Cat Hellisen's Blog, page 33

saturday in pitchurs

How Saturday went:

Writing. This stares at me from the wall. Sometimes it's all I have.

gardening. good for what's left of your soul.

And because man can not live on bread alone, I had this with butter and cheese.

How was your Saturday?

                                      

saturday in pitchurs

How Saturday went:

Writing. This stares at me from the wall. Sometimes it's all I have.

gardening. good for what's left of your soul.

And because man can not live on bread alone, I had this with butter and cheese.

How was your Saturday?

                                      

On being a coward.

I'm pretty sure everyone's read the posts about agents asking authors to cut gay characters out of their YA. I think we're missing out a lot from both sides of the story, but what's important here, as my friend Sophie Wereley pointed out,  is that the real issue is getting lost in the internet spats.

When the story first broke I was rather sceptical. My reasons were personal – I write many gay characters, and neither of my 2 agents ever asked me to change that.  And then I thought about how they had never had to because I did it myself.

My favourite book that I have ever written has at its heart, a gay romance, and I pretty much assumed that it would never get me an agent. So I set out to write a YA with a het romance at its core. (Because apparently I'm unable to actually do that, all three main characters are bi, and 2 minor characters are gay.)

But the fact remains that I believed a het book would have a better chance of selling. Was I right? Kinda. Since it did sell. But what about that other book, the one I love more? If it doesn't ever sell, will it be because the book is not as good as I like to think or because there is still this pervasive idea that teens (and adults) don't want Teh Gay tainting their kidlit? (<<

So if I'm self-censoring without even realising exactly what I'm doing until I'm forced to confront my own actions, yeah, it could be saying a lot about me (and it does). But it also says a lot about the industry and my perceptions of it.

How do you feel about gay characters and story lines and what is happening with them in today's publishing world, especially in YA?

 

 

 

                                      

On being a coward.

I'm pretty sure everyone's read the posts about agents asking authors to cut gay characters out of their YA. I think we're missing out a lot from both sides of the story, but what's important here, as my friend Sophie Wereley pointed out,  is that the real issue is getting lost in the internet spats.

When the story first broke I was rather sceptical. My reasons were personal – I write many gay characters, and neither of my 2 agents ever asked me to change that.  And then I thought about how they had never had to because I did it myself.

My favourite book that I have ever written has at its heart, a gay romance, and I pretty much assumed that it would never get me an agent. So I set out to write a YA with a het romance at its core. (Because apparently I'm unable to actually do that, all three main characters are bi, and 2 minor characters are gay.)

But the fact remains that I believed a het book would have a better chance of selling. Was I right? Kinda. Since it did sell. But what about that other book, the one I love more? If it doesn't ever sell, will it be because the book is not as good as I like to think or because there is still this pervasive idea that teens (and adults) don't want Teh Gay tainting their kidlit? (<<

So if I'm self-censoring without even realising exactly what I'm doing until I'm forced to confront my own actions, yeah, it could be saying a lot about me (and it does). But it also says a lot about the industry and my perceptions of it.

How do you feel about gay characters and story lines and what is happening with them in today's publishing world, especially in YA?

 

 

 

                                      

Revision in rainbow frocks

Occasionally while trawling the internet I stumble across something that is both brilliant and simple. And it makes me go oh wow yay!

This time it's a revision technique by YA author Cristin Terril, who has this neat little colour-coded thing she does to her manuscripts. I tried it out on my first scene of the current WiP and it's rather an eye-opener. This is going to be a useful tool for me. If you're also visually-minded, I think this will appeal.

(This is an accurate representation of me, revising. Yes. That is *exactly* what I look like)

                                      

Revision in rainbow frocks

Occasionally while trawling the internet I stumble across something that is both brilliant and simple. And it makes me go oh wow yay!

This time it's a revision technique by YA author Cristin Terril, who has this neat little colour-coded thing she does to her manuscripts. I tried it out on my first scene of the current WiP and it's rather an eye-opener. This is going to be a useful tool for me. If you're also visually-minded, I think this will appeal.

(This is an accurate representation of me, revising. Yes. That is *exactly* what I look like)

                                      

Blurbage!!

Yeah, baby!

 

Okay, I haven't the slightest clue about how one hunts down blurbs. Luckily for me, my wonderful agent Suzie is way more on the ball than I'll ever be.

