Heather Demetrios's Blog, page 25

Deadlines!

I’m turning 30 tomorrow, which is absolutely terrifying. It’s weird to turn an age that, as a child, you always thought of as old. Does that mean I’m old now? Someone told me you’re as young as you feel – if that’s the case, this is the first age that I actually feel I am. I’ve spent most of my twenties feeling like I was thirty, so I guess time has finally caught up with me. So maybe I’ll hover around “feeling” age thirty well into my blue hair days. At any rate, thirty is a big one because for most of my adult life, I’ve had it as a sort of deadline. There were certain things I wanted to do  by the time I was thirty and I’ve very nearly done most of them: travel, get a book contract, live abroad, go to graduate school (graduating when I’m 31, but close enough), start a theatre company (now defunct, but still!), get married. I didn’t want to have kids until I was in my thirties and that still stands. I wanted to move to New York City – we’re moving there in about six months. If I hadn’t reached my goals, I’m not really sure how I’d feel. I’d probably go through all the valid reasons why things hadn’t worked out and then set a new goal (“By the time I’m forty…”) because who has time for regret? Actually, I think my fear of regret is what pushed me to do all the things I wanted to. This tendency of mine to set deadlines is, I think, a big part of why I was able to do so much in my twenties (that and being super blessed with a wonderful husband and opportunities I will always be grateful for). By having thirty looming over my twenties, I had a serious motivator – a sort of evil life coach yelling at me whenever I slipped away from a goal. Though setting deadlines for yourself can sometimes be unhealthy or unrealistic, I think they’re essential for artists. Let me explain.

Artists often work in a timeless bubble. We lose track of time, lost in worlds of our own creation. We go back in time, studying the masters or recreating lost eras. What we make is often ethereal and timeless because we’re evoking the human spirit, which never goes out of fashion. The goal of much of the work we do is to call to the most ancient part of the human psyche and, because of that, we sometimes get to hang out on the sidelines of the rat race while Time nips at everyone else’s heels. Of course, many of us are dealing with questions of whether or not our work is relevant or, particularly for us YA writers, if it’s falling into or out of a trend. Artists are probably more aware of the market today than ever before and so it is becoming more and more difficult to send Time away when it comes calling. This is where self-imposed deadlines (and real ones from editors and the like) can be a lifesaver.

For me, deadlines have proven to be enormously helpful. I wrote my debut novel in a forced time crunch. I made myself do a tailor-made NaNoWriMo that lasted about six weeks. I wanted to have the first draft of the novel finished by then, in large part because I was applying for the Susan. P. Bloom PEN Discovery Award. I knew part of winning that award was getting a reading from various editors and therefore the work I was submitting had to be in perfect shape for that. So, I wrote under that six-week deadline, finishing the novel in the time I allotted myself and then pushing to perfect the following drafts. By the time I received the award, the novel was completed. Once the ceremony rolled around a month or so later, I had an agent (based on the winning manuscript’s submission). I was hoping that the book would sell before my first residency for my MFA at VCFA and it did. None of that would have been possible without my first deciding that I could and would write that novel under my own deadline.

I tried it again with my second novel, which I just finished this weekend. I knew I wanted the first draft completed by October because I’d have to do revisions on my debut novel when my editor had them and I didn’t want to lose the flow of either work. Creating that deadline for myself allowed me to not only finish a first draft, but have it ready for submission a few months later. I knew I wanted to have what in my mind was the submittable draft by the time I let for my residency this Thursday. I pushed myself to get the second draft completed and then worked hard to finish a third. I gave it to my agent yesterday, two days before I leave for my residency. This was a novel I only had a couple of chapters of in July. Through creating these deadlines, I’m able to stay focused on the work and not get lazy or start other projects when my WIP becomes frustrating. I’m also able to write anywhere from one to two books a year because I’ve been training to do just that.

I had a great talk with my agent yesterday – a sort of New Year’s discussion in which we outlined what my publishing goals were for the year. Again, I set deadlines for myself in order to make sure that I’m able to meet those goals. Some of those deadlines are out of my control – it’s up to my agent and editor once they have my manuscripts. But in being clear about what I want, I think I get a little closer to ensuring that those manuscripts have a fighting chance to get on bookshelves sooner rather than later (and hopefully “later” is a worst-case-scenario…I have to get them purchased first!).

