Racheal (Wade) Renwick's Blog, page 6

I Haven't Been Around Lately

And this is because I’ve been working really hard. The first round of edits are done on Just for Kicks and I now have a cover! As release Day draws near, I will be having SO MUCH to do. But, never fear, I’ll be here to post giveaways and updates when I can.

The first giveaway will ensue during the cover reveal. I’ll have a few books and some random swag to be given away.  Follow me on Tumblr, and keep an eye out in the next few weeks for my giveaway

Getting the Most out of Your Writing Time

Most writers, don’t have all the free time in the world to work on novels. We take time as we get it. We have day jobs, children, errands, spouses, school - - all sorts of other daily responsibilities that require our attention first. 

Most of the writers I know who have children, wait until late at night, when they go to sleep, to get some writing done. The same goes for those who have day jobs and/ or go to school. But what if you just have too much going on to sit down and write? Or if you’re only managing 100 words each night and want to increase that number? 

I found that if I write down any and all aspects of my novel that I think about throughout the day, it helps later when I actually have the time to sit down and get some words typed up. Once the next part is already drafted up in my mind, I can easily type up the words without much struggle.

Get in the habit of carrying a pad and pen around with you and write down anything you think of that can add to your story. J.K. Rowling took three years, letting Harry Potter simmer in her thoughts, before she started to write it down. Writing doesn’t have to be so literal. Just by thinking about your story, you’re already adding to it. 

Writing out of your Comfort Zone

Writing from a male perspective has been rewarding, and yet challenging. When I first thought of the concept of SECOND BREATH, (while driving to McDonalds - believe it or not, this is when most of my ideas come about - when I'm driving) I instantly knew the MC had to be a guy.

The problem was, I had never written a whole novel in a male perspective, and I wasn't sure if steping out of my comfort zone, would be worth the time invested or not. I let the idea simmer in my head for qite a long time. I posted a synopsis on Authonomy (because I have amazingly talented friends there, who give great feedback) and was surprised when people took interest. So, I wrote.

Here is the current synopsis, or blurb for SECOND BREATH - YA Paranormal.

"This is your second chance. When you die, you take one last breath. And when you take your second breath, you wake here."


Harmon just wants to escape the grim reality that is his world. After the suicide of their mother, Harmon, and his sister Tilly, are left to the mercy of their alcoholic father, Stan.

When Harmon is killed by Stan, he finds himself alive again in an alternate reality known as Second Breath, a new world that greatly appeals to him. Along with the help of Nadine, a quirky, self-appointed tour guide for the dead, Harmon learns to live his new life. But back in the Living Realm, Tilly's life is in danger, and he must find a way to return before she joins him in Second Breath.

It was all very daunting, and I checked with my husband often on little things - man things. As it turns out, I didn't need much help at all. I had psyched myself up so much, when really I had nothing to fear. Men and women may think and act slightly different from each other, but in the end we are all human.

Now, SB is thriving well on Authonomy and getting great feedback. Meanwhile, I've been typing away trying to get the whole story down. Writing a story that fit outside the bounds of what I knew and have written before, was a great way to stretch my skills as a writer and see what I can do.

Never feel afraid to tell a story, just because you're intimitated by the new-ness of it. As writers, we can never grow and succeed if we aren't constantly trying ourselves, and pushing our limits.

Second Breath

I have just finished the first 10k words on my new WIP SECOND BREATH. The third Chapter was the hardest for me. It was very emotional at the end, and I was surprised that I was able to power through it and not ruin the scene. In this scene, Harmon - my MC - dies. And it was important to me to get it right the first time, when I was in the moment. Sure, I'll revise it when I edit, like I do anything else. But the emotion in it had to be right the first time around, when it was raw and powerful and I felt it.

And I did it, and it felt good. Now, the first (unedited) 10k words are up on Authonomy and can be read online for free.

Second Breath was a very different and difficult project for me. For one, my MC is male - not female. So everything I am asa woman, couldn't apply to Harmon. He's still a human and we feel the same, touch the same, but everything else is different. Also, this was written in past omniscience. So, I play God, being able to see everything all the time. Sometimes I limit view points, if I am following Harmon or his sister, Tilly. But, with free reign, also comes tough writing.

Then, there was the general voice of the novel. I had always opted for a light feeling, with serious moments when major points of the plot popped up. But Harmon's story, isn't fun or funny at all. And to show the very serious nature of the story, I had to have a serious voice.

