INSOMNIA is a finished draft! (Now on to the Revisions...)

(Mock cover by me; photo by Kristijan Antolovic)

Perhaps you remember me talking about my WIP on several ocassions. If you don't, then let me tell you:

I started writing Insomnia during NaNo '09. It went from being called Darkest Nights to having its current title. AND from being a completely different thing to what it is today after reading Beautiful Creatures and having a meltdown because I was writing something very, very similar to BC. 

It fills me with pride to announce that I can now stop calling it a WIP and call it a caterpillar of a novel! (Because it's not yet spread its wings, see? ;)

Insomnia now stands at 100+K words (which will have to be trimmed down to at least 80K) and I love it. Which writer doesn't love what they write?

The revised draft is in the hands of my beautiful Beta, Tanya, who I'm sure will point me to all the ugly bits that need to be worked on. 

Next comes the query. 

When I first started writing Insomnia, I told myself that I was doing it for fun, that I didn't care about whether it got published or not. But then I got more and more into the book blogging world, and my reading habits changed, and I learnt that if you set your mind into something, you can make it happen. Like me finishing my first ever book. 

So, then I thought, "Why not? Why don't I try and see if it would appeal to an audience larger than, well, me?" And that was the moment when I decided I'd make it the best it can possibly be, to then try and sell it. Maybe it will, maybe it won't, but it won't be because I didn't try it.

Right now, I'm an active member in the Absolute Write forums, one of the highest populated forums on writing. I'm looking for more Betas who'll work with me; and in the meantime, I'll post some of it on the Share Your Work forums, so I can get immediate feedback.

I'm reading some pretty cool first chapters there too! (Best of luck to those authors!)

So, if you're on the AW forums and you see me, say hi!
xo,
Ella

Writing on Monday: Getting the hand of the whole "Showing vs. Telling" thing

A few months ago, I decided I wanted to write something other than the WIP that I'd been trying to write for over a year. So, I left Insomnia hanging and dived into a completely different world.

But I missed my characters too much. I knew just where I wanted to take them (or rather, where they were taking me), but back then I lacked the inspiration. Well, that inspiration's back, stronger than before.

Last year I'd uploaded part of my WIP to inkpop and had a couple of people read it. I also had a couple of betas helping me. They all said the same, that my writing was coming along just fine for a newbie, but that I needed to mature in the sense of  Showing vs. Telling.

A week ago, I picked Insomnia back up, and re-read those very helpful critiques. I googled "Showing vs. Telling" and read a bunch of articles about the subject. And then I opened my .doc file and started writing/editing my WIP. I feel confident that I'll have it finished in a month or two, and I'm happier about it than ever before. Just thinking that I'll have written a book -ME!- fills me with joy. Even if that book is not National Book Award-winning material (oh, wait, I'm not eligible for that, given where I live and all...). Even if the only people who read it are my friends and family, and maybe you? I'll just be happy to have finished it.

Last night I hit the 45k mark on my word count, reaching 157 pages on my WIP. From my calculations, I'm 3/4 of the story in, so that means I still have thousands of words left to write. And I love that! Cause it means it'll be the longest piece I've ever written.

Now I want to show you the first paragraph of the first chapter of the new draft. If I haven't lost you on the way, and you're still reading, thank you! I wanted to show you the old version, but silly me, I edited on it and didn't save the edit as a new .doc. I hope you'll read what's next and let me know what you think. This is how Insomnia begins:

I wasn’t going to make it. My stomach heaved, bile rose up my throat, its bitter taste filling my mouth. One of my hands shot up to cover it, the other hugged my chest. My lungs struggled to catch a breath, the simple effort of trying to breathe hurt my muscles as they strained to let air in. A loud bang reverberated against the walls as the front door shut closed and the sound echoed in my head, louder and louder. Beads of sweat ran down my face, trickling down to the wooden floor. Each splash ricocheted against my eardrums, as my heightened senses took it all in. The minor headache I’d woken up with this morning had turned into a full scale migraine. 

Here are some of the articles on S. vs. T. I read:

• Show, Don't (just) Tell by Dennis G. Jerz
• T is for the "Telling" Truth by Barbara Dawson Smith 
• Creative Writing 101 - Colorado Springs Fiction Writers Group
• Writing Workshop: Show vs. Tell by Bonnie Grove

And I just read this very illustrating post by Veronica Roth about what goes on behind the publishing biz. 

I'd love to know what you're writing! Leave me a comment and I'll stop by your blog and read whatever you've posted.

