Today on the Writer Spaces Inspiration series, Vicki Tremper has agreed to share her story. She’s written some fabulous stories about places in France, both in the present and past, Rwanda, and other places in Africa. Her writing is authentic and descriptive, in part because she’s lived in those places. Vicki is definitely a writer to watch!
Please tell us a little about yourself. What types of things do you write?
Thanks so much for having me today, Suzanne! I write MG and YA fiction, inspired by my fascination with other cultures. I love travel and food, and my two little boys, and my husband (RocketMan) and our puppy. Sometimes I teach French. Sometimes I crochet. I can count to ten in seven languages (and I’ve forgotten how to in three others).
Do you have a schedule for writing?
No. I fit writing in around my life. If I’m around in the morning, I like to write as soon as my kids leave for school, so I’m at my freshest. I also write a lot at night when they’re in bed.
Do you have any writing rituals, such as music, food, clothes, or anything else to help you?
Not really. I don’t listen to music while I write, but I do sometimes have the TV on in the background. If I know I’ll be home all day writing, I wear something comfortable (right now, jeans and a sweater). I do munch a lot while I write and my snacks change according to my moods. I like chips, peanut M&Ms, red licorice, and pretzels.
Could you tell us about your writer’s space?
Writing in the basement.
I have my own office in our basement but I sometimes call it my cave because…it’s in a basement and has no windows and it’s really cold in there during the winter (we live in Upstate New York, so cold winters are a given). I don’t write in there very often.
I usually write at my kitchen table or on my living room couch. I spent most of NaNo on my couch with the TV in the background.
Comfy couch for upstairs writing.
Off the topic of writing, what is the zaniest, craziest thing you’ve ever done?
I may need to take the 5th on that one. Hmm. Well, I almost got arrested at the Uganda/Rwanda border because I didn’t want to accept the change in immigration procedures without question. I crossed a couple of times per week and we’d previously had an understanding, and all of a sudden that night they wanted me to stand in the long line that had formed as a result of their change. I was in a rush and they were busier than usual. Not a good combination.
Obviously it all worked out fine, but I got to spend some quality time with two confused border policemen in a tiny room. My heart pounded while I thought, What have I got myself into now? In that tiny room I realized that just about anything could happen from that point. But everyone knew me, and they knew the guy who yelled at me, and they knew he just needed to cool down.
Do you have anything else you’d like to tell us?
I blog weekly at All the World’s in Words. I wrote a nonfiction book as part of a leveled reader program and it will be published in 2014.
Last of all, what advice would you give to other writers?
I don’t know that I’m qualified to give anyone advice, but – Don’t give up!
Thanks for highlighting my space! Let’s hang out again soon.
TeacherWriter:
Vicki has a very understated manner, but don’t let it fool you. I’ve read her writing, and it rocks! Don’t forget to check out her blog and find out more about what’s keeping her busy.
We’ve all heard about storyboards. If you use novel writing software, it probably has a storyboard in it. But how many writers actually use them and how useful are they?
Some writers find them tedious, some find them confusing, and some just want to let the story flow without planning. I admire pantsers. It takes a tremendous amount of talent to make up a story as one goes along, adding twists and deep characterization in the process.
I’m the type of person who always needs to know where she’s going. In the car, I’m an annoying back seat driver, and on a train I’m constantly looking out to see where we are. During last summer’s trip to China, I constantly watched the animated map of our flight to see where in the Pacific our airplane was located at any particular time.
When it comes to my writing, I’m the same way. So a few years ago I began using colored index cards and a storyboard made out of a science fair presentation board. It helps me get the first draft written. After that, any changes can happen, but along the way to the first draft, I want to know where the story is headed. The storyboard I use is portable, I can easily move things around and change things, and it’s simple to add notes.
A different color card for each main character
I begin the first planning of the plot problems and subplots on cards, as I wrote in this article on plotting. Then I move on to scene notes. For the story I’m working on now, scenes with the heroine’s POV have yellow cards, the hero’s scenes have pink cards, and a subplot is covered with green cards. This can also be done on white cards. Just use a marker or highlighter to draw a line that indicates who or what the card belongs to.
