Monday, March 3, 2014
Friday, February 28, 2014
How Do You Focus? (Especially in Short Time Slots)
A few months back, I wrote a post on how to write with a newborn. It was only semi-serious, and a lot sleep-deprived. In fact, for the first three months after having a baby, I didn't get a lot of writing done.
Now that I'm making some serious progress, I do find that my strategies toward being productive have changed dramatically since becoming a mother. For one thing, I can only write while the baby is napping. I don't try to work on my manuscript while she is playing because 1) I'm keeping an eye on her and I don't want to get too involved with my laptop and 2) I know she'll demand my attention in a few minutes, and there's only so much distraction I can take while trying to write a scene. This will probably change as she takes fewer naps, but at this point, it's my reality.
Therefore, I really have to make the most of my time when she does nap (and hope that her nap will be longer than 20 minutes). In the past, it's taken me a long time to get my brain in writing mode. I used to prepare to write by reading writing blogs for encouragement, and then procrastinate on social media for far too long.
With limited time slots for writing, I have to get in the mood much faster. I thought I'd share some of my strategy:
1. No social media or blog reading during write time. Write time is write time, period. (I may send off the occasional tweet *about writing* during this time, but I don't stick around to see if anyone responded). I read blogs & social media when it's okay to be distracted (aka when the baby is awake).
2. Take planned breaks. If I happen to actually get several hours to write (this usually happens when I have babysitting), write time is still write time, but I know I can't go that long at full steam. So I give myself breaks at planned intervals. The key is not taking a break every time you're stumped for the right word--that will just lead to endless distraction. Instead, I make myself deals: if I write for 1 hour, I can read 2 blog posts.
2. Allow yourself to be scatterbrained when drafting. Sometimes, I repeat information in my world building or character development. I never used to do that, but it's just a reality that I can't remember everything I've already written now, and I don't have time to do as much rereading each time I start up again. I have to let go of the compulsion to be perfect and realize that those type of things can be caught later. Beta readers are actually great for that sort of thing.
3. If you're stuck, make a plan of attack rather than trying to write through it. I used to be kind of obsessed with getting words down on the page. If my fingers weren't typing, I wasn't being productive, I thought. Now, if I use 45 minutes to decide how revise a scene, without actually revising it, I realize that is still making progress. I write myself little notes in my manuscript, and do the actual writing work next time. This, I suppose is also known as "prewriting." And it's useful.
4. When possible, save revisions for longer chunks of time. For new scenes, it's perfectly fine to be scatterbrained and choppy. That's why the frenetic writing style of NaNo worked really well for me. However, revisions require more finesse and concentration. Plan accordingly.
5. Break revisions into steps for short time slots. Instead of trying to fix everything at once in an entire chapter, maybe just fix one aspect that needs work: a plot inconsistency, one character's dialogue, etc. You're more likely to make progress in a small timeframe. Or, as part of your prewriting, you could simply make a list of things that need to be fixed.
6. Use music to bring you back to the same headspace. It's surprising how quickly music can help you focus, especially if you have certain albums that correspond with your WIP. (Although, if I'm not careful, this can wake the baby right up).
How do you get focused? I'm always looking for new tips!
Now that I'm making some serious progress, I do find that my strategies toward being productive have changed dramatically since becoming a mother. For one thing, I can only write while the baby is napping. I don't try to work on my manuscript while she is playing because 1) I'm keeping an eye on her and I don't want to get too involved with my laptop and 2) I know she'll demand my attention in a few minutes, and there's only so much distraction I can take while trying to write a scene. This will probably change as she takes fewer naps, but at this point, it's my reality.
Therefore, I really have to make the most of my time when she does nap (and hope that her nap will be longer than 20 minutes). In the past, it's taken me a long time to get my brain in writing mode. I used to prepare to write by reading writing blogs for encouragement, and then procrastinate on social media for far too long.
With limited time slots for writing, I have to get in the mood much faster. I thought I'd share some of my strategy:
1. No social media or blog reading during write time. Write time is write time, period. (I may send off the occasional tweet *about writing* during this time, but I don't stick around to see if anyone responded). I read blogs & social media when it's okay to be distracted (aka when the baby is awake).