Guest Post: Working Through Writer's Block, by Anthony Garcia

Solutions to Writer's Block

When you have a writer’s deadline, nothing is as frustrating as writer’s block. Whether the “victim” is a student who has a deadline for an assignment in graduate programs online, or whether it is a professional writer with an internal expectation to get a certain amount of work done, writer’s block is incredibly frustrating and intimidating for writers of all ages and experience levels. There are solutions to get over writer’s block so that the blank page or computer screen stop staring back and taunt them with their lack of progress.

Be Prepared

Sometimes writer’s block comes from being under-prepared to write about specific topics. This might mean having to write about a topic they have little knowledge about and haven’t prepared for, or because the topic was assigned and the writer has little interest. If this is the kind of preparation the writer lacks, then a solution for that problem is to research. Whether writing as a student or as a professional, gaining background information can be an integral part of making the brain click so that the words will flow more readily.

Another part of preparation is to think about where the writing will go before you start. You can make an outline before writing, or you might try brainstorming possible topics to include in the writing. Some people can do this by talking through the story, even if the writer is only speaking to herself. Many times getting those main ideas out there, whether on paper or some other manner can lay out what needs to be done so the writer may begin.

Start in the Middle (or the end)

Sometimes the issue for writers is how to start, or even where to start. One solution is to start with what is known. Sometimes we know that something important happened, but it can be the difficult to figure out how to get the reader to that point. One solution for the writer is to ignore the beginning and go the part they know well, the middle, or the end, or wherever the climax occurred. By going to the arc of action, the writer will often better understand what information is left out of the writing, and then the writer will know what to include in the beginning.

Walk Away

There comes a point for anyone suffering through writer’s block that sitting and staring at the blank page or the blank screen elicits diminishing returns. If you have tried other solutions but are still experiencing writer’s block, you may just need a mental break. Breaks help, even if they are short. It is possible that a writer can do too much concentrating, so much so that no original or free-flowing thoughts can penetrate the bullet proof wall that won’t allow the writer to get anything accomplished. Sometimes, taking 15 minutes to think about something unrelated to writing is all that is necessary in order to start writing. If something pops into their head right away, it might not be Pulitzer Prize material, but it can get the writer started.

Talk to People

The writer who still has writer’s block should talk to someone. It is not necessary to talk to people about writer’s block. As a matter of fact, it can be helpful to talk about baseball, a television show, or a song, or anything in the world other than writing. For the writer, there is in the back of their mind no matter what, so it is possible that while talking, or watching television something will click. However, it can also be really helpful to bounce ideas off of others about the writing itself. Maybe someone has an experience with something you are writing about, and could shed light on the topic. Since all of us have different life experiences, it can be really useful to get a multitude of perspectives when you are at a loss for ideas. With writer’s block, almost anything can allow the block to go away and help the writing process to start.

There are few things more frustrating than writer’s block, especially when there is a deadline or a commitment that must be met. However, few people have died from writer’s block, so by trying a few different proven strategies, writer’s block too shall pass. My best advice: just don’t’ give up! 

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Anthony recently completed his graduate education in English Literature. A New Mexico native, he currently resides and writes in Seattle, Washington. He writes primarily about education, travel, literature, and American culture.

The Day I Decided to Switch Stories

Doesn't she look happy?

Yeah, that's today. And I feel like the girl on the picture, honestly.

I'd been secretly dating another Idea -the horror!- while trying to finish Insomnia. But the thing is, even though I know exactly where Insomnia's going, I don't really want to keep writing it anymore. At least, not for now.

What started out as something fun became a sort of duty (I HAVE to finish this book! Or else...), in a bad way, and I don't want to feel that anymore. 

I do feel kind of bad for leaving my characters behind, now that I know them so well. But I think it's not the right time for me to write that story. So, I'm changing courses and following that other Idea I told you before.

And I'm very excited! I've already started drafting my character's personalities and their world, so before I dive into writing it, I know just where I'm headed.

I'll totally share stuff about it with you, when I have something to share, lol ;)

I think this is a good thing, something fresh and new. I'm glad I made this decision.

What are you writing? Let me know!

xo,

Ella

How To Get Published: A Flowchart by Kate Hart

I saw this in Kate Hart's blog, and thought it was hilarious, as well as funny and useful!

Discover Inkpop! And while you're at it, read my WIP!

Ten days ago, I was on the HarperCollins website, and I found a link called "inkpop" on its footer. I clicked on it, and it took me to the inkpop main page.

