character Revisions
After I feel like I have a fairly tight plot, I turn my focus to characters. Often when you mess with plot, your characters' reactions might have to change as well. Or maybe you haven't quite represented them properly.

It might be hard to "change" your characters, but I've learned it's not really changing. It's more like "representing" them more accurately. I don't know about other writers, but my relationship with my characters develop a lot like real relationships. I don't really know them at first, but I know I like them. As the story progresses, sometimes I learn something about them that I didn't know at first—something that drastically changes what I'd previously written.

I'm constantly having to line up character emotions as I get to know them, and I think that's easiest to do after the plot has settled. That's when I start focusing on questions like this:

• Is that truly how the character would react?

• Am I making their emotions clear enough? Too clear?

• Is that really what the character would say?

• Am I hedging their true emotions because I don't want readers to hate them? (I'm often guilty of this one—I don't let my chars get mad enough or rude enough or jealous enough, etc.)

• Would my character really do that? And if it's unexpected, do I properly explain it to my readers?

• Do I have too much back story? Not enough?

• Do my characters all have their own unique motivations and stories? Do I make them clear when needed?

• Is my MC compelling? The secondary characters interesting? The villain a true conflict?

• Are all my characters necessary? Are there some that can be combined or cut?

• Do my characters propel the story forward with their actions/words?

Character revisions, overall, can be tricky. They are easy to miss if you're not paying attention. They're usually very subtle things that might look like line editing. A small reaction there, and a quick change of a description there. But they make all the difference in the story—they can make your characters pop right off the page.

Stage 3: Prose Revisions
After I feel like I have a decent grasp on the plot and characters, I face the dreaded prose editing. The nitty gritty stuff—the stuff that takes your story from good to great. While plot and character revising can be overwhelming, prose revision can be just plain tedious. This is when your eyes start crossing, when you want to give up because you've looked at the book so many times you'd prefer never to see it again.

And yet, you must press on.

First comes the line edit, which is not copy editing. Line editing is essentially making sure all those plot and character changes you made are consistent. And after that, it's making sure you're using the best possible words.

Things I focus on while line editing:
• Showing not telling

• Varying description/improving it

• Ensuring my details are consistent throughout (i.e. character have same eye color as beginning, and other stuff like that)

• Smoothing out plot transitions

• Refining dialogue/reviewing tags

• Tightening chapters/making sure they break properly

• Any other other plot/character tweaks I missed

Then comes the even more nit-picky copy edit, which focuses on grammar, punctuation, repetition, paragraphing, etc:

• Correcting run-ons, fragments, and other grammatical faux-pas

• Correcting improper comma, semi-colon, and other punctuation misuse.

• Curbing overuse of punctuation such as the dash, ellipsis, semi-colon, etc. (I'm a dash-a-holic. I have a personal rule a chopping down to one a page at max.)

• Changing repetitive words/actions. (Eye rolls, sighing, and gasps don't pack a punch if they're on every page, or every other.)

• Cutting unnecessary words (i.e. personal ticks, "to be," progressive, excessive prepositions, etc.)

• Varying repetitive grammatical structures. (Sometimes I go overboard on rhetorical questions in one chapter, and then go crazy with the gerunds in the next.)

Once I've done all that, I read it aloud to see if it flows. Awkward phrases or inauthentic passages really jump out when I do that.

So that's the long version of how I take "Small Bites." As you can see, this list would be pretty impossible to swallow in one pass. Or even 2 or 3. I swear revisions constantly stews in the back of my brain. I don't think it'll end until the book is published.

Small Bites

First, Contest Reminders!

My agent buddy Jennifer Hubbard has a book coming out tomorrow! Enter her contest to win a copy AND donate to libraries. You have until tomorrow to comment. And if you don't want to enter, at least buy The Secret Year. It sounds absolutely fantastic.

In honor of Jennifer, agent Nathan is having his own contest! You can win a copy of TSY AND a crit—all you have to do is writing an angsty teen letter. How fun is that? It ends today, so get going.

