My Cheerleading Post

In college, pretending to be a cheerleader.

Any Nano participants out there?

If so, you're almost there! Keep going! Rah, rah, rah! I'm so personally and professionally proud of you!

I did Nano in November last year and LOVED it. Don't hate me for this if you've struggled (just keep reading), but I filled out my numbers every day and watched my little graph take off. It was so much fun, and by the end I had a very, very, very bad novel to show for it.

After almost a year of editing, I'm finally querying it. Success story, right?

I was ready to query back in October, and also ready to dive into a new project, so I decided to do Nano in October instead, with the wonderful Emily King as my fellow write-a-novel-in-a-month partner and cheerleader.

You guys, it was brutal. (Not because of Emily. Because of ME.)

And Emily kicked my bee-hind.

She was like at 800,000 words and I was still limping along at 200.

Okay, that's a tiny exaggeration.

It was SO HARD, though!

And for the first time in my life, I HATED WRITING.

*gasp*

I didn't want to sit down at my computer. I found other things to do. Usually I procrastinate doing lots of things in the name of writing, but now the tables were turned and I was spending time ... cleaning my bathtub!

I know, I know. Horrifying.

But, you know, I think Emily can attest to this, I kept plowing through. It was painful and hard, but I actually made it to something like 45,000 words and then I was so cross-eyed with the draft I decided to go back and start revising. I didn't want to finish the book right then because I knew certain parts of it were very wrong and I needed to get those right before I figured out the ending. (Pantser alert!)

Then November arrived and I began revising.

And, people, I was like a bird released from its cage. I started reading through my stuff and ... surprisingly ... I liked it, especially the beginning! And I fell in love with these characters again, and I made them even quirkier, and now I'm at 55,000 words and actually moving toward the climax and the ending.

I feel good. Finally!

All this to say, if you're Nano-ing it, and even if you're not Nano-ing it, but are in a tough spot with drafting or revising or whatever it is that feels like pulling teeth....

KEEP GOING.

It gets better. And someday you will have fun with it again.

Right? Of course, right! Please share in the comments about when you've had to push through a tough time. I know it's not always easy. And we've all been there. Let's share our joys and sorrows.

((GROUP HUG))

(And THANK YOU, Emily, for keeping me going!)

What Makes an Editor?

Disclaimer: I'm not referring to anyone in particular in this post. These are thoughts that have been bouncing around in my head that need an outlet. I sincerely want to learn from your opinions and anecdotes, so bring them to the comments!

What's the difference between an editor and a critique partner? I mean, really?

Critique partners give critiques.

And we, as writers, have the option to hire editors to give us feedback on our work.

And many of us are holding out for this dream of traditional publishing because an experienced editor will be working with us to make our books sparkle.

So, what is an editor?

Can our critique partners stick a sign on their blogs proclaiming themselves "editors" and start charging for critiques? Is that what an editor is? A paid critique partner? 

Or are editors those who are invested in the project because they know the success of the book will reflect on them and their publishing houses? Are these editors driven to do a more thorough job because the success of the book matters to them financially?

When a writer signs a traditional contract in a book deal, he or she is agreeing to go along with the editor's suggestions. (Of course, a writer can always say no to editing suggestions, but from what I've heard, he or she had better have a darn good reason.)

When you're reading a critique partner's suggestions, that's all they are--suggestions, meant to make you think about your book, meant to give another perspective. You can ignore everything they say if you want and it doesn't matter at all. I love all my critique partners dearly, but as much as I value their opinion, I don't  consider them "editors."

I took my agent's feedback on my book very seriously, so does that mean a book that has been critiqued by an agent has been "edited?"

Then we have to consider all the different types of editors out there ... Maybe our book has been edited by a freelancer, but did that freelancer copy edit? Did someone line edit? Is that even important any more in this publishing climate?