When we give ourselves deadlines, we make a promise to our career and ourselves as artists, but we’re also being self-motivated. Publishing is a sloooooooow business and it can be discouraging sometimes, having to wait around. By creating our own deadlines, we make sure that the work comes first. Slow and steady wins the race and all that. We also instill good habits in ourselves. If you have a deadline, then you need to be sitting at your desk writing every day to meet it. And soon those pages start adding up. Finding contests or residencies, grants or any other outside deadline can also be really helpful. Whether you’re trying to finish a novel or find an agent, try give yourself some deadlines and then work like hell to meet them. Your career might very well depend on it.

Now I need to figure out what I need to do by the time I’m forty…

Untitled

So, my editor and I decided that we need to change the title of my book. I couldn’t agree more. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – I SUCK at book titles. I wish there was a title fairy you could leave saucers of milk out for who would title your book while you slept. Then again, it feels like some serious cheating if you don’t think of the title for your book on your own. Isn’t the title supposed to come out of some sort of mystical, intimate communion with the work? And if you can’t think of a good title, does that mean you haven’t gotten close enough to the heart of your story? Or maybe it means you’re too close.

For my WIP, my advisor for my MFA program at VCFA suggested that it brought Magic Mike to mind. Yikes. Definitely not what I was going for. However, I have to say that nothing I have come up with for my books has been as bad as these hilariously terrible titles compiled by the Huffington Post.

My current title, Streaming, is kinda egh. It’s vague – what’s the book about? It’s a one-word gerund that we only use when talking about watching videos on the Internet, which is not really what my book is centered on, although my main character is in a reality TV show that streams 24/7. And, yes, I do have a line that points to the title, a line, when read, where the reader would go, ah, that’s why it’s called Streaming. But if you saw the book at a store you wouldn’t go, oh, that book sounds so intriguing, I have to buy it.

I came up with something I think is pretty awesome when I was on a plane over Christmas, but I’m not going to unveil it until my editor thinks it’s awesome, too. Apparently, her editorial assistant has compiled a list of title possibilities, so maybe she’ll have something even better. This, I think, is likely – did I mention I’m a bit crap at titling?

There are all kinds of ways a book title is birthed into the world. Sometimes it’s the genesis of a story – the title serves as the inspiration. I have an as-yet-unwritten novel based on the title of my favorite David Bowie song (so, I guess, if the title ends up staying, that means David Bowie made it up for me…damn). Sometimes, the title can be plucked out of the prose – a reference, a line. It might be a snippet of poetry the author feels represents the novel as a whole or maybe their grandmother came up with the title. It could point to theme or be very literal (Emma, War and Peace). Really, this titling business is hard work.

It’s something you have to think about right away, too, because a book doesn’t feel real until you have title for it. You at least need a working title and maybe it fits and maybe it doesn’t and then you change the title so many times that you can’t even remember what it’s called anymore (I have a middle grade that I still refer to by its original title, when the new one bears no resemblance to it). When you have a new work, you find yourself testing the title out. Putting it in the header on your ms, unveiling it for your writer’s group. Or people ask you what you’re working on and  this invaribaly leads to much confused rambling on your part, whereas if you had a title, you might feel like you can put the book into elevator-pitch words.

So, in my quest to become a better titler, I tried to think of some of my favorites – titles that jump out and beg you to read the novel they represent. Seeing some of these, it really shows that the creation of a title is an art form in and of itself:

The Sound and The Fury:

This has to be my number one. Hated the book, but DAMN. In case you didn’t know, Faulkner actually stole this from Shakespeare, but kudos to him for thinking of doing it. It comes from Macbeth: 

Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player

That struts and frets his hour upon the stage

And then is heard no more:

it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,

Signifying nothing.

 

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius: Gotta love Eggers for having the cahones to name his book this. Good thing it paid off.

A Fault In Our Stars: 

Oh, John Green, why do you do everything so well? Like Faulkner, he borrowed from Shakespeare, but made it his own.

The Sun Also Rises

I’m not a Hemingway fan and I haven’t actually read this book, but the title always glows for me.

The Disreputable History of Frankie-Landau Banks: Gotta put some YA love in here for e. lockhart. The title fits the voice of the book to a T and who can resist a book with the word “disreputable” in the title?

Where the Sidewalk Ends: Shel Silversteen’s title has intrigued me since I was a kid. Where is this mysterious land where sidewalks end? What happens when the sidewalk ends? Love it.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Phillip K. Dick is a genius with this title. Haven’t read the book yet (saw Blade Runner, though), but darn if I can’t wait to see what’s between its covers. The question, at first, seems ludicrous. Then it makes you think…hmmm, he’s onto something here. What seems goofy at first suddenly has deep, even sinister implications for our society and the human race as a whole.