And, of course, my own contest is still open! You have until tomorrow to give my picture a story.

Now, on to the post!

I think I scared a few people with my edits yesterday. Sorry about that. I'm gonna be straight with you—editing is hard. At least for me it is. Even my biggest first drafting struggles pale in comparison to my challenges in editing. I see it as a very necessary evil, but evil nonetheless. It pretty much crushes my soul if I don't take Small Bites.

I want to give you a little background information on Void, because I think the last post made it look like those versions came quickly one after the other. That's not true. At all.

According to my files, I created the first draft document of Void on July 22, 2008. Yeah, so a year and a half ago. I finished the first draft the beginning of October 2008. And for over a year, I've come back to face substantial edits over and over.

I was a different writer a year ago—as in I wasn't as good. But I love Void, so I've spent a lot of time trying to bring it up to snuff. I'm proud of where it's at, even though it still has a long way to go.

I could get overwhelmed by all the things I still have to fix. In fact, I do get overwhelmed frequently by all of my rough drafts. (Honestly, why do I have to write so much? Arg.) But then I remember:

Small Bites.

I can't fix everything at once. Maybe there are some writers out there who only need a few drafts to get things in order, but I am not that writer. I don't see everything at once! I miss HUGE things for longer than I want to admit. Often, it's not until I fix one problem that another becomes clear. Then I fix that one...and another sticks out.

Rinse. Repeat.

For a long time I thought this made me a crappy self-editor. Why couldn't I just see everything at once? Why did I have to go over my work so many times? But then I realized this is just the way I work: in Small Bites. It's like my brain's way of not letting me get even more overwhelmed. I'd probably give up if I saw all my faults at once.

If you are overwhelmed by edits, remember to approach them in Small Bites. One issue at a time. One chapter at a time. Even one sentence at a time. Don't beat yourself up if Draft 2 doesn't turn out right, or even Draft 15. You can always try again if you want to!

That's the one good thing I've learned about editing—it's more forgiving than we think. Editing isn't about being perfect, it's about pursuing perfection.

In video game terms, you have infinite free lives. There's no Game Over unless you put down the controller.

Self-Editing—An Example

Self-editing is a vital tool for every writer. We all know editing is important, but sometimes I wonder how many people know how to edit themselves. It's a hard thing to do. If you missed it, my friend Stephanie Perkins did an awesome post on self-editing. She listed several books and things to be wary of while revising.

But sometimes you just need to see. Sometimes you need something specific. Say, an example.

I'm going to do something a tad embarrassing, but I really want to show my editing process and this is the only way I can think to do it. I'm posting 3 major versions of my opening to Void. I'm going to talk about them, what is wrong with them and what might be right. Then I'm going to edit it right here and make it "Version 4."

Hope it helps, otherwise, it's a nice review for myself at the very least. (My comments will be in green.)

Version 1
“Nothing? Really?” my father, the Errol Starfall, said when the examiner was finished with me. I had suspected this all along, but my poor father still held out hope that perhaps I was just a late bloomer. Deep down inside, I knew I wouldn’t be “blooming” at all.

“I’m sorry, sire, none of the tests indicated that Coral possesses a single drop of magic,” the examiner handed my father the long list of results and he looked through it feverishly, hoping that he could find something on there that the examiners had missed. I knew he wouldn’t. I was sixteen for Pete’s sake, most every witch has fully developed magical talents by then. Me, like they said, not a single drop.

“Are you sure you administered the fortunetelling test properly? Coral at least has to have talents there, she is very perceptive, you know,” my dad continued. Now I rolled my eyes. The examiner didn’t need this—he’d done his job just fine. It was me that was the problem, me that couldn’t perform a spell to save my life. These silly tests only proved what I had known all along. I’m Void.

This is...a first draft. It has potential, but it needs a lot of work to flow well. I start off with dialogue, which doesn't really work. Dialogue needs context—it's difficult to throw it out first thing and not confuse your audience.

This opening is wordy, reeks of repetition, and doesn't quite convey the emotions I want. Time to try again.