After browsing around a bit, I decided to join.

Inkpop is a great site for YA writers, complete with forums, libraries, and much more. It's easy to navigate, and the layout is great too.

You upload your material, and others read it and give you their thoughts. Don't be scared of sharing your work, there's no way anyone can copy your stuff, just try to, you won't be able to! If people like your work, they can "pick" it. The more picks you get, the higher ranked your story is, and it might reach the Top Picks of the month!

That's what's so amazing about this site: the Top Picks. Each month five projects get chosen -they're the ones people vote for (or "pick")- to be read by a HarperCollins editor. If your book is chosen and read, you'll get an email from the editor who read it, with of course, advice for editing it.

The Carrier of the Mark, by Leigh Fallon, was found on inkpop! It's being published on September 13th, 2011.

Listen to the author, Leigh, tell her story about how she was chosen and got a book deal!

I'm loving inkpop because it gives me a space to share my writing and get feedback from people who know what they're talking about.

I'm currently writing my first book, and it's taking me forever to finish it. I started a draft on NaNo '09, and kept on writing it until early 2010. I left it there collecting digital dust, until late last year, when I had a sudden change of heart, and of ideas. I suddenly knew exactly where I wanted my story to go, so I started re-writing it. And now, I'm back to re-re-writing it! I'm changing it up yet again, but I know third time's the charm!

My WIP's titled Insomnia. Here are my short and long pitches for you to read:

Cora is a teenager who knows when people are gonna die... even herself.

Ever since she dreamed about a car crash where her best friend died, Cora has known that she has the ability to see when people's lives are ending. But what scares her the most is that she's dreamed about her own death, and in that dream she wasn't alone. Now, she's more worried about the boy she saw than about her own life, and she can't understand why. 

So, those pitches aren't exactly award-winning, but they're all I've got for now! If you're on inkpop, or if you aren't but still want to read my story, you can go here to do so. I'm uploading chapter by chapter, as I write  and try to edit them. Please leave me a comment with your thoughts if you do! If you don't want to join inkpop, leave a comment here.

xo,

E

Writing Update #1

Since I don't have any new books to do an IMM post, I thought I'd talk about my writing, and how it's coming along. 

I love reading. I have a huge imagination, and I'm easily transported into different worlds when reading. I also love creating stories. 

On 2009, I was introduced to NaNoWriMo (this March is my three year bloggoversary!) and I loved the idea of it. In reality, it wasn't as easy as I'd thought it'd be. So, my story was left to gather virtual dust on my archive, and I always thought about going back to it, but I didn't know how to continue.

Turns out, I needed a plotline. I needed to write the entire plotline, before actually writing the book. So, last year, I set out to do just that. I wrote half a draft, and sent it to a Beta, because, once again, I was stuck.

And I had a lot of help! Tanya, my lovely Beta, was extremely helpful, and thanks to her, I now know exactly how and where I want my story to go.

But, let's face it. I'm no writer. I'm simply an amateur. But in the words of the awesome Maureen Johnson, you have to suck hard first, to become great later.

So now, after having gone through tense changes, and from going to first person POV to 3rd to 1st again, this is where I stand:

My WIP is titled Insomnia. Its current word count is of 20, 938. I've written 72 pages. Which is more than I've ever written, and makes me so proud of myself for actually being in this place.

It's about Death and Life, literally. And of course, a romance thrown in for good measure. 

My MCs names are Cora and Bl- Ben! Ben. I can't remember why I chose these names almost a year and a half ago, but now I can't think of them with any other names, they've become so clear in my mind, I actually see them in my mind's eye. I know exactly how they look, how they feel, what they like to wear and what music they're into.

The plot suffered a major change as well. Because, after reading Beautiful Creatures, I thought my WIP was very similar to it; why, I don't know, I hadn't even read BC before starting writing it! One day, I had a stroke of inspiration, and I knew what my book would be about.

I could have it finished by now, but I don't have the habit of writing every day. I guess you have to make that habit yourself.

And while I don't think about getting his publish the second I finish it, I do think about just finishing it! I'd love to have it printed and be able to pass it around my friends and family, and get feedback from them. 

And then, maybe, just maybe, start with a new story. 

Because I have plenty of ideas.

xo,

Ella

ps: Are you an aspiring writer, or maybe you write for fun like I do? If so, tell me what you're writing! I'd love to know.

New Writing Blog: The YA Lit Six!

