Starting out on the Journey

One of the perks of being the ML in our region is that I get to write pep talks for those writing in our region. I love the chance to encourage writers. :) Here's the pep talk that we sent out last week!

It’s week one, which means that we’re still in the beginning of the long stretch. I know that some of you are doing awesome! In fact, our entire region is doing awesome! Compared to last year, we’ve really blown out of the water without our helmets on. I’m amazed by all of your progress.

Whether you feel like you’re moving forward, or whether you feel like you’re not doing as well as you could have – or should, remember, that’s not the point.

We’re on day 5. Day 5 of a lifetime. To be a writer, you don’t write 30 days in November. You write every day for a lifetime.

So why is NaNoWriMo important? Because these are our warm ups, the practice for the actual race. We’re going for a marathon here, not a sprint. Remember that. Everyone starts out at a different pace, and each of us are in different events. Don’t compare yourself to everyone else. We’re here as a team, not competitors. We’re here to cheer one another on. Any success can be counted as our success because we’re in this together.

That’s really the beauty of NaNoWriMo. You’re not alone. There’s going to be someone with more experience, and someone with less. That’s how it works. The best way to learn how to write is to learn and to teach, so don’t be afraid to get out there, know your team members and cheer them on!

And remember, this is just the beginning. If you fall, that means you’re trying! If you pull a muscle, then take a break, stretch it out, and jump back in!

Author Interview with RS McCoy

Today, I'd like to welcome RS McCoy, author of Sparks.  I read her novel last week, and I couldn't put it down!  And since I'm not great at introductions, we'll just start with the interview!

Sparks is a fascinating story about children with special abilities or ‘sparks.’  Where did you come up with that idea?

I guess I can’t really take credit for the idea! Growing up, my dad always told us to find the job we were made for. We would know we were in the right position when we loved going to work, had an aptitude for the tasks and could solve problems and challenges with ease. I guess I’ve always had the idea that different people were born with different skills that helped them fit their particular roles in the world.

Sparks is a great commentary on how government and politics can corrupt even well intentioned of individuals.  Was that a theme you chose or one that came out while you wrote?

I knew from the get go that I wanted politics to play a role. Personally, having elements of political conflict, religious tension and other social pressures add a layer of complexity and intrigue, as well as better reflect actual societies. A population free of those issues would be a true fantasy!

Which character is most like you? 

Hmmm. Good question! I guess I have to go with Khea. On the exterior, I am a sweet-as-pie looking southern mom, a teacher and a wife. In reality, I enjoy many aspects of art outside the mainstream, including sexuality, language and violence in the books I read and write. People often expect less of me than I am capable, just like they do to Khea in Sparks.

And very different from the question before, who is your favorite character? 

I definitely love Avis, and loved writing him. In my mind’s eye, he is tall, dark and handsome in an untraditional way. He is wounded, complex and deeply caring, and writing him was a great challenge but also really rewarding!

Which part of this novel was hardest to write?  Easiest?

The ending was definitely the easiest. I was on such a roll from the first half of the book that it sort of jumped out of my fingers and managed to be something I am immensely proud of. For some reason, Chapter Two was my Achilles heel. It just would not work! No matter how many authors critiqued it and no matter how many times the editor combed through it, everyone ripped it to shreds over and over again. Eventually, I just had to make my peace with it and move on.

How do you write?  Are you a plotter or a pantser, and where do you start?

I like to think I utilize a happy mix of planning and winging it. For the most part, I start off with an outline of the story. Characters are hashed out, chapters are loosely structured and I get a general idea of where things will go. Then I start at the first chapter, and choose the details as I go. Since I already have the big picture, filling in the details goes pretty smoothly. My hope is that the characters come out truer and the dialogue more natural but the story still completes an arc.

Why did you choose self-publishing over traditional publishing?  What was the greatest challenge you faced with self-publishing?

I chose self-publishing because I wanted to have control over my product. Writing started as an outlet for personal crisis, so I wasn’t willing to let someone - like a publisher - challenge my ideas. The greatest challenge was realizing how much I had to learn. Ignorance is truly bliss, and realizing how ignorant I was of the publishing world was a splash of cold water to the face. Since the beginning, I like to think I’ve embraced the learning and research aspect of this job. Slowly but surely, I’m getting there!

What are your writing goals for the future?