So, I have hit the first milestone in wiritng this, and I feel great. I am hoping to add another 10k soon enough and finally finishing this. You can read SECOND BREATH on Authonomy now HERE .

Pitch Contests

I recently entered a twitter pitch contest called #PitchMAS. Writer were to pitch their manuscript in 140 characters or less, including the hashtag #PitchMAS. The rules were: you can change up your tweet, but may only tweet your pitch twice an hour. Also, agents and editors who were scoping out the scene could ask for a specific genre, and if you had what they wanted you coulkd pitch to them directly and it wouldn't count as one of your two tweets. With me so far? Good.

This contest was held by Jessa Russo (@jessarusso) on her blog Jessa Russo Writes and Tamara Mataya (@feakysnucker) on her blog The Mad Ravings of a Feaky Snucker for two days. Then, the contest moved on to Twitter, where we could pitch our work. I missed out on the first two days, but found out about this awesome contest the night before. I had also missed out on Pitch Wars. Which is a shame, but we'll get to that in a minute.

So, I had all day to tweet my pitch and try to gain some attention. Unfortunately, again, my rotten luck had followed me and no one was nibbling. No one was looking for sci-fi. Not that my book is high sci-fi at all - superheroes counts as Sci-fi, so yeah. Ten hours later, I was ready to get on Hootsuite and auto post and go to bed. But, finally - FINALLY - someone bit. Patricia E. Riley from Spencer Hill Press asked to see a full and I screamed right then and there.

#PitchMAS was such a success that these lovely ladies plan to do it again next year and have a site in the works specified for the yearly contest. You can find it HERE .

So, on to Pitch Wars. I was pretty bummed I missed out on this. By the time I got word, submissions were closed. Brenda Drake hosts this contest on her blog HERE , and it's much different than any contest you've seen. Writers post pitches, and authors or intern editors choose a manuscript to take on and mentor. They can also choose two alternates in case they change their mind. Once the writers are chosen, the mentors work with them to edit their synopsis and the beginning of their MSs. Then, the writers have a chance to fix their work. Once that's done, the mentors pitch the MSs to the agents.

For those of you who were able to compete in these contests, I'm sure you'll be back next year if you haven't been picked up yet. And for those of you who missed out, no worries, there's always next year. OR, you can partake in the next pitch contest coming up January 25th (not entirely sure of this date) on Twitter called #Pitchmad (pitch madness). Keep an eye on the hashtag #Pitchmad for more info.

To wrap this up, pitch contest are terrific ways to gain exposure and pitch your MS right then and there. There's no waiting for six week replies, and it's an awesome way to see just how creative you can get with your pitch.

5 Common mistakes you make in a query letter

Since I am currently deep into the querying process right now, I thought I would share some of the things I've learned about queries. It's not hard to mess up a query letter, but if you can avoid these five pitfalls, you have a better chance at not having your query thrown from the slushpile before even being considered.

Let's start off with the #1 big no-no in your letter. Addressing the agent.

1) Do NOT adress your query, TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, DEAR AGENT, or any other vague adress.

An Agent wants to feel special. Don't we all? I know I get flustered when people misspell my name, not once, but a thousand times. An agent has to read many more queries than that, and there are so many that are addressed to said agent not even GIVING them a name.

And it just shows your lack of respect and laziness by doing this. If you want your query thrown out without even being read, by all means start it out with, TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.

2) Follow the guidelines

Queries may have standard format requirements, but each agency has it's own set of guidelines that you need to follow. And you NEED TO FOLLOW THEM. If they ask for your vision on marketing, target audience, or to send the first chapter of your manuscript along with your query, you need to do so. Tailor your query to fit their requests.

This will show the agent that your are serious and have done your homework.

3) No one wants to hear about your cat

Yes, the fur balls are cute, but this is business, people. Do NOT put anything in your bio about you. I know, it's contradictory. But this is BUSINESS. The agent wants to know about your credentials, not what you do in your free time.

4) Confidence isn't arrogance

So don't be cocky. Be humble, and don't say things like, "MY MS IS BETTER THAN HARRY POTTER", or "YOU WILL LOVE MY NOVEL", anything that can come off as being egoistical, delete it. Also, don't do the opposite. You don't want to sound unsure of your MS or doubtful.

So, if you have anything that reads, "IF YOU DON"T LIKE THE ENDING I CAN CHANGE IT", "THIS IS MY FIRST NOVEL, SO IT'S NOT THAT GREAT". DELETE immediately.