I've no idea how I stumbled across it, maybe I found a link to it in Jordyn's blog, but the thing is:

Six cool unpublished and published young authors have come together to form what I know will be the most epic of YA writing blogs:

 The YA Lit Six

You may know some (or all) of its authors from the blogging community: Chelsea, Jordyn, Harmony, Laina, Kelsey and Kieryn.

Each one of them will post on a determined day (Harmony will post on Mondays, Kieryn on Tuesdays, etc., etc.)

This week is all about introductions. But the real blogging will commence next week! If you're an aspiring author, or even if you write as a hobby (and hope that one day, you'll be ready to face the publishing industry, like yours truly) then I suggest you get your butt on over there, cause it will be epic.

(I love that word. I could say it over and over. Epic. Epic. Epic. Epic.)

Happy Friday!

Killing Off Characters In Your WIPs

After reading this entry by the lovely Kelsey Sutton, I thought I'd share some of my thoughts about this subject with you. 

Kelsey says:

"So today while I was baking cookies I began to wonder, Do we kill off characters because it's really essential to the plot? Because we hate this character we've created? To mess with the reader's mind? Or just because we love that we can?

My answer to that is:

Because I love that I can.

I love creating tension between characters, building up the story and then killing off a character. Not my main ones, but a secondary one. 
It's that "WTF???" thing about it that I love!

Then again, I don't think I'd be so drastic as to kill a loved secondary character. Take Fred Weasley, for instance. We all loved him and were really sad to see him die. I'm still sad about it, but I think J. K. R. made the whole ending a lot more realistic in doing this. It can't all end in fairy tale endings.

In my case, if I kill off a character it's not always essential to the plot. It's basically to mess with the reader's mind. And I wouldn't kill a character I hated, I'd bring it more into the story! I love bad guys!

I guess I could say, I like killing off my MCs best friends. 

How about you?

In Which I Talk About My Beta and Being a Beta

Last year I started a book during NANO. I already had the idea in my mind, and NANO definitely helped me put it on paper. I didn't finish it, I still haven't -writing a book is hard, especially for me, being used to writing short stuff- but I was lucky enough to find me a Beta reader.

Her name is Tanya, and boy, is she awesome!

I think we were meant to work together, because we think so much alike. When I read a part of my MS, and think "I should change this", she'd email me and say "I think this needs a little work" and we're talking about the exact same thing. She really gets my characters and has learned to love them like I do (or at least that's what she tells me! lol), and what could be better than that?

I already know the exact point in which I want my book to end, but I'm having trouble getting there. Tanya has just told me she's finished reading what I've sent her, and that we can start brainstorming. This will help me tremendously! I hope to have a book by the end of July.

I'm crossing my fingers!

Tanya, you have no idea how much I love you, girl! Thanks for being supportive and understanding! (This is my first book ever. Longest thing I've ever written. And it's scary.)

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A couple of months ago one of my online friends, Jordyn, said she'd finished her MS, and so I asked her if I could be one of her Betas. She said yes and I squeed! I'd been told her writing was awesome. And it is. I think that for me to get to write stuff as deep as her it'll take a while.

Her novel's called The Movie Romance, and it tells the tale of a girl, Anya, dealing with the loss of her friends.

There are parts in this novel that have me in tears. So powerfully it's written, and so beautifully.

One day, Jor, you'll find an agent and get that recognition you deserve.

So, thank you for letting me read this.

xoxo,
Ella

p.s.: Are you an aspiring writer? Do you have an awesome Beta like me?

500 Words A Day Challenge

Debbie Ridpath Ohi @ Inkygirl.com is hosting a year-long writing Challenge, and I'm joining!

The Rules:

Try to write 500 words a day, at least six days a week.

As long as you are sincerely and consistently TRYING to write 1000 words a day, then you can post the badge on your blog or website. If life occasionally gets in the way, that’s ok — as long as you promise yourself to get back on the wagon as soon as you can. If you sometimes don’t reach 500 words, that’s also ok — but try again the next day.

The goal of the 500 Words A Day Challenge is simple: to inspire writers to write.

(Just what I need!) Wanna join? Visit Inkygirl.com!

Debbie's also hosting a 1000 Words A Day Challenge. Join now!

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I started a new story yesterday, and this Challenge might push me into finishing it, correcting it, and making it perfect. I'll share some of it with you later... If you promise not to laugh :o)

xo,

Edit:

13/07/09: 1354 words!
14/07/09: fail :( 213 words
15/07/09: 512 words and counting!
16/07/09: 932 words!