Now that I’ve had a taste for writing and publishing, I think I’d ultimately like to pursue it as a career. That seems crazy, even to me! My husband moves around for his job every few years, so working from home just makes sense. I hope to be able to support my family on income from writing. I’d also like to see one of my books as #1 on Amazon, just to say I did it!

Any advice for those still working toward publishing?

Research! The internet is a wealth of information, including what to do, what not to do, and thousands of tales from other first timers. Find out what worked and what didn’t, and make sure those things don’t happen to you! No one knows everything and has all the secrets, but familiarizing yourself with the industry can only help you!

RS McCoy didn’t ever plan on being a writer. With a career teaching high school science, writing is the last thing she expected. But life never goes the way you think it will. While battling cancer, she picked up her laptop and let the words flow out. One year later, her first published fantasy novel has been released on Amazon and her second novel is in the works. She is a wife, mother of one with another on the way, a scientist, baker, gardener, and life-long science fiction and fantasy addict.

"Everyone in the world has a spark, a light inside that guides them, keeps them alive.”

Myxini School for Children specializes in training young men and women who have powerful sparks. Strikers are taught to manipulate fire. Trackers learn to find animals in the most formidable terrains. Handlers are instructed in communication with large predators. But forty years have passed since the last time they had a Reader – a student with the ability to read minds.

When Lark Davies enrolls at Myxini, he knows there aren’t many like him, but he doesn’t realize just how rare his abilities really are. He thinks nothing of being asked to keep his spark a secret; after all, he can barely control it. Thoughts and emotions flood unbidden into his mind until he can scarcely walk or hold a conversation. But just when he needs it most, his ability fails him.

Larks meets Khea, a small frightened girl who mysteriously insights his protective nature. He has no explanation for the curious strength of their relationship, and it doesn’t help that she is one of the few people in the world whose thoughts can’t be read. As he struggles to get to the root of their unique bond, Lark begins to unravel more power than even his mentor expected, but in the process makes himself a target to political leaders eager to take control.

The Writing Ritual - Guest Post by Taylor Lavati

Today, we are privileged to hear the thoughts from Taylor Lavati, author of The Thousand Year Curse.  Be sure to check her book out, as well as her blog: http://thecursebooks.blogspot.com. 

Read on!

To make your writing the best it can be, you have to get into the writing zone. Well, how do we do this? What even is the writing zone? 

The writing zone is the mentality when you produce the best writing you possibly can. The writing zone is when your brain is focusing one hundred percent on the task at hand. If you’re anything like me, you know that it’s hard to block out the rest of the world and focus on only one thing. 

BUT YOU HAVE TO!

As I was coming near the end of my current project, my brain started to wander to other things, like how will I market it, what should the cover look like, what should the title be, how will audiences react... etc. 

This is not a good thing, especially when you’re supposed to be writing your book! So how do you get your brain to shut up and focus? Simple. 

Environment is everything! For me, I hate working in a cluttered room and on a cluttered surface. Your desk should be the most sacred place in your house. Make it creative and inspiring and where you can feel comfortable. 

Know where your writing is going! To get a good novel going, you have to know where the book is leading. For example, create an outline where you know the beginning, middle and end. The reason I say this is because a lot of times writers start writing hoping it will go somewhere but this is actually counterproductive. You’ll be deleting so much and it’s much better to know where the story is going. 

Find the ritual that makes you calm! My ritual for writing is, I have to eat first. I prefer writing in the morning versus at night. I just end up writing better in the morning. I also like to have a cup of coffee and tea to keep me energized. BUT not too much because then I’ll have to take a bathroom break and that sucks since it breaks up my thoughts.

Sooo... Moral of the story? Find what makes you focus and keeps your mind calm. To get into your writing zone, you need to find a ritual that works for you. Whether it’s wearing your special undies, or writing outside, your ritual is special to you and only you will know what works. Find that ritual because one you do, you’ll be writing better than ever!

Who am I?

Taylor is a twenty-two year old student in her small town in Connecticut. Studying early childhood education, Taylor wants to be a kindergarten teacher but has always had a soft spot for English. The Curse Books were Taylor's first writing venture that spiraling into hopes of a career in writing. The Thousand Year Curse is now available on amazon. She focuses on running her blog, writing new books and enjoying time with her dog, Beau and boyfriend, Chris. 

Be sure to check out my post on her blog about writer's block: http://thecursebooks.blogspot.com/2013/08/wednesday-writing-advice.html