Version 2 (Which is actually more like Draft 4 or 5)
I knew the exam by heart, not that it would help my score. I would never pass that test. My parents made me take it every year since I was five, and every year it was the same result. Don’t know why anyone expected anything different.

“Nothing? Really?” my father, the Errol Starfall, said when the examiner finished. I knew this all along, but my poor father still hoped that I was just a late bloomer. Deep down inside, I knew I wouldn’t be “blooming” at all.

“I’m sorry, Sire, none of the tests indicated that Coral possesses a single drop of magic.” The examiner handed Father the list of results and he looked through it feverishly, hoping that he could find something the examiners missed. I knew he wouldn’t. Goodness gracious, I’d just turned seventeen! Most every witch had fully developed magical talents by then. I’d been through the aptitude test more times than I cared to remember, and the result was always the same. No magic.

“Are you sure you administered the Mentalism test properly? Coral at least has to have talents there. She is very perceptive,” Father continued. I rolled my eyes. The examiner didn’t need this. He’d done his job just fine. I was the problem, the one that couldn’t perform a spell to save my life. These silly tests only proved what I had known all along—I was Void.

Better, but it still needs work. I added an opening paragraph in attempts to ground my reader more, but it still needs tightening. Heck, the whole thing needs tightening. I use "I knew" way too many times—we're in first person! Of course we know she knows! My thoughts are jumbled as well. I have issues with getting the information in the right places. It seems I'm constantly flipping paragraphs/sentences around.

Let's try again, hmm?

Version 3 (My current draft, which I think is #8)
I knew the exam by heart—not that it would help me pass. My parents made me take it every year, and every year it was the same result. They still hoped I was a late bloomer. Deep down inside, I knew I wouldn’t be blooming at all.

I swung my legs back and forth as I listened to the examiner read off my scores yet again. My boots made a strange swishing noise on the Persian rug; I focused on it instead of the stinging in my eyes. I wanted to say it didn’t hurt to hear after all these years, but it still did. Mostly because of the shame filling my father’s eyes. I was a blemish to him, and I always would be.

“Nothing?” my father, the Master Enchanter Errol Starfall, said when the examiner finished.

“I’m sorry, Sire, none of the tests indicated that Coral possesses magic.” The examiner handed Father the results. He looked through them feverishly, hoping he could find something they missed. He wouldn’t. Goodness gracious, I’d just turned seventeen the day before. Most every witch had fully developed magical talents by then.

“Are you sure you administered the Mentalism test properly? Coral has to have talents there. She is very perceptive.”

I rolled my eyes. The examiner didn’t need this. He’d done his job just fine. I was the one that couldn’t perform a spell to save my life. This only proved yet again what I’d known all along—I was Void.

Okay, so this flows, if I do say so myself. Yay! Finally this opening is at least respectable. Longer than the original, but it establishes Coral's setting and feelings much better. It grounds the reader in the book instead of leaving them out in space.

But it still needs fine tuning. I'm still suffering from a case of the redundancies—it's inevitable when you're learning the world. At least for me it is.

Alright, now to edit before your eyes. Gulp.

Version 4
I knew the exam by heart—not that it would help me pass. My parents made me take it every year, and every year it was the same result. Yet they still hoped I was a late bloomer. I'd always known I wouldn’t be blooming at all. (I added "yet" because it seemed like it needed more of a transition between those thoughts. They weren't "connected" enough. I cut "deep down inside" because it felt cliché on this pass.)

I swung my legs back and forth as I listened to the examiner read off my scores (I cut "yet again" because I've already established that this is a yearly occurence, no need to beat that into the ground). My boots swished (Cut "made a strange swishing noise" in favored of the stronger, more concise verb.) on the Persian rug. (Changed ";" to a "." for the sake of saving semicolon for something with more impact.) I focused on the sound instead of my stinging eyes (Cut "the stinging in my eyes" in favor of the shorter phrase). I wanted to say it didn’t hurt to hear "zero" over and over (Added for specificity, which, I think, gives this sentence more impact) (Cut "after all these years" because of repetition), but it still did. Mostly because of the shame filling my father’s sky blue eyes (Haven't given much appearance, figure it can't hurt). I was a blemish to him, and I always would be.

