Ann Benjamin's Blog, page 238
July 22, 2017
On the topic of abandoning books.
This infographic stuck out to me recently. For the longest time, I felt the responsibility (for lack of a better word) to finish any book I started (no matter how bad it was). And then, in the last year, with a few exceptions, I sort of changed my outlook. While I haven’t had the luxury of a library in close to ten years, I have been able to source free books through NetGalley, or daily Kindle deals. (I’ll also admit that I’m a bit of a moody reader, and sometimes need to be in the right frame of mind to start and connect with a book).
Now, I tend to follow a pattern of giving a book at least 20% and if I’m more or less ‘checking out,’ then I pop over to Goodreads to see what others think. I’m not sure why I seek out opinions, but for the most part, I usually find a reviewer who has the same impression I do (and then decide if I’m going to finish the book or skim it, or straight up ‘hate read’ — much like a ‘hate watch’).
So, are you a finisher? Do you complete any book you start? If not, what makes you put a book down? For me, my biggest turn off is a lack of connection with the main character. If I’m not engaged or straight up don’t care about their story, I just won’t read on. Similarly, if a trope is played too hard, I also find that fairly off-putting.
The Queen of England: Coronation, book trailer
True story, I started this probably at some point in 2016, then scrapped it, then started it again. Hubs added some final touches today and I’m happy with the finished product. Feedback is always welcome (and feel free to share with anyone who you think might enjoy)!
The good and bad of The Queen of England: Coronation.
First of all, the book is finished! Like, really and truly done. I’ve sent it off to be formatted, which means publishing is imminent (I’m thinking August 1st, as I’ll be away at the end of next week and believe that it’s rude to my book to press ‘publish’ and then dash off to Amsterdam to ignore it for 5 days).
As I read through the Queen, I realize I wanted to complete a bit of mindfulness/reflection. Throughout the process, I don’t think I’ve been as fair as I could’ve been to myself (or my book). So, I’ve been writing novels since roughly 2004 or so. And, let’s face it, my first efforts were a bit basic. When I started the Queen, I specifically wanted to take on certain specific challenges. Was I successful? I guess only time will tell.
So, as someone who literally just finished reading this manuscript, what’s good? What’s not-so-good?
Diversity! When I started a book set in Victorian England, I knew this topic was going to be an uphill battle, however, I tried my best. I’ve included a bi-racial prince, a young man with a disability (not that it slows him down in the slightest), a gay character, and a female love interest for my female protagonist. Now, I realize I do not deserve any awards for adding these elements, but it was important for me to a least try and include something more obvious than a bunch of straight white people running around. Future books will see other important characters of different backgrounds.
All the ladies! While probably not entirely in line with historical accuracy, I wanted women to have positions of power (besides the obvious Queen of England). Women of all ages drive much of the trilogy, and that was something I consciously decided on. Don’t worry, the lads have their time, but women are mainly driving the (omni)bus.
It moves. If there is a hallmark of my novels, it’s that they read ‘fast.’ I started reading my book on Wednesday (sent to my Kindle), and at close to 80,000 words (yes, a few too many for traditional YA, but that’s the beauty of self-publishing), I’m already 45% through (and this is having to stop every few pages for the most minor of changes). While I’m sure there’s a subplot of two I could’ve tightened up, I think it would be easy to read this book in a day or two.
Growth. I’d like to believe there is some development in a few of the characters (most especially the protagonist). At a minimum, Queen Juliette is not the same person she is at the start of the book.
It’s engaging. I think the book pulls an audience in. Hopefully, it maintains their interest.
There are a few funny and memorable lines. As an author, it’s always fun to stumble over a sentence and be all, “I wrote this?”
Now, certainly no book is perfect, and here’s what I think still needs work (even though I am totes going to get this thing published because enough already).
I wish more of my scenes passed the Bechdel test. Even as hyper-aware as I am of it, and as much as I’ve tried to include women (of all ages and backgrounds), there are a number of scenes which don’t pass… At least in this book. In Books 2 and 3 I do much better. My defense — if I have any — lies in the fact that the Queen is mainly surrounded by men, such that when she is around other young women she has to get a few things off her chest. I really can’t blame her.
I still love adverbs. My undying love of many words that end in -ly can be seen as weak writing, but I can accept this fate. Let’s just call it ‘my style.’