What's your experience? If you've self-pubbed, did you hire a freelance editor and did you take all their suggestions very seriously? How did you choose that editor? Or did you trust your critique partners enough to go for it without an editor?

And if you're traditionally published, how was your experience with your editor? Did you feel like that person helped you? I've heard editors have less and less time to devote to each individual project. Is this true, in your experience?

And if you're as yet unpublished, what are your plans? Are you holding out for a Big-House editor with years of experience under her belt, or do you think slogging your way through the process is overrated?

There are no wrong answers here, folks. Times are changing, and with so many options out there, I'm curious how others are making their publishing decisions.

On to the comments!

Photo credit: cohdra from morguefile.com

Wordless Wednesday: Origami Chains Left by Visitors at the Killing Fields

Photo credit: Michelle Pardini (my amazing sister!)

In Honor...

My four-year-old made an American flag out of K'NEX the other morning, which sent my six-year-old into a completely unexpected singing frenzy. I'd never seen her sing this song before, but I guess her teacher has them sing it every morning after they say the Pledge of Allegiance. So great, right?

I thought I'd post it in honor of all our American veterans on Veterans Day, though I know American veterans aren't the only heroes. Thank you to everyone who has fought to uphold rightness, justice and freedom in the world!

How Can We Help?

I know we've all been thinking and praying a lot about the disastrous effects of Hurricane Sandy on the east coast.

Kidlit writer Jen Malone is hosting a writing/reading-themed auction to help raise money for the Sandy victims. Some of the items on auction already have pretty high price tags, but some don't have many bids yet. It's a great way to raise money for people in need. Please stop by >>HERE<< and check it out! Auction ends on Wednesday, 11/7.

Have you found any other ways to help? Or, if you're on the east coast, how can we help YOU? Please share in the comments!

Comfort Tense

I'm editing the first, messy draft of my new YA contemporary set in Hong Kong.

So far it's fun, but I have a confession to make.

I can't write in first person past tense.

I've tried with several books, but then I get a few chapters in and have to switch back because I'm too confused to go on.

This is my question:

Do people who write in first person past tense choose a time period from which their main character is viewing the events of the story?

I'm asking because when I get to the necessary telling bits of the story, I always screw up.

In present tense it's easy. For example:

Gerald has a track record of stealing my best friends. Anyone who hangs around me realizes she has an excellent shot at getting a boyfriend thrown into the bargain. I eye Gerald, trying to see him like a non-sister-person might. He’s painfully awkward and a video-games nerd, but I can see girls thinking that’s loveable. And he’s cute, of course, which doesn’t hurt his prospects. 

When I try to put this type of paragraph into past tense, I get confused. If my MC is telling the story from some point in the future, all this stuff might still be true about Gerald, so shouldn't it still be in present? Plus, I feel like it sounds odd in past tense, as if Gerald is now dead (at the time of the story's telling).... For example:

Gerald had a track record of stealing my best friends. Anyone who hung around me realized she had an excellent shot at getting a boyfriend thrown into the bargain. I eyed Gerald, trying to see him like a non-sister-person might. He was painfully awkward and a video-games nerd, but I could see girls thinking that was loveable. And he was cute, of course, which didn't hurt his prospects.

See what I mean? Or am I crazy? Is that how it's supposed to be or is some sort of hybrid paragraph the right way to go? For example:

Gerald has a track record of stealing my best friends. Anyone who hangs around me realizes she has an excellent shot at getting a boyfriend thrown into the bargain. I eyed Gerald, trying to see him like a non-sister-person might. He was painfully awkward and a video-games nerd, but I could see girls thinking that was loveable. And he was cute, of course, which didn't hurt his prospects.

Any advice from past tense ninjas out there? (MELISSA!) Have I successfully confused anyone else?

I'm reading this book right  now, which happens to be in first person past tense and I'm trying to study it to see how a master like Maureen Johnson pulls it off. Maybe some day I'll get brave enough to switch out of my comfort tense.

Do you have a favorite tense?