5) Tone

I see this one a lot. Your MS has a tone to it. There is a style and voice that sets your work apart from others. So WHY would you write a synopsis that doesn't reflect that? I see someone who wrote a funny novel, then their query is serious, not showing any of that same wit and humor. You can't simply state, "PACKED WITH HUMOR". That's not getting the agent to laugh. Sorry.

Hopefully, you don't make these mistakes, but if you do, nip them in the rear and fix it before you fail. There are so many more aspects of the query to look at and dissect, but these will hopefully keep your in the agents mind just a little while longer.

I've been away...

I haven't written anything on here in a while, (not that anyone reads this) and I feel an bit bad. But there were a lot of family issues going on, and grief. Now that things are over (except the sadness) I realized I haven't posted in awhile. So, I suppose I'll talk about queries again. D:

I have written the most successful query I can muster up, and will be querying soon. (Not gonna say when because I don't want to get my hopes up. This is called realistic expectations of my future.)But, I won't lie when I say I'm scared. It's not the initial rejection that gets me frightened beyond belief, but the fear of not having a good enough story and/or query.

I am ready to face many rejections, in hopes of ONE yes. That's the attitude every writer needs to have. You're most likely not going to get a yes with one query. And I believe I have a legitimate fear. I have never looked at my story or query and said, "this is utter crap". Nor have I looked at it and said,"this is better than King!" (Stephen Kind mind you) But I am happy with my story and have edited it and polished it and love it. I know when my writing is crap, and I ask for help when I need it from fellow writers/ authors. I never turn away any crits and consider all of them. But that fear is still there. And I know that even published authors still have a twinge of doubt when they venture into a new novel.

There is no getting over that doubt, but maybe one day, I won't be as scared anymore. I won't ever stop writing, even if I never make money at it. It's something I am passionate about and love. If someone told you you had to give up your heart, would you do it? No,m because then you'd be dead. I may not die from not writing, but I would be hollow, and that's just as bad.

Writing is nothing without passion. And I have no passion for anything but writing.

Make your writing sparkle

We all know the basic style, formatting, and grammar when it comes to writing, right? I sure hope you do, otherwise this post may be a waste of time. Surely, these things come easily when writing, wether it's the first, second, third, whatever-number-draft you are on. But, what about afterwards? When you're editing and polishing?

This week, I had finished my second draft of JUST FOR KICKS. For me, my first is long hand, written on legal pads, with fun colored paperclips. The second is typed up. Then, editing and polishing come into play. But, while I started to editing process, I felt daunted. This is where my first novel, ESSENCE, feel through the cracks. Sure, it was a good story, fun, pulled you right in. (Being a writer, you need to get past the self-loathing and learn to praise yourself. If ten people tell you it's a good story, it most likely is.)But, after learning some basic ways to help my story flow, I re-read ESSENCE and realized it could have been WAY better.

One of the things that helped me, was Stephen King's ON WRITING. It is the best book I have ever read on the subject of writing. Not only does King share a memoir of his life revolving aorund the written word, but he gives you the tools and tells you how to use them.

Here are two basic things that I took from this book that improved my novel by ten fold. But, honestly, you should really pick it up for yourself. There are many, MANY ways to improve your writing that he has provided.

1)Eliminate the Passive voice

Passive voice is very common in writing. It is NOT a grammatical error, but a stylistic one. A passive construction occurs when you make the object of an action into the subject of a sentence. That is, whoever or whatever is performing the action is not the grammatical subject of the sentence. You intend to make John the subject of the sentence. But, using the passive voice, you find his dog becomes the subject.

Here are examples:

Passive:

a) The meeting will be held at five. (Sounds like you are unsure. Will it? Won't it?)

b)As Fluffy peed on the wall, John grabbed a towel to clean it. (John is the intended subject, but Fluffy has taken his place.)

c)John made many changes to the office. A new filing cabinet was put in. (We are looking at the second sentence here. By who? Why is the cabinet the subject?)


A reason you want to avoid this is because it makes your writing sound weak. Also, it makes you sound timid (which, you probably are). And, if an agent sees passive voice, it's a no-go. Timid writer = no confidence.