2. Take planned breaks. If I happen to actually get several hours to write (this usually happens when I have babysitting), write time is still write time, but I know I can't go that long at full steam. So I give myself breaks at planned intervals. The key is not taking a break every time you're stumped for the right word--that will just lead to endless distraction. Instead, I make myself deals: if I write for 1 hour, I can read 2 blog posts.
2. Allow yourself to be scatterbrained when drafting. Sometimes, I repeat information in my world building or character development. I never used to do that, but it's just a reality that I can't remember everything I've already written now, and I don't have time to do as much rereading each time I start up again. I have to let go of the compulsion to be perfect and realize that those type of things can be caught later. Beta readers are actually great for that sort of thing.
3. If you're stuck, make a plan of attack rather than trying to write through it. I used to be kind of obsessed with getting words down on the page. If my fingers weren't typing, I wasn't being productive, I thought. Now, if I use 45 minutes to decide how revise a scene, without actually revising it, I realize that is still making progress. I write myself little notes in my manuscript, and do the actual writing work next time. This, I suppose is also known as "prewriting." And it's useful.
4. When possible, save revisions for longer chunks of time. For new scenes, it's perfectly fine to be scatterbrained and choppy. That's why the frenetic writing style of NaNo worked really well for me. However, revisions require more finesse and concentration. Plan accordingly.
5. Break revisions into steps for short time slots. Instead of trying to fix everything at once in an entire chapter, maybe just fix one aspect that needs work: a plot inconsistency, one character's dialogue, etc. You're more likely to make progress in a small timeframe. Or, as part of your prewriting, you could simply make a list of things that need to be fixed.
6. Use music to bring you back to the same headspace. It's surprising how quickly music can help you focus, especially if you have certain albums that correspond with your WIP. (Although, if I'm not careful, this can wake the baby right up).
How do you get focused? I'm always looking for new tips!
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Success Story: Sabaa Tahir and her YA novel, AN EMBER IN THE ASHES
So without further ado, the Q&A.
Hi Sabaa! Thanks so much for the interview. I'd love to hear more about your debut novel, AN EMBER IN THE ASHES! What's the genre and one-sentence pitch?
Thank you, Maya! One sentence is tough, but here goes: Ember is YA fantasy about Laia and Elias: two teenagers from very different social classes who are fighting for survival and freedom while living under a brutal military dictatorship reminiscent of Ancient Rome.
What inspired the premise?
Articles I read while working at The Washington Post. These stories—about the kidnapped, the murdered, the forgotten—got me thinking: What would I do if I was forced into being a child soldier? How would I fight back if my people were being obliterated in a genocide? Ember grew out of those questions. It was further influenced by my experience growing up in a small desert town where I often felt like an outsider.
How did you initially pitch to your agent, Alexandra Machinist at Janklow & Nesbit (contest, conference, query, other)?
I pitched with a traditional query letter.
How did you know that she was the right agent for you?
In our first call, she had this enthusiasm and love for the book that made a big impression on me. I suspected that she was the right agent, but I had other offers and was paranoid about making the wrong choice. I must have asked her a thousand questions, all of which she answered without reservation. When I met her in person, we got along really well and I figured out pretty quickly that she was “the one.”
Did you work on revisions with her?
We made a few minor edits. Alexandra liked the book as it was, and didn’t want to mess with it too much.
According to Publishers Weekly, AN EMBER IN THE ASHES sold in a preempt by Razorbill. Separately, you've also sold film rights in an amazing seven-figure deal with Paramount. Can you tell us a little bit about how the submission process went down for both the book deal and the film deal?
On the film side, Mark Johnson, the producer attached to Ember, read the book, really liked it, and took it to Paramount. The execs there read it and liked it, too. Soon after, my agent in LA, Sally Wilcox, negotiated the deal. (I’m still trying to process the whole thing, by the way.)
Meanwhile, Alexandra got some clear signs that if we went on sub, we’d have multiple houses interested in Ember. But it was important to us both that we find the perfect home for the book. Alexandra had a specific publisher in mind. After she sent it to him, I didn’t eat or sleep or serve any useful purpose for a few days. I mostly wandered the house like a weird shade, thinking “He’s not going to like it. His team’s not going to like it. OH GOD, I’M GOING TO BE A HUGE FAILURE.” It was a very unpleasant few days for my family.