“Nothing?” my father, the Master Enchanter Errol Starfall, said when the examiner finished.

“I’m sorry, Sire, none of the tests indicated that Coral possesses magic.” The examiner handed Father the results. He flicked through the pages and pursed his lips (Cut "looked through them feverishly" in favor of something more descriptive of Errol), probably (I was kind of breaking pov there, heh.) hoping he could find something they missed. He wouldn’t. (Cut "Goodness gracious," since it feels forced.) I’d just turned seventeen (Cut "the day before" because there's no reason it has to be so specific)—most every witch had fully developed magical talents by then.

“Are you sure you administered the Mentalism test properly? Coral (Cut "has to have talents there. She" because these sentences are repetitive.) is very perceptive.”

I rolled my eyes. The examiner didn’t need this. He’d done his job just fine. I was the one that couldn’t perform a spell to save my life. (Cut "This only proved yet again what I’d known all along—" for more redundancy.) I didn't need a test to know I was Void.

Alrighty! There's my editing process, as real as it's gonna get. As you can see, even 9 drafts in I still messed with almost every paragraph. I hope you can see the importance of intense line editing. By this point, the ideas had finally been refined, but the words themselves needed strengthening.

Here's the final version. For now, at least.

I knew the exam by heart—not that it would help me pass. My parents made me take it every year, and every year it was the same result. Yet they still hoped I was a late bloomer. I'd always known I wouldn’t be blooming at all.

I swung my legs back and forth as I listened to the examiner read off my scores. My boots swished on the Persian rug. I focused on the sound instead of my stinging eyes. I wanted to say it didn’t hurt to hear "zero" over and over, but it still did. Mostly because of the shame filling my father’s sky blue eyes. I was a blemish to him, and I always would be.

“Nothing?” my father, the Master Enchanter Errol Starfall, said when the examiner finished.

“I’m sorry, Sire, none of the tests indicated that Coral possesses magic.” The examiner handed Father the results. He flicked through the pages and pursed his lips, probably hoping he could find something they missed. He wouldn’t. I’d just turned seventeen—most every witch had fully developed magical talents by then.

“Are you sure you administered the Mentalism test properly? Coral is very perceptive.”

I rolled my eyes. The examiner didn’t need this. He’d done his job just fine. I was the one that couldn’t perform a spell to save my life. I didn't need a test to know I was Void.

Hmm, I'm already seeing more I could tweak. Gotta love that, right?

Starting The Year In Style (Plus a Contest)

Sometimes I forget how long it actually takes to do a full color piece, thus the tardiness in posting "Saturday" Sketch. But I wanted to start the year out right! I wanted my first drawing of 2010 to be good.

This cute elf and faerie duo don't come from any of my books, which is kind of important because they're gonna play a role in the contest that starts today!

Contest: Write a short fiction piece (500 words max), about what might be happening in this drawing. (Please keep it PG-13 so I can post the entry if it wins.) I will choose my three favorite as winners.

Prizes:
1st Place will win their choice of either a full color drawing OR a 30-page manuscript critique OR a query/synopsis crit.

2nd Place will win their choice of a full color drawing OR a 20-page manuscript critique OR a query crit.

3rd Place will win their choice of a black and white drawing OR a 10-page manuscript critique.

How To Enter: Send entries (no attachments, please) to natalie DOT walus AT gmail DOT com.

Deadline: Thursday, January 7, 2010 at 7:00PM MST. Winners will be posted Friday.

This is the first time I'm offering to critique work, since I realize some people may not care to have me draw for them. I used to have more time to crit for others, and I enjoyed being able to give back to my wonderful readers. But now I think it'll have to be a contest thing. Don't worry, I plan on having several contests this year.

Can't wait to see your entries!