I write out a very short summary of each scene in the planning stage. Once I have most of my story planned, I lay out the cards in order on my presentation board.
Using a three-act structure with the storyboard
I always plan with a three-act structure, so the first ¼ of the board is Act 1, the middle half of the board is Act 2, and the last ¼ of the board is Act 3. I don’t attach or tape the cards, I just lay them on the board. Now, at a glance, I can see where my turning points are and where I may have plot holes.
It's messy, but it gives you the general idea of my storyboard.
After examining the cards in light of my three-act structure, I fill in gaps, holes, deepen characterization, and play with the plot. For each card, I ask, “What if?” and try to come up with original reactions.
It’s easy to move things around, discard ideas that don’t work, and insert new plot points. Once I’ve settled on how the story should go, I tape the cards onto the board. If I think of questions or twists during writing, I just jot my notes on the cards.
Another option I’ve heard of is using a large whiteboard. Writers can draw the scenes on the board using different colors of dry erase markers. The notes are easy to erase and change.
Storyboarding the novel takes time
Some might feel that I’m wasting my time playing with cards. In actuality, I’m playing and replaying the different possible scenarios for my novel, and working out problems before I’ve written too many words. Once I’ve finished my storyboard, I’m ready to write. I stand the storyboard up next to my computer and get busy typing. At that point, things flow, and if I have time off work, such as in the summer or winter breaks, I can write a very rough draft of a first novel in two to three weeks. However, I’ve spent days or weeks ahead of time working it all out on the storyboard.
Once I have the first draft written, the cards come off the board, I file them away, and the storyboard goes back into the closet until I need it for the next novel.
This is a method that works for me. To me, it’s much easier than writing several thousand words and later having to toss them in the bin because of painting the character into an inescapable plot corner. Plus, I love being able to tote my storyboard from room to room with me, depending on where I want to write.
How do you plan a story? Do you have any tricks or tips to share? I’d love to read your comments.
This week on the Writer’s Room Inspiration blog, Jennifer McAndrews has agreed to visit and share where she writes her terrific novels. She’s an EPIC 2012 Award finalist for her book The Trail of Tudor Blue, writing as Gwen Roman. As J. A. McAndrews she authored the teen book, Braving the Titanic, which received 5 star reviews on Amazon, and her latest book is Deadly Farce.
It’s with great pleasure that I publish this encouraging post from such an inspiring author.
Jennifer McAndrews says:
I was so pleased to learn Suzanne was doing a blog series on writers’ spaces, and doubly pleased when she agreed to host me here. This was just the impetus I needed to get my home office back under control! I saw myself getting all the books put away, all the papers filed, all the dust…dusted. I was ready to show off my space proudly! And there would be pictures — of the little skeleton and handcuffs that mark me as a mystery writer, of the sample-sized men’s cologne I used when I wrote my last romance, of the shelf full of Young Adult novels that inspired me to try my hand there.
And yet…
Such a view might be misleading. It might give the impression I was, you know, organized. That I approached writing with a disciplined schedule and made play lists or posted pictures to help me “see” my characters. Truth is, that only happens a few times a year. As much as I admire that super-organized writer, it’s just not me.
This is me. I work full time, and my work day doesn’t end at a specified time. It ends when the work is done, and oftentimes the work comes home. Home has three dogs, four cats (two of these are kittens. oy!), a husband and two kids who all expect me to feed them daily and drive them places (well, not the cats. They like to stay home.) Cleaning and laundry happens on weekends. Errands happen on an as-needed basis. And I write. Every day but Friday.
So even though I have a home office to retreat to, it’s not fitting my life style. And that means the bulk of my writing happens wherever I have a flat surface to write on. Mostly, my writer space is here:
My living room couch — where I often have four-legged story consultants. (The cats edit.) I write the first few chapters of every book long-hand. This means paper and pens are enormously important to me. I choose them carefully, and travel with a variety.