Fortunately, Ben Schrank, the publisher of Razorbill, loved the book, as did the rest of his team. I feel so lucky to be working with them.
Tell me more about the arranged marriage story [mentioned in the PW article] that garnered an offer of an MTV reality show and a marriage proposal. What was so controversial about it?
The article was about the modern-day equivalent of an arranged marriage: letting my parents “set me up” with eligible matches. It wasn’t controversial, exactly. It just elicited a big response: Marriage proposals, advice, complaints, success/horror stories. People reacted strongly because I think until then, no one had really addressed the issue of arranged marriage from a contemporary American perspective in such a widely-read paper.
What are you most looking forward to as you prepare for the release of AN EMBER IN THE ASHES?
I’m most excited to share Laia and Elias’s story with everyone. I love these characters—they feel like my family. I’ve been getting to know them for more than six years. I’m so very invested in them and in what they represent in a broader sense. I really hope readers love them as much as I do.
What has been the biggest challenge you've faced thus far in your publishing career?
Revising. I revised the living, holy heck out of this book. I’d finish a draft, re-read and think. “This isn’t right!” But I wouldn’t know why it wasn’t right. So I would redraft again. And the same thing would happen. The whole process took ages. Eventually, I figured out that I had some structural issues and after that it was smooth sailing. But it took me a long time to get there. It was very discouraging.
I wouldn’t change the experience, though. All that revising taught me how to write a book. And that’s making it so that my second book, which I’m working on now, is going much faster.
What do you think will be the biggest challenge ahead?
Dealing with expectations—my own and others’. Anytime there is a book/movie deal combo like this, it seems like there’s an immediate response of “Oh look, another overhyped book. This thing better be good.” And that’s intimidating because you know what? I don’t know if it’s going to make it. I don’t know if people will love it, or even like it. I can hope and I can work really hard on edits and on the next book. But after that, it’s out of my hands. Making peace with that is going to be difficult.
What's your current favorite YA book and why do you love it?
Can I have two? I loved “These Broken Stars” by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner. I couldn’t put it down and the twist at the end was pure, gut-wrenching awesomeness. I also enjoyed Rebel Spring, which is Book 2 in Morgan Rhodes’ Falling Skies series. It’s a great story and I love that it never goes where I expect it too.
What authors have inspired you?
I’m inspired by Junot Diaz’s humor, Daniyaal Mueenuddin’s unflinching portrayal of reality and Marilyn Robinson’s prose. Reading J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series was a formative experience, as was reading Terry Brooks’ Shannara. Antoine de Saint Exupery’s books about flight completely transport me. Dave Grossman’s books about killing and combat inspire me to think carefully about the role of both in my own book. Do I need to say anything about The Book Thief? I feel like Marcus Zusak should be required reading for the entire planet.
I’m also inspired by Patrick Rothfuss, Alisson Croggon, Rainbow Rowell and Stephen Chbosky, because even though they write very different books, all of them incorporate a deep love of music into their work.
Sorry, I see I kind of went overboard. But I like them all so much that I don’t want to take anyone out. : )
What advice do you have for other aspiring writers?
Never give up. Not when you get rejection letters. Not when you’re knee-deep in revisions. Not when you have to explain to your friends, for the 600th time, that no, you’re not published yet—in fact the book’s not even done. Not when you read about other writers getting agents or publishing contracts. Not if takes you years, like it took me. Keep writing. Keep fighting. Give it everything you’ve got. Never. Give. Up. Eventually, you’ll get there.
Thank you, Sabaa!!! I'm so looking forward to reading your novel!
Thank you so much. I hope you like it.
If you'd like to learn more about Sabaa, check out her website at sabaatahir.com or follow her on Twitter @sabaatahir.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Revisions: Tackling that Baby Monster of a First Draft
It's January, and it's time to tackle those baby monster NaNo novels, if you haven't already. They're hairy, moody, random, but hopefully have some teeth. It can feel a little overwhelming. Here are my tips to get started on draft 2!
1. Reread the first draft. It might be
better than you think!