The Perks of Being A Wallflower: I didn’t really love this book (I seem to have a running theme here), but the title is what got me to read it when it first came out (and the badass cover design). It felt like it would be introspective and intellectual and maybe even a bit snarky.

The Unbearable Lightness of Being: I love how Kundera makes you feel like you are going to read an IMPORTANT book. You know it’s going to get existential up in here.

The End of the Affair:  The title is so literal, but it works on a very deep level, given the moral implications of the story. It’s so Graham Greene. And the title promises a dramatic story and it’s sexy.

Love in the Time of Cholera: Only Marquez can make a horrible disease sound romantic in the title of this great love story.

1984: It’s not so much the title that’s great, it’s the simplicity of it. That’s part of how Orwell’s book was able to become so iconic. It’s a sound byte Big Brother would have been proud of.

Brave New World:   I love me my dystopia. Isn’t this title so pneumatic?

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: I was trolling the Goodreads best titles list and when I hit on this, I remembered how much I’ve always liked it. The title, that is. The book is wicked crazy (duh, Hunter Thompson). The title is perfect for the book – that sort of self-awareness is what makes a Thompson trip so very unique to him. Also, the word loathing is inherently poetic and the combo of the two emotions suggest an interesting story.

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings: Not only is this the absolutely most perfect title for the struggle of Maya in this book, but it focuses the story on hope and, of course, has her signature poetry.

The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood: The book begs to be read by women. It promises that mysteriousness of a circle of female friends and invites the reader to join them. The combo of “divine” and “secrets” is intriguing, but then throw in Ya-Ya and I’m sold.

 

Okay, I better stop. I know there are more, but these are a few that have always stood out for me. Maybe one day I’ll analyze titles that don’t work, and why. That could be helpful, too. For more book title fun, you can check the list of best titles ever compiled on Goodreads.

What about you? What are your favorite titles? Do you have advice on how to make a great one?

 

 

The Next Big Thing

Recently, I got invited to do a “chain blog” – also referred to as a “blog hop”…but maybe it’s best described as a game of cyber tag among authors. The task: answer the following questions about why your book is going to be The Next Big Thing. And, being so very modest, I got right on board. At the end of the post, you’ll find links to the authors I tagged.

 

What is the working title of your book?

Streaming 

 

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

 

A girl who’s on a reality TV show with her fame-hungry family of fifteen wants to be off the air and out of the public eye.

(Read the longer version here.)

Who is your publisher?

Henry Holt

(Every time I say that, I imagine a foppish man smoking a cigar, glaring at me through a pince nez. I imagine he’s the kind of dude who would go “bunburrying.” Ten points if you get the reference.).

 

When will the book be out?

 Winter 2014

 

Where did the idea come from for the book?

I’ve always been rather horrified by reality TV and after the whole John and Kate Plus Eight fiasco, I started thinking about their kids. What is it like living with cameras on you twenty-four seven? How does it feel to have your tantrums and your parents’ arguments on display for the ENTIRE COUNTRY? Then I started thinking, okay, what about a YA where the girl is on a show like that, but she’s seventeen and dying to be anonymous?

 

What genre does your book fall under?

YA Realism

 

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Oh, man. So hard because I don’t know the names of age-appropriate actors! Also, my protagonist has twelve brothers and sisters, so I’m only going to focus on the two she’s closest to. I’ll do my best…you’ll have to use your imaginations. Good thing I’m not a casting director!

Bonnie™ “Chloe” Baker: Claire Danes circa My So Called Life.  She’s pensive, confused, and her own girl. She’s a watcher, too.

Benton™ Baker: . He’s got the sweet, hot, supportive big brother thing down.

Lexie™ Baker:   would be perfect for Bonnie™’s bitchy sister. I feel skeezy, stealing from the cast a second time. Oh well.

Patrick Sheldon (the loooooove interest): A younger version of with a bit of Kurt Cobain thrown in. He’s a smart rebel, and a dirty, grungy romantic.

Mom: Can I please have     (a.k.a Tami Taylor of Friday Night Lights fame)? Please? I love her. She just wouldn’t be allowed to be so nice and ya’ll-ing.

Chuck Daniels: The show’s head producer – a Hollywood snake. wouldn’t be a bad choice.

 

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

I wrote the first chapter as an assignment for a graduate writing course I was taking at Simmons College (I was briefly a student there before switching to Vermont College of Fine Art’s MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults). Then, I commenced on my own NaNoWriMo that lasted six weeks, from the end of Dec. 2011 – February 2012, when I completed the first draft. I used it as my entry for the PEN New England Discovery contest and I won! I started querying agents in May and signed with Brenda Bowen at SJGA. The next month, my editor, Kate Farrell, bought it. It’s the fastest I’ve ever written anything. The idea itself had only been swimming in my mind for  a few months before I started it. I got really lucky.