When I move from paper to keyboard, I’ll typically complete first draft on my AlphaSmart Neo, then move everything to flash drives so I can work wherever I can get a USB hub.
What’s doubly important about my little collection of flash drives are the knick-knacks sharing the keyring. They’re talismans, all, reminders of my writing life that keep me going. There’s a rubber duck author Dawn Thompson gave as promo for Lord of the Deep before she passed away. Dawn was a chaptermate of mine and a huge inspiration. The blue faux diamond is my own phone charm giveaway from my debut romance Trail of the Tudor Blue (written under pen name Gwen Roman). I’m still on the hunt for a good tchotchke to add to honor my February 2012 mystery novel, Deadly Farce.
I suppose this makes me less a writer with a space than a writer who finds space anywhere, and I think I like it that way. When asked if I have any advice for writers, I tend always to respond with the same answer: just write. Don’t get hung up on the perfect room with the ideal view and the right lighting/music/candles. You’re not seducing the page. You’re writing. Unless you have a physical limitation, all you need to write is pen and some place to rest a piece of paper/envelope-back/cocktail napkin) on. The less you depend up on ideal conditions, the more you’ll write. Works for me. And my dogs.
TeacherWriter says:
Thanks so much for sharing with us, Jennifer! I love your story of your keychain knick-knacks; little things that hold a world of meaning.
Did you all notice Jennifer has a new book coming out the first week in February. Deadly Farce, an Avalon Mystery is available for pre-order. You can find the link at her author website, Jen McAndrews’ Feet First Fiction.
When Ellie James visited the TeacherWriter blog, she totally inspired me. One thing she mentioned at the end of her interview was Notes from the Universe. I took her advice, looked it up on Google, and found a site that sends personalized notes to subscribers every day. These notes are words of encouragement to keep us in tune with the Universe and help us realize the fulfillment of our goals and the best things we can enjoy in our lives.
I’m all about inspiration. In a world filled with pain and bad news, I don’t want to read more of the same. I tend to seek out the happy news, the good things that happen to people. Likewise, in my writing, I want my characters to be happy, which doesn’t make for the most exciting plot. So after I create whatever devastating plot problems I can think of for my characters, I give them a happy ending, the traditional HEA.
Notes from the Universe makes it easy for us to focus on the positive. I’ve signed up so that in 2012 each day will begin with a positive thought, hopefully one that will give me the gusto to get to my goals.
How about you? Are you doing anything new in 2012?
Today on the TeacherWriter blog, for our Writing Room Inspiration series, we have Sandra Markle! I’m so happy to have her sharing her experiences and successes with us. Recently she’s been surviving the earthquakes in New Zealand, but before that, she survived hurricanes in Antarctica. She tells about a surprising ending to that experience in her blog today. Thanks for your words, Sandra!
Thank you for inviting me to be a guest blogger. Hello, Readers!
I’m the author of over two hundred books for children. I’m thrilled to be able to announce that my book The Case of the Vanishing Golden Frogs: A Scientific Mystery (Millbrook/Lerner) has just been selected as the recipient of the 2012 The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books. Although I’m writing more fiction these days, the majority of my books continue to be nonfiction.
Writing for me is a full-time job, and one I love. I’m at my computer with my first cup of coffee by seven. I start with an hour of emails unless I’m in the middle of a project. Then I dig right in. I work until about two. Then I have a long break for lunch with my husband or friends, swimming laps, and to catch up on emails or some reading. Late in the afternoon, I spend a few more hours doing research or reading and thinking ahead about the next writing day. I outline projects (although that outline frequently gets revised along the way) and set myself daily writing goals.