2. Highlight the lines you
really like--and try to keep them in the next draft.
3. Make a list of things you like and things you don't like. You may well discover that you have to get rid of some of the things you like later because they just don't fit, but keeping the list can help you stay positive & remind yourself of the things that drove you to start the project.
4. With the things you didn't enjoy, brainstorm about whether they can be improved upon or whether they should be eliminated or rewritten completely.
5. Write a one-sentence description of your story, which should include the character's goal, motivation, and conflict.
6. Write a practice pitch letter, which includes key elements such as an inciting incident, an internal goal, an external goal, and how they conflict or complement each other. Writing the pitch will help you focus and pare down.
5. Write a one-sentence description of your story, which should include the character's goal, motivation, and conflict.
6. Write a practice pitch letter, which includes key elements such as an inciting incident, an internal goal, an external goal, and how they conflict or complement each other. Writing the pitch will help you focus and pare down.
Then make a list of goals for draft 2, which probably also won't be perfect. They might be something like the following:
1. Have a sensical plot with
roughly appropriate pacing
2. Eliminate useless
plotlines and characters
3. Expand the worldbuilding
but eliminate elements not relevant to the story.
4. Make sure all plotlines relate to the theme and are not random or overly episodic
5. Conflict should drive every scene
6. The ending should satisfactorily come to a conclusion about the character's initial goals, whether or not they were achieved.
5. Conflict should drive every scene
6. The ending should satisfactorily come to a conclusion about the character's initial goals, whether or not they were achieved.
You may or may not decide to make a new outline. I don't really like outlines, but the way I jump into the second draft is by thinking of a really kick-butt beginning that sets up the rest of the story. Next, whether you are revising or rewriting, just take it one page at a time. Whenever you feel overwhelmed, go back to your list of good things and your highlighted favorite lines, and remember this is worth cleaning up!
Have you started your second draft yet? Good luck!
Thursday, January 9, 2014
On Starting New Projects
Yikes! 2013 was a difficult year for me. I had two major family events in my life that consumed most of my brain, and quite a few other unfortunate other goings on that consumed the rest of it. Result: writing ruts and many false starts.
Things did finally improve, writing-wise, in November and December. I completed NaNo for the first time. I was amazed at how much I could output when push came to shove. In December, I also started collaborating on a couple of picture books. I have no idea what will come of them, but it's been a lot of fun to try something new and completely different.
Recently, Nathan Bransford blogged about the difficulty of starting a new project.
Looking back, here are some things that helped me:
1. Hold off on telling people your ideas. Okay, this isn't for everybody. But whenever a person responds to my idea without telling me what sheer genius it is, I inevitably question it. The problem is compounded by the fact that I rarely have a fully formed, perfect one-sentence pitch from the get-go. Basically, I have the same issues as this guy.
2. Write the first draft crazy-fast. Writing fast and setting high word-count goals helps me turn off the inner editor. Also, if you complete your manuscript in a month, and it sucks...well, you've only lost a month. And, chances are, there will be something you can work with at the end of it. Hence why NaNo was good to me.
3. Be brave. Write things that are uncomfortable. Things that you don't want your friends and neighbors and especially your mom to read, but are burning inside of you and you can't keep in. Also, don't be afraid to write things that you don't know how to write at all--a new genre, a different style, whatever is speaking to you.
4. Push yourself, but take breaks as life demands. We writers have to be very self-aware about the difference between procrastination and giving ourselves the space we need to be sane. Be honest with yourself, and keep trying!
Here's to our muses in 2014!
Things did finally improve, writing-wise, in November and December. I completed NaNo for the first time. I was amazed at how much I could output when push came to shove. In December, I also started collaborating on a couple of picture books. I have no idea what will come of them, but it's been a lot of fun to try something new and completely different.
Recently, Nathan Bransford blogged about the difficulty of starting a new project.
Looking back, here are some things that helped me:
1. Hold off on telling people your ideas. Okay, this isn't for everybody. But whenever a person responds to my idea without telling me what sheer genius it is, I inevitably question it. The problem is compounded by the fact that I rarely have a fully formed, perfect one-sentence pitch from the get-go. Basically, I have the same issues as this guy.