 

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

It’s hard to say, because there isn’t anything quite like it. When my agent queried editors, she compared it to e. lockhart’s The Disreputable History of Frankie-Landau Banks, which was SUPER high praise and pretty excellent to be put in the same sentence as one of my favorite writers of all time. It will probably be the only experience I have with that, but I’ll milk it for all it’s worth!

 

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

 

As I said before, the plethora of reality TV shows that feature kids. I really do have a problem with it and I wanted to examine what it would be like for someone going through adolescence on air.

 

What else about the book might pique the reader’s interest?

I have what I like to call “media inserts” – they range from Twitter posts to gossip columns or radio talk show transcripts that give the reader a peek into the media storm that Bonnie™ is in the center of. You’ve probably noticed the ™ symbol after her and her siblings’ names. That’ll be part of it, too.

 

Next week, check out the following writers as they discuss why their work will be The Next Big Thing. 

I personally LOVE both of their ideas for their novels.

 

Brianna Woods-Conklin

 

Kristina Jean Lareau

 

 

The Challenges of Marketing Yourself

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about where to draw the line between self promotion and self aggrandizement. These days, Facebook, blogs, and Twitter make mini celebrities out of everyone – the universe seems to be handing out fifteen minutes of fame willy-nilly. Your little You Tube video about how you fixed your car could suddenly land you a spot on Ellen or that blog you wrote about your parenting woes could turn into a book deal. Nobody knows who’s next in line for the fame game. Even if people aren’t courting fame, the Internet has turned the planet into one big high school, where everyone’s checking up on everyone else, gossiping, and comparing themselves to the popular kids. It’s a whole new way of keeping up with the Joneses. And whether people realize it or not, their posts and status updates are ways of marketing themselves to the world. It’s become so ingrained that many of us don’t even stop to think about whether or not we’re bragging when we post something cool we just bought or get publicly psyched about a luxury vacation. It used to be that the term “networking” was relegated to the business world, but now we’re all networking, all the time.

So the question I’ve been facing isn’t just a writer problem – it’s a human problem. Do we even know the difference between sharing and bragging? Everything’s “Look at Me! Look at Me!” Most people think nothing of posting pictures of things they’ve made, cool things they’re doing, and things they’ve achieved. And this is not necessarily a bad thing. But I’m sure you all have *that* friend who just grates because it feels like every time you look at their Facebook it’s one more status update on their fantabulous life. Or maybe you have a sneaking suspicion that you have become that person.

As a writer, I’m expected to be marketing my work. But it becomes marketing myself. Look at most authors’ websites and blogs and Twitter / Facebook posts. Yes, they speak a lot about their work or their process, but these platforms are also significant spaces where they live out their lives. They post You Tube videos they like, share thoughts on a book they read or concert they attended, talk about the craziness of their busy / awesome writer lives. They are aware that readers want to connect with authors long after they’ve finished reading their book. I know for a fact there are authors I say I like or follow on Twitter that, when it comes down to it, might not have books I love, but they have a great persona. It’s like a dorkier version of US Weekly.

These days, it seems like if you’re not tweeting regularly and posting daily to your Facebook or blog, it’s as if you’re invisible. So, back to my original conundrum: where do we, as writers, draw the line between sharing information and bragging? Or is it all in the execution? Thing is, there aren’t many humble ways to say, “I got a mother f’in book deal, yo!” Does anyone else feel strange having to constantly market yourself? You want to make connections with readers and you want them to get to know you and to read your work and there’s no way to do that without, well, talking about it…a lot. I, for one, can’t wait until my book comes out and I get to engage readers through my blog and social networks. I can’t wait to hear what they think about the book and to answer questions and discuss with them. And I definitely want people to know what’s coming up, whether it’s a new book, a reading, or whatever. But I also know that they’ll be looking at my life – they’ll be curious. Who’s her agent, is she married, how much of this book is autobiographical, who are her writer friends? Etc., etc.

For now, it’s an open question for me, but something I want to be aware of. It can be difficult when your personal and professional worlds collide – close friends might think you’re bragging when you’re really only posting about something to share with potential readers. Although, there will certainly be a lot of people who understand that this is the way the world is now and know that you’re hustling, but in the best kind of way. I do think it’s an important thing to keep in mind. Humility is, after all, a virtue.

Now, please excuse me while I post this to Twitter and Facebook.