Probably the wildest moment in my writing life happened in Antarctica. I was chosen to go there three times as part of the National Science Foundation’s Artists and Writers program. As part of my experience (from which four books were born), I camped out with two women scientists at an Adelie penguin rookery. So it was just the three of us and 60,000+ penguins too far from base for a helicopter to reach us when a storm struck with hurricane force. Winds ripped our tents apart and the snow-filled air was blinding white. We took refuge in our Conestoga wagon-like cook hut but the wind attacked this too. I spent the next twelve hours tucked inside my sleeping bag while the storm tore the cook hut apart and heaped snow on me. I survived and, after that, had a huge respect for penguins raising their babies in such an extreme environment. It also taught me that there’s a unique angle to every story and that’s what I need to look for and share with readers. If my first example wasn’t enough to prove that point, I met my husband in Antarctica and we became only the third couple in the world to be married in the Chapel of the Snows at McMurdo Station.
I’ve been writing part time and then full time for nearly thirty years. My writing space has changed drastically over that time. I started out with everything in a box I hauled around to whatever part of the house I could squeeze into for a little time to work. Eventually I put a table in the spare bedroom–my son who was four at the time said he used to think our house was haunted because he heard the tap tap tap that was me using a manual typewriter late at night. Then it was an electric typewriter with an extension cord on a desk tucked into the alcove under the stairs in our next house. Next, a corner of the living room behind a divider screen so I could leave things out in meaningful piles. I moved to a room in the basement somewhere along the line with a closet that I packed full of important stuff and a window with a view of a bush. And finally, at long last, I have my dream writing space. It’s a room of my very own with my favorite paintings and a view of the garden. The room also has a sitting area with a sofa and chair and coffee table for time out when friends drop in or to put my feet up and write on my laptop. I think of my writing space as the special place where my ideas reside and I slip in and out to join them.
Soaring Like Eagles which shares special features related to my e-book Soaring Like Eagles (available through Amazon)
The best advice I can offer is to focus on a genre you enjoy reading. Read books in that genre with an analytical eye. Then write, write, write—and have confidence in your success. I initially wrote for two years before I was published. Somewhere along the line I stopped sending my work to editors and a friend said to me, “It doesn’t get published sitting in the drawer.” How very right that is. It’s hard to send your perfect babies into the world, but you have ideas you want to share; worlds you want to help others explore. So write bravely and be persistent! And I wish you a wonderful Happy New Writing Year!
Today on the Writing Room Inspiration blog, we have multi-published author Ellie James. Yay! Her latest book, Shattered Dreams, was released in early December 2011. She’s inspiring with her positive outlook, she’s a busy mom, and she’s done some outright crazy stunts in her life. All I can say is keep her away from cliffs and castles, and hide your duct tape from her!
TeacherWriter: Ellie, I’m hoping for this to be a fun and friendly way for readers and writers to get to know a little more about you. So let your hair down and have fun answering the questions!
Please tell us a little about yourself. What types of things do you write?
One of the best pieces of writing advice I ever received was to write what you love—what intrigues you, fascinates, terrifies you, melts you, etc. That way you’ll always be excited about diving into your story world. For me, that’s a mix of mystery, suspense adventure, and strong relationships, whether they be romantic, friendships, or family-oriented. One of the best ways to describe myself is as a LOST girl. I absolutely loved everything about that show, even the fact that, often, I had no idea what was going on! The unexplained THRILLS me. And THAT vibe is exactly what I pursue with my own writing, whether it be Adult or Young Adult!!!
Do you have a schedule for writing?
Yes! And it’s far more structured than I’d like, I’m afraid! I’d love to wait for those divine lightning bolts to strike, however, with two young kids, my writing schedule revolves around school, carpool, and soccer games! Typically I’m hunkered down in my office by 9:45 in the morning, and I stay there until 1:45 in the afternoon. Instead of daily I have weekly page count goals, so if I don’t hit that goal M-F, I finish up on the weekends!
Do you have any writing rituals, such as music, food, clothes, or anything else to help you?
I’m all about rituals, from the orange/vanilla-scented candle to the music playing in the background (each book has its own playlist) and the cup of warm tea. I always warm up by reading what I wrote the day before to draw me back into the story, allow myself a little editing time, then dive into what comes next. Another piece of great advice from early on was to never stop writing at the end of a scene, because facing a brand new scene cold can often make it much tougher to get going.