So, how do you fix it? Make the subject clear, eliminate those pesky "will be", "To be", "as", and rewrite anything that make your subject, well, not the subject. Let's rewrite these and make them strong. Put your foot down and be confident.

a)The meeting is at five. (Confident and direct.)

b) John grabbed a towel and cleaned Fluffy's pee off the wall. (John is now the subject and in charge. No treat for Fluffy though.)

c)John made changes to the office. He installed new filing cabinets. (By saying HE put in the filing cabinets, we are conrinuing to make John the subject, and not the cabinets.)

Better, right?

Let's move on.

2) Eliminate adverbs

Adverbs somehow became glorified. While they help to give imagery to a dull scene, they can hurt you. Adverbs are not all they are cracked up to be. and if you use them too often, or worse - at every chance you get - you are damaging your goods and looking like a fool.

Actions are enough, they can give us a well enough picture, without the attached adverb. Examples:

a) Wilma set the cup down gently. (Why gently? When you set something down, isn't it gentle? You didn't slam it, right? This is, then, redundant.)

b) Greg closed the door firmly. (Again, redundant.)

c) She gave a shy smile. (Why not, she smiled? If we were already reading the dialogue or scene with this that led us to believe she was feeling shy, why would we need this? If we didn't know she was feeling shy, than the scene needs to be revised.)

Though these aren't even the worst I can think of, they're pretty bad (Like the adverb? Haha.) Though there is room fro adverbs, try to at least refrain from using the dreaded -ly ones. Really, they are the worst kind. Have no fear, these are an easy fix. Just hit that DELETE key and all is well again.

Well, there you have it. Two ways to improve your writing. Just try it, I bet you will smile by the end of a paragraph. And, really, you should read ON WRITING. It's a life changer.

What makes a good book?

This is something I often contemplate. What elements does a good book have? What about a great book? What is it about the book I read that has me squealing, crying, or throwing the book across the room?

The answer is emotion, of course. If an author can successfully make a reader feel the emotion in a book than they have written a good book. I remember the only two books I have ever cried while reading: The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton and Searching for David's Heart by Cherie Bennett. The first I read in high school the second in sixth grade. I'm not saying I never read other books that have made me sad, happy, angry, ect. I'm saying these ones were especially powerful and really got to me.

So, how do you make a scene especially powerful and emotional? I think there are three main elements.

First, you need to learn pacing. Pacing can be effective with emotion in your novel. If you are dropping hints of an illness, slowly building onto two characters' relationship, or have kept the plot tense, you are successfully pacing. Jamming everything together can be disastrous. No one wants to read two characters meeting on one page, be TOLD they grew together in the next page, then kiss by page three. When the reader gets to watch the relationship grow, that is is how they become connected to the story.

Two, give your characters life. If you're characters are boring, dull, lifeless, flat, 2D, then you need to spice them up. Quirks and pet peeves are great ways to make your character memorable. By making your characters, especially your MAIN character interesting (and likable or not, depending on your novel) the reader can connect and therefore feel for that character when something tragic or wonderful happens. Also, playing off this, do NOT make your characters perfect. Everyone has flaws, readers love being able to relate to characters.

Three, write your ass off. Not only should you be putting your own emotion into these gripping scenes, but you need to be writing them with precision. Double check your grammar, your punctuation, any typos? Fix them. Does it make sense? Is it confusing?If your reader has to pause and re-read a line or two, the emotional charge of the scene is lost.

So, now that you know these three secrets (they were never really secrets, by the way) you can now write a kick ass book.

Writer Wednesday

This Wednesday, I have YA author Julia Forster on my blog. Julia is the author of SHADOW JUMPER and a member on Authonomy - a writing site ran and owned by the publisher Harper Collins. You can find Julia on Authonomy and read more of SHADOW JUMPER.



Confined to the shadows because of a rare skin allergy, Jack needs help from his missing dad before it's too late.

Jack Phillips’ allergy to sunlight confines him to the shadows, leaving him bored, lonely and at risk of life-threatening burns every time he steps outside. Now his skin condition has gone berserk and only his missing scientist dad can help him. Desperate to find him, Jack and his new friend, Beth, embark on a frantic search which leads them to the doors of research facility, Bioscience Discoveries. As he delves into his dad’s past for clues, Jack stumbles across a shocking secret that puts both him and Beth in danger.




Tell us about your main character.


Jack is thirteen and has a debilitating skin condition – he is allergic to sunlight. Every time he goes outside he runs the risk of life-threatening burns. To help alleviate his boredom at being stuck inside during the day, he spends his evenings on the rooftops indulging in a dangerous shadow jumping game. It’s risky, but it helps him forget his troubles and makes him feel alive. He wishes he could be like other kids, but his condition means he spends most of his time alone.