If I'd been left to my own devices my only blurb would have been: "This book is amazing!" – My Mom. Yeah, see why it's a good thing I'm not left to do this stuff alone?

As is turned out, Suzie not only scored AMAZING blurbage, but those blurbs came from an awesome collection of writers. Basically, nnnghhh.

So huge THANK YOUS to the people who took the time to read When the Sea is Rising Red, and offer their blurbs for us to use, to Suzie for her fine blurb-hunting skills, and to Editor Beth for putting them together. You have made me a delighted cat.

"Dark, perilous, haunted. Death surrounds this courageous female hero.  I couldn't stop reading, not when I had to know more so badly!" –Tamora Pierce, New York Times–bestselling author of the Beka Cooper trilogy.

 

 

"When the Sea is Rising Red is a moody, atmospheric tale characterized by a creeping sense of dread that makes for a compelling read." – Jacqueline Carey, New York Times–bestselling author of the Kushiel's Legacy series.

 

 

"In this smart, subtle fantasy reminiscent of Charles de Lint or Emma Bull, dreamy prose and exquisite world-building move the reader toward a powerful and fitting conclusion." —Rae Carson, author of The Girl of Fire and Thorns.

 

 

"Rich in atmosphere and romance, When the Sea is Rising Red is a compelling tale of magic, friendship, and rebellion. A stunning debut!" —Suzanne Young, author of A Need So Beautiful.

Seriously? SERIOUSLY. How awesome is that? I am totally making this face right now:

 

 

*dances*

 

                                      

Blurbage!!

Yeah, baby!

 

Okay, I haven't the slightest clue about how one hunts down blurbs. Luckily for me, my wonderful agent Suzie is way more on the ball than I'll ever be.

If I'd been left to my own devices my only blurb would have been: "This book is amazing!" – My Mom. Yeah, see why it's a good thing I'm not left to do this stuff alone?

As is turned out, Suzie not only scored AMAZING blurbage, but those blurbs came from an awesome collection of writers. Basically, nnnghhh.

So huge THANK YOUS to the people who took the time to read When the Sea is Rising Red, and offer their blurbs for us to use, to Suzie for her fine blurb-hunting skills, and to Editor Beth for putting them together. You have made me a delighted cat.

"Dark, perilous, haunted. Death surrounds this courageous female hero.  I couldn't stop reading, not when I had to know more so badly!" –Tamora Pierce, New York Times–bestselling author of the Beka Cooper trilogy.

 

 

"When the Sea is Rising Red is a moody, atmospheric tale characterized by a creeping sense of dread that makes for a compelling read." – Jacqueline Carey, New York Times–bestselling author of the Kushiel's Legacy series.

 

 

"In this smart, subtle fantasy reminiscent of Charles de Lint or Emma Bull, dreamy prose and exquisite world-building move the reader toward a powerful and fitting conclusion." —Rae Carson, author of The Girl of Fire and Thorns.

 

 

"Rich in atmosphere and romance, When the Sea is Rising Red is a compelling tale of magic, friendship, and rebellion. A stunning debut!" —Suzanne Young, author of A Need So Beautiful.

Seriously? SERIOUSLY. How awesome is that? I am totally making this face right now:

 

 

*dances*

 

                                      

Bucket List – Become a writer.

Write your book now while you still have faith in yourself.

Last night I was thinking about why the hell I started writing in the first place. Was it for the fame and money and groupies? I doubt it, even then I knew a) no-one really cares if you're a writer b) there's not that much crazy-money in publishing c) yeah…have you seen what most authors look like?

I do remember having an inflated sense of my own ability. I thought I could write, or at least I could write better than I could do anything else (This laughable misconception has since been beta-ed out of me). And if we're going to be honest, if I had known back then how shit I actually was, and how hard I'd have to work to get readable prose, I wouldn't even have bothered.

So, start writing while you still have that wide-eyed belief in your own ability. And keep on improving as the truth slowly dawns. Here then my *ahem* rules for being a writer.

You don't have to be Stephen King and tap out 2000 words of deathless prose a day. (let's face it, he's Stephen King, this is his fucking day job). It does help if you write rather than talk about writing. And if you manage 250 words of crap a day, you're still ahead of the guy at the party talking about that Great Novel he's going to write. Next year.