Could you tell us about your writer’s space?
Most of the time I work from my office space in the upstairs of our house, with a big east facing window to my left and a door to the rest of the house to my right. Initially, I had my workspace situated so that my back was to the door, but I HATED that. I just never felt comfortable, kinda like I never feel comfortable in a restaurant if I’m not sitting with my back to a wall. I think maybe in a former life I was a warrior who met a grim fate through a sneak-attack from behind!
Anyway, I have to have my back to the wall—and I really, really prefer a neat and tidy workspace: for me, clutter in my office= clutter in my mind. However, with young kids, I’m constantly relocated stuffed animals and race cars!!!
Here’s what the floor of my office looked like as I approached the deadline for FRAGILE DARKNESS earlier this month!! Sometimes it really helps to sit down and spread everything out!
When planning my workspace, I consulted Feng Shui for paint color and ended up with a blue-green that is supposed to stimulate creativity. I also have an entire wall dedicated to inspirational sayings, such as Shoot for the Moon. Even if you miss you’ll land among the stars and Don’t believe everything you think!, as well as a display of my books.
And of course, there’s all the fun knick-knacks, such as the necklace on the cover of my YA novels and a replica of the Flat Iron building in NYC, where my publisher is located!!!
I love the your idea of the inspiration wall and keeping your knick-knacks out! The dragonfly necklace is gorgeous. Off the topic of writing, what is the zaniest, craziest thing you’ve ever done?
LOL!! Ummm….I have this problem. It’s called a Moon in Gemini, and it renders me completely incapable of making choices. I. Just. Can’t. (And trust me, my editor is well aware of this!!!!) There are sooo many crazy, zany things I’ve done, from breaking into a Scottish castle after hours to jumping off a 35-foot cliff, duct-taping my hands and feet together and jumping into a swimming pool to see if there was anyway to stay afloat (there WAS!) to…breaking into an abandoned amusement park. TWO of those four things were done in the name of book research—but I’m not saying which two!!!! And probably the funniest thing is…I’m a wimp. A total, stop at a stop sign in the middle of the night, middle of nowhere West Texas, wimp. But somehow, I still end up jumping off cliffs. Literally.
You certainly have a go-for-the-gusto side to your personality! Do you have anything else you’d like to tell us?
About three years ago, while I was sleep-deprived from caring for my preemie son (1 lb, 13oz at birth!!!!), I pulled myself from that hazy place between sleep and wakefulness, and would have sworn I’d just been watching a movie. Everything was so crisp and clear and vivid, the characters (a group of teens) and the setting (a haunted mansion in the historic Garden District of New Orleans), even the game the kids were playing (truth or dare). It was all just…THERE. I’d been writing adult romantic suspense for ten years (as Jenna Mills), so I was familiar with “seeing” scenes, but not only was that “movie in my mind” (MIMM) the most vivid I’d ever had, it was also the first time it featured teenagers!
Over the next week or so, I transferred that MIMM to paper, and the Midnight Dragonfly Series was born.
The ensuing weeks and months and years have been a journey I neither planned nor anticipated, but stepping into the world of my sixteen year old psychic heroine Trinity Monsour, and exploring her dreams and nightmares—dreams and nightmares that come true—has been the most thrilling, rewarding, and, yes, nerve-wracking experience of my writing career. I could not be happier, and can’t wait to see what comes next!!!!
That’s amazing how with everything else going on in your life, you had the inspiration for this series. Last of all, what advice would you give to other writers?
LOL! I’m a writer—and a mom! I’m all about advice. But, essentially, the bottom line is to be you. That is more important than anything. You’re the only you there is, and only you can write your book. Sure, every story can be written an infinite number of ways, and given the exact same beginning, middle, and ending, every writer would come up with something different. That’s what makes the world-and fiction—so special. The individuality.