How did you come up with the concept for SHADOW JUMPER?


My dad has an allergy, similar to Jack’s, although perhaps not as extreme! I remember when I was a child, he would have to smear all sorts of oil and lotion on his skin before venturing outside on a sunny day. I thought about how this kind of allergy might affect a child and then I developed the idea that maybe his allergy isn’t as straightforward as it first appears. I wanted to write an adventure story, first and foremost - one that I would have enjoyed reading when I was young. I love the idea of the reader not being able to put a book down because they are so immersed in the story and what will happen next.


What is your favorite part in the book?


A difficult question, but probably the parts where he is on the roofs. Without giving too much away, roofs figure quite heavily later on in the book!


When did you start writing?


I tinkered with writing a little when I was a child, but I spent most of my time reading (I was a real bookworm). I didn’t start writing seriously until about 4 years ago.


Is SHADOW JUMPER your only novel? How many novels have you written?


Shadow Jumper is my first proper novel. I’ve written other stories but nothing that I’d want to show anyone!



In SHADOW JUMPER, you bring very realistic qualities and sub plots into play that are still very interesting to read. Jack is allergic to the sun, Beth is gothic, Jack’s father is never home… How do you go about creating such a vivid world that is still very believable?


I started with a plot outline – what main events happen in each chapter and how they push the story forward. The characters and subplots developed over time and through much re-writing. Getting other writers to read it has helped enormously in fine-tuning various aspects and making sure it stays believable.


What made you want to write Young Adult?


I realised that those are the books I really love to read, so writing one seemed to make sense. Having said that, Shadow Jumper is aimed at a slightly younger age group.


Who are some of your favorite authors?


Off the top of my head: Malorie Blackman, Nick Hornby, Sophie McKenzie and Michael Grant.


What are you currently reading?


I’ve just finished Cracks by Caroline Green.
If you could offer any advice for anyone wanting to write, what would it be?
Write about what interests you, but keep one eye on the market as well. And don’t give up at the first hurdle. Perseverance is key.


Any parting words?


Enjoy yourself!


Excerpt:


The shadows around him were lengthening. Jack checked the laces on his trainers and got to his feet, taking care not to slip on the smooth tiles. He cast a look around him at the familiar spot; he’d chosen the perfect playground to practise his urban acrobatics. The shapes, sizes and corners of the old city roofs were brilliant for what he had in mind.

He examined the complex up-and-down lines created by the different roofs — the steep pitches with terracotta clay ridges along the peaks and the gentler, easy slopes. He studied the distances and angles of the shadows made by the chimneys, searching for where he would place his feet. At last he was ready.

He took a couple of deep breaths, aware of his heart hammering in his chest. He shook his arms out by his sides to relax his tense muscles. Then he jumped, one leg stretched in front of the other, like an athlete soaring over hurdles, his eyes fixed on their target. For a fleeting moment his body filled to bursting with a tingling thrill before he landed with a grunt in a narrow band of shade.

He steadied himself, one hand on the wall of a chimney and looked for his next secure place. Then he was off again, this time scrambling quickly up a steep pitch and sliding down to safety on the other side.

Normally Jack was very cautious. But maybe because he wasn’t concentrating properly, too busy feeling sorry for himself, it all went wrong. One minute he was leaping between shadows along the slanted roof, bouncing off chimney walls and somersaulting over low ledges, and the next minute he found himself flat on his back and slithering downwards at high speed.

He scrabbled about, trying to gain a foothold and stop his relentless descent. A wave of panic swept over him as he slipped towards the guttering, his fingers sliding uselessly off the slates. A sob of fear rose in his throat. He didn’t want to die, but it really did feel like the end. Any second now he was going to plunge off the edge.

“Aaaaah!” he yelled as he came to a sudden stop. His top must have snagged on a nail or something because he was now suspended with his shirt rucked up around his ears and under his chin. His legs dangled over the edge of the roof.

“Calm down,” he said to himself, taking a few deep breaths. “You’re okay.”
His whole body hurt. He felt bruised all over. But he needed to pull himself together. His next move would either save him or create a crumpled, messy heap in the street below. If he could just see what his shirt was caught on.

Shakily, he twisted his head around.

And then he started to scream.