2. Write the first draft crazy-fast. Writing fast and setting high word-count goals helps me turn off the inner editor. Also, if you complete your manuscript in a month, and it sucks...well, you've only lost a month. And, chances are, there will be something you can work with at the end of it. Hence why NaNo was good to me.
3. Be brave. Write things that are uncomfortable. Things that you don't want your friends and neighbors and especially your mom to read, but are burning inside of you and you can't keep in. Also, don't be afraid to write things that you don't know how to write at all--a new genre, a different style, whatever is speaking to you.
4. Push yourself, but take breaks as life demands. We writers have to be very self-aware about the difference between procrastination and giving ourselves the space we need to be sane. Be honest with yourself, and keep trying!
Here's to our muses in 2014!
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
NaNoWriMo Retrospective: Flexing Wordcount Muscles
Confession: I was in a little bit of a writing rut before November. After having a baby in July, I had a hard time getting back into the swing of things. It was starting to get to me, and that was why I decided to do NaNo.
Previously, the most I have ever written in a month was maybe 25K words, so I wasn't sure I could actually reach 50K. But why not try?
I'm so glad I did! Since I ended up not writing at all for 9 days while traveling, I had to make up for it by writing 3500+ words on some days.
Increasing your word counts is like exercise: you have to build up to it. The first day, I was exhausted after only writing 19K. I had no idea how I would keep it up! But once I started flexing those muscles, I got better at it. I learned how to really let go and not over-think each scene. Instead, it was very much free writing for me, a way to let my creativity flow.
Since I'm a discovery writer or pantser or whatever you want to call it, this was really a great exercise to discover my story. By the end of the manuscript, I had dropped several things from the beginning that were red herrings. I still haven't quite figured out how the ending should go, but I have some good ideas.
So what's next?
I think I'm going to let this manuscript breathe during December. Then in January I will start a complete rewrite, with the NaNo ms serving as a sketch or zero draft. Yay! (No, really I'm looking forward to it)
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
NaNoWriMo Diaries, Day 26: Does It Work For You?
So, we all know that the concept of "winning" NaNo is a bit arbitrary. 50K is an arbitrary goal and the real prize is finishing a manuscript. That said, it's a great motivator.
Except when it isn't.
We love seeing the little chart our word-count going up, up, up.
Except when life gets in the way.
I went out of town last week, and told myself I would at least write a little bit while I was there. But I didn't end up getting in front of the keyboard at all.
I took 10 days off but on the writing days I've been writing well past the 1667 words. So I think I can still make it. Also, I can be a bit pig-headed about reaching certain goals.
My story is of course total nonsense. And not chronological in any way. For some people, that would be horrible. But I don't mind the concept of a zero draft, which is totally what this is.
I've seen writers get frustrated when they get too far behind. There are also the lovely contrarians who find the entire idea of word-count goals to be counter-productive.
NaNo isn't going to be good for every person or every project.
For me, this year, this project, it has worked out nicely. At least I'm having fun. To everyone else: if you're not having fun, if the word counts are too much for you, just remember the purpose is to get writing. Don't stress! Do what you can, do what you love, do what inspires you.
And try not to ignore the fam on Thanksgiving! :)
Except when it isn't.
We love seeing the little chart our word-count going up, up, up.
Except when life gets in the way.
I went out of town last week, and told myself I would at least write a little bit while I was there. But I didn't end up getting in front of the keyboard at all.
I took 10 days off but on the writing days I've been writing well past the 1667 words. So I think I can still make it. Also, I can be a bit pig-headed about reaching certain goals.
My story is of course total nonsense. And not chronological in any way. For some people, that would be horrible. But I don't mind the concept of a zero draft, which is totally what this is.
I've seen writers get frustrated when they get too far behind. There are also the lovely contrarians who find the entire idea of word-count goals to be counter-productive.
NaNo isn't going to be good for every person or every project.
For me, this year, this project, it has worked out nicely. At least I'm having fun. To everyone else: if you're not having fun, if the word counts are too much for you, just remember the purpose is to get writing. Don't stress! Do what you can, do what you love, do what inspires you.
And try not to ignore the fam on Thanksgiving! :)
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