I’ll conclude with this. Every morning I receive, via email, a Note From the Universe (Google it and SIGN up!!!) This morning’s note was this: Do it your way, Ellie. That’s what you’re here for.
And that’s what I’d say to every other writer out there: Do it your way. That’s what you’re here for.
Thanks so much for all your good advice, and for sharing your pictures, Ellie. I’m really excited to read Shattered Dreams. If the heroine is anything like you, it’s sure to be a wild read! Readers, here’s the book trailer for Shattered Dreams. It’s a fabulous video!
Find out more about Ellie James and her books at her awesomesauce author website.
Writing fiction is an art form, no less admirable than painting, sculpting, carving, weaving, or any other artistic media. We paint word pictures, we sculpt new worlds, we carve out words, we weave story threads together into a beautiful creation, and we make words dance.
As writers, we owe it to ourselves to produce the most moving words possible. Whether we’re writing to persuade, to remember, to do homage to someone or something, or just to have a creative outlet, we are participating in an artistic endeavor. In order to write well, we need to stay creatively refreshed.
I sometimes get sidetracked, lost in the goals of word count, page count, or editing. But my end goal, no matter how fast or slow I get there, is to produce something that creates change in the reader.
The best writing, like any other art, creates an emotional response in a person. I would like my writing to be such that readers come away having discovered new insights and discoveries within themselves or the world around them. This can’t be forced.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith, was the first book to create a shift in my worldview. Many books have had an effect on me over the years, but I remember that one because I was very young when I read it, and it gave me a perspective on an entirely different lifestyle from my own. That’s what art can do for a person.
Going into 2012, some of my writing goals will be to respect my art and others’ art, nurture my inner creativity, and to be open to new possibilities. Last year I had a goal of being open to change and it gave me new opportunities I might not have accepted otherwise. I’ve decided to keep that goal for the coming year. My three words to remember for next year will be:
Respect
Nurture
Openness
These three things came to me after a thoughtful post by Charlotte Rains Dixon. Let’s keep what she started going. What three words will you choose for 2012?
Here we are, at the last check in of #ROW80. I am so excited to have found it and I’ll definitely be back for another round in 2012. In fact, I’m excited to say I’ll be a sponsor.
This week I’ve been home sweet home and working on my next novel, UNTELLABLE. I’ve done just a few hundred words a day, which exceeds my goals. I’ve been going back to an old plotting method of mine to work out some issues, and now I’m moving forward again.
I also sent a manunscript for a middle grade novel out to another publisher. I’d shelved the book in 2010 after trying to sell it for about a year and getting no bites. ROW80 inspired me to take action again and send it out once more. We’ll see what comes of that.
All in all, I’d like to say thank you to all my fellow writers who are so supportive and uplifting. When one of us is down, there’s always someone else to help us up. Thanks. Have a wonderful holiday, whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, Festivus, Solstice, or the simple joy of family and friends.
See you next year!
How about you? How did you do? Here is the linky tool to post your progress and see everyone else’s blogs so we can cheer each other on. One more check in to go! See you on Wednesday!
Today’s guest author for the Writing Room inspiration series is the amazing Eileen Cook. She’s a multi-published author and her writing space is a dream spot!
Please tell us a little about yourself. What types of things do you write?
I’ve written romantic comedy, young adult, and middle grade novels. As of this January I’ll have eight books out, which I can hardly believe. I’m a transplanted American who now lives in Vancouver Canada with my husband and two dogs. I love books, dogs, knitting, and am completely incapable of dancing with any rhythm.
Do you have a schedule for writing?
I want to have a schedule, but life can be pretty unpredictable. I try and write at least a bit each day so that I keep the story going. I tend to do my best creative work in the afternoon, so I usually spend the morning doing marketing things, edits, and occasionally surfing the internet for lame celebrity stories.
Do you have any writing rituals, such as music, food, clothes, or anything else to help you?