I will forever need work on my physical descriptions of characters. Forever and ever. It’s tough because I can picture them so well, but I guess readers can’t really see into my brain. #authorproblems
More steampunk elements. Having read a great deal of steampunk literature in the past two years, I know it can be done very well and that it can be quite distracting. While my novel actually qualifies more as gaslamp fantasy, steampunk is a much more broadly known and accepted term. I already fear the Goodreads reviews of ‘THIS ISN’T STEAMPUNK.’ While I do love the world building of some authors, for me, I feel the novel has a good balance of some alternate history, steampunk-ish details, and the supernatural.
Phew. Okay, I’ll take today off and get cracking on editing Book #2 tomorrow!
July 12, 2017
Week by numbers.
Look at me! Semi-regular posting!
It was a busy week and I’ve managed to accomplish quite a bit:
1, completed synopsis (putting the book into treatment form is something I like to do before publishing…I still need the one-page version, but at 10 pages, I’m happy with the current version, which helped me realize a missing beat or two).
1, completed novel (it’s on my Kindle and I’m reading it for any final fixes and spoiler alert, I’m totally falling back in love with my book — it’s going to be available just as soon as I can finish reading and get my formatter to finalize things)
1, Facebook group started for my YA name, Courtney Brandt
1, book trailer for the Queen (almost complete — don’t worry, I’ll share it with you when it’s done)
1, website refresh and migration to new host (nearly complete)
1, sister arriving from the States (in less than 12 hours)
July 10, 2017
‘Cooking’ a book.
I do love Chuck Wendig’s insights. When I stumbled across on this (semi) recent post, it rang completely true with me. For example, I currently have two novels which are ‘cooking’ — one, The Queen of England: Ascension (still not sure about this title, but I’m getting there) and two, A.U., an unwritten adult contemporary novel I would publish as Ann Benjamin. These two projects are in very different stages of the writing process. Book 3 of my trilogy is a finished rough draft (completed in May 2017). I haven’t thought that much about it since the end of May. I don’t plan on thinking about it again until maybe August, or even later. I could look at it now, but I would rather push forward for the second draft of Book 2 (it just makes sense to go chronologically). Does it mean I love Book 3 any less? It does not. Am I procrastinating a bit? Sure, but I’ve got plenty on my plate at the moment and am happy to let the book more or less exist in my outer consciousness for awhile.
A.U. (working title) is an idea I came up with last year. Like two other books, it’s really just floating around in my head. I’ve verbalized the plot to a few people (who showed interest), but that’s as far as the process has moved. I’ve managed to start pulling a few titles I need to read as research, and have thought of what the first chapter might sound like, but not too much more. Although, funnily enough, I can already picture exactly what the cover of the book is going to be. When will I start this one? I do think I’ll get going at some point in 2017. Perhaps, even, my first attempt at NaNoWriMo.
Mr. Wendig reveals that he’s had a project simmering for 3 years, which seems entirely fair. Sometimes life gets in the way. Sometimes characters get in the way. Or, as Elizabeth Gilbert explained once, sometimes ideas/creative energy are meant for other authors. As entertained/successful as I want to keep my muse, I have to respect that ideas I have and have done nothing with might go back into the ether (including, but certainly not limited to the Count of Monte Cristo project, an adaptation I’ve had since roughly 2002).
Stephen King, in ‘On Writing’ uses the ‘put it in a drawer’ analogy for this theory. Although I see other authors pushing out books with frightening speed, for me, I need books to go in the imaginary drawer (be it Google Drives or somewhere in my brain) for a certain amount of time. I usually know when it’s time to come out.
[image error] (I totes look like this when I’m cooking (or writing)).
How long do you ‘cook’ creative projects for? Do have one longer than 15 years? Please make me feel better.
On being precious, or, a bad case of fear and the ‘what ifs?’
As you are probably aware, I have a completed book ready to publish (actually, I have four that are finished and awaiting further editing, but I digress). While I thought The Queen of England: Coronation was done previously, now I think it’s ready. While I’m not 100% enamored with the cover, I do believe that it’s good enough to get the job done. The real problem? This is what I’ve been working on since I left the ‘real world’ last year. This is THE thing I said I was going to do