Accept that everything you write will read like crap tomorrow. Hell, it will probably read like crap today. It IS crap. That's what rewriting and revising is for. Get that crap down. If you don't, you can't edit anything.

Write what makes you happy. Trends? Fuck 'em. Your character is a massive Mary Sue. SO WHAT? You like to play with language and drop philosophical cookies in your narrative. DO IT. If you aren't interested in the story you're writing, you can be pretty sure that no-one else is going to be either. Worrying about pacing and characterisation and plot and all that other stuff can come later. (Unless you need scaffolding, in which case, plot away)

Write the way you want to. With a soundtrack, in deathly silence, in order, out of order, skip the parts that bore you (and leave them skipped, because they'll probably bore everyone else too). Write until you reach the end. Wait a bit before plunging into edits. Or don't wait. No-one is sitting there judging you on your process (well, there are people like that, but you really don't want to care what they say because I mean really.)

Don't forget life. It's full of interesting things. Go out, have fun, talk to people about themselves.

Revise until your book looks like a book. If you're uncertain about how to revise and rewrite, go get yourself a bunch of books to use as signposts (here's a list of some that may help*).

Get involved with writers you trust for some mutual critique.

And then, if what you've got looks good, query and forget about it while you start on the next book.

Accept that the chances of selling that debut novel are miniscule.

Get better with every book.

Read more.

*These books are just a few of my suggestions. They may help, they may not. None of them are bibles. They're just…other people's methods. Take what works for you, shove the rest.

Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook – Donald Maas

Self-editing for Fiction Writers – Renni Browne

Beginnings, Middles and Ends – Nancy Kress

On Becoming a Novelist – John Gardner

                                      

Bucket List – Become a writer.

Write your book now while you still have faith in yourself.

Last night I was thinking about why the hell I started writing in the first place. Was it for the fame and money and groupies? I doubt it, even then I knew a) no-one really cares if you're a writer b) there's not that much crazy-money in publishing c) yeah…have you seen what most authors look like?

I do remember having an inflated sense of my own ability. I thought I could write, or at least I could write better than I could do anything else (This laughable misconception has since been beta-ed out of me). And if we're going to be honest, if I had known back then how shit I actually was, and how hard I'd have to work to get readable prose, I wouldn't even have bothered.

So, start writing while you still have that wide-eyed belief in your own ability. And keep on improving as the truth slowly dawns. Here then my *ahem* rules for being a writer.

You don't have to be Stephen King and tap out 2000 words of deathless prose a day. (let's face it, he's Stephen King, this is his fucking day job). It does help if you write rather than talk about writing. And if you manage 250 words of crap a day, you're still ahead of the guy at the party talking about that Great Novel he's going to write. Next year.

Accept that everything you write will read like crap tomorrow. Hell, it will probably read like crap today. It IS crap. That's what rewriting and revising is for. Get that crap down. If you don't, you can't edit anything.

Write what makes you happy. Trends? Fuck 'em. Your character is a massive Mary Sue. SO WHAT? You like to play with language and drop philosophical cookies in your narrative. DO IT. If you aren't interested in the story you're writing, you can be pretty sure that no-one else is going to be either. Worrying about pacing and characterisation and plot and all that other stuff can come later. (Unless you need scaffolding, in which case, plot away)

Write the way you want to. With a soundtrack, in deathly silence, in order, out of order, skip the parts that bore you (and leave them skipped, because they'll probably bore everyone else too). Write until you reach the end. Wait a bit before plunging into edits. Or don't wait. No-one is sitting there judging you on your process (well, there are people like that, but you really don't want to care what they say because I mean really.)

Don't forget life. It's full of interesting things. Go out, have fun, talk to people about themselves.

Revise until your book looks like a book. If you're uncertain about how to revise and rewrite, go get yourself a bunch of books to use as signposts (here's a list of some that may help*).

Get involved with writers you trust for some mutual critique.

And then, if what you've got looks good, query and forget about it while you start on the next book.

Accept that the chances of selling that debut novel are miniscule.

Get better with every book.

Read more.

*These books are just a few of my suggestions. They may help, they may not. None of them are bibles. They're just…other people's methods. Take what works for you, shove the rest.

Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook – Donald Maas

Self-editing for Fiction Writers – Renni Browne

Beginnings, Middles and Ends – Nancy Kress

On Becoming a Novelist – John Gardner