Mandy Hubbard's Blog, page 21

Writing & Publishing a novel part three: Getting it written

Part three in "Writing and Publishing  Novel" is all about how to actually write your book. 

When last we left off, you had a killer idea, and you had your character(s) figured out. Now you just have to write it. Easy peasy, right?

I am SO amazed at how many people ask "how" to write a novel. They find out I'm a writer and they look right at me and they say, "How did you write a book?"

I mean, I sat down at the computer and started writing words and they became a story. But that's apparently too...

Another interesting cover change

Hmm. My publisher, razorbill, seems to have swapped out the original cover of Betrayals for an entirely different one.

This is the second book in the new Strange Angels series.

This is the first book, if you're not familiar with it:


And these are the two versions of Betrayals. Original on the left, new one on the right:



I think the one on the left encompasses the brand better, but the one on the right is more likely to pop out on the shelves. Which do you prefer?

Deb Books

So, as it turns out, I am a major space cadet. I forgot to tell you all about the awesomesauce books that have come out lately from the Debs!

So let's start off with my imprint-mate, Jennifer Jabaley, and her book, LIPSTICK APOLOGY:


Lipstick apology is about a girl named Emily who is throwing a party while her parents are away. But when they turn on the news, they see that her parents plane has gone down, and there's almost nothing left of the wreckage-- except a tray table with four little wor...

Writing and Publishing a novel: CHARACTERS

Part II in WRITING AND PUBLISHING A NOVEL: Characters

 

( If you haven’t already,  read Part I: The Idea)

 

There are people out there who come up with characters first and then have to come up with a hook or story for those characters. I am not one of those people. And if you already have a character in mind, you probably don’t need this entry.

 

My process goes like this: Think up a big hook (IE, send a girl back in time) create a character (15 year old clumsy geek girl) and then think up the...

Fourth Printing!

Yay! Prada and Prejudice is in its fourth printing!!

(Just pretend I announced the third one somewhere...)

The official Summer 2010 YA book announcement

YAY!! I can finally tell y'all what my Summer 2010 book, YOU WISH, is all about!

What if all your wishes really came true?

 

Kayla McHenry’s sweet sixteenth sucks! Her dad left, her grades dropped, and her BFF is dating the boy Kayla’s secretly loved for years.  Blowing out her candles, Kayla thinks: I wish my birthday wishes actually came true. Because they never freakin’ do.

Kayla wakes the next day to a life-sized, bright pink My Little Pony outside her window. Then a year’s supply of gumballs a

How to Write and Publish a Novel: Part One

I've decided for the next few weeks that it might be fun to bring everyone through the process of writing and publishing- from getting the idea, writing the first draft, revising, querying, going on submissions via your agent, what to expect from your editor, etc.

So, first up: Part One-- The Idea.


Some people have tons and tons of ideas. I have something like 35 of them on a list on my computer. Most of them will never see thel ight of day. Sometimes ideas come from nowhere, but mostly, it come

Before and After publication

So, I twittered yesterday and asked for a blog topic. Louise stepped up and asked me to blog about what has changed since I’ve been published—and what hasn’t. So here goes:

 

What’s changed:

 

*Opportunities. It’s been a pleasant surprise to see how many doors open once you have a book deal. Libraries have emailed, asking to set up a visit, I’ve gotten some freelance work, and I was recently asked to speak for a group in SoCal. (August 2010, if you’re a SoCal’er!). I’m currently submitting papers fo

Of Dentist Chairs and Blue FIllings.

So...dudes. Dudettes.

I spent 2 hours at the dentist last week, listening to the Audiobook of LA CANDY.  It's voiced by Lauren Conrad, which makes it impossible to differentiate between her and the thinly veiled fictional version of her.

Anyway, it was actually kind of fun and frothy, a guilty pleasure type. Maybe it was the novicaine. But it DID Help pass the time, and its reasonably interesting, if you can get over the *OMGATTACKOFTHEADVERBS*.


Also: the filling I got is blue. Bright blue. Like

Mini Blog

On the train to work, so here is a mini blog update:

I sent my NASCAR romance novella off to my editor at Harlequin last week. SO Happy that one is off my desk! There will be revisions, of course, but that's to be expected.


I am working on my 2010 book, which *MAY* be out August 2010. Things often change, so that's just a tentative date. Also, the working title for the moment is YOU WISH. Still don't have clearance to share the details, but it's shaping up to be very fun! If my recent google searc