I can’t listen to music when I write. I tend to start singing along instead of focusing on the manuscript. Plus, I sound like someone stepping on a cat when I sing. I don’t have any daily rituals when I write, but I do have one for when I hit writer’s block. If I find myself stuck and unable to figure out a scene or a character’s motivation, I put away my laptop and instead pull out paper and a pen. Something about handwriting makes me feel more connected.
Who or what is your inspiration?
Inspiration comes from the most random places. Sometimes I might read something or overhear a conversation in a coffee shop, other times it might start with a dream. Stories are everywhere, you just have to get used to listening for them.
Could you tell us about your writer’s space?
My writer’s space used to be the old sun porch on our house, but it’s been closed in. It’s open to the living room so I can see the fireplace, which is nice this time of year. I have to have a pretty clean desk when I’m writing- otherwise I get easily distracted. On the shelf by the window I have an old vintage typewriter, a photograph of my published books, and my Keep Calm and Write On poster. Being reminded to keep calm is good advice for my drama queen side. I have two chairs in my office so I like to sit there and read (or knit). My dog Cairo usually wants to sit in the other.
Off the topic of writing, what is the zaniest, craziest thing you’ve ever done?
I’ve traveled through Europe by myself. It’s rather weird to be in a strange place on your own, you learn to trust your instincts.
Do you have anything else you’d like to tell us?
I am really excited about my new book, Unraveling Isobel, which will be out January 3rd! Lisa McMann, who wrote the Wake trilogy, said: “Thrilling and creepy, super sexy, and so very hilarious.” Here is the summary of the book:
Isobel’s life is falling apart. Her mom just married some guy she met on the internet only three months before, and is moving them to his sprawling, gothic mansion off the coast of nowhere. Goodbye, best friend. Goodbye, social life. Hello, icky new stepfather, crunchy granola town, and unbelievably good-looking, officially off-limits stepbrother.
But on her first night in her new home, Isobel starts to fear that it isn’t only her life that’s unraveling—her sanity might be giving way too. Because either Isobel is losing her mind, just like her artist father did before her, or she’s seeing ghosts. Either way, Isobel’s fast on her way to being the talk of the town for all the wrong reasons.
If you would like to win a signed copy, Facebook, Twitter or blog about how you can’t wait to read Unraveling Isobel and send me a link and you’ll be entered!
Last of all, what advice would you give to other writers?
Read a lot. Write a lot. You need to read to see how other people have constructed stories and figure out what you like, or didn’t like. Writing itself takes practice so keep at it and don’t give up!
Thanks, Eileen, for sharing your space with us and telling us about your newest book, Unraveling Isobel.
Okay everyone, if you want to win a free copy of her new book when it releases on January 3rd, just leave a comment with the link URL to your Facebook, Twitter, or blog post where you tell how you can’t wait to read it. I know I can’t wait!
You can learn more about Eileen by visiting her author website.
Here we are, almost to the end of #ROW80. I just joined a week ago, so this is only my second check in. What a motivator it is to have to tell everyone how we’re doing on our goals!
I appreciated the comments on my Wednesday check in post, and I’m definitely putting some of the suggestions into action for the next ROW80. Most notably, Kaitlin, Ryan, and Sonia said do the 100 words on the novel first. Bridgette posts all of her ROW80 check ins on one page and that’s what I’ll do next time. Thanks for the ideas, everyone.
This was a busy week, and I really had to scramble to squeeze in writing time. Between getting 30 fifth graders ready for the winter break with presents for parents, glittery crafts, and a party to end it all, I had to audit the PTA books and handle some changes my nonfiction editor requested.
My goal is 100 words a day in any genre. I have a low goal because I’m so busy this time of year. This week:
Wednesday: 1263 words of required nonfiction edits.
Thursday: 150 words of secondary character definition for my novel.
Friday: 129 words of novel planning for some minor editorial change requests.
Saturday: Finally! Actual novel writing. 362 words.
How about you? How did you do? Here is the linky tool to post your progress and see everyone else’s blogs so we can cheer each other on. One more check in to go! See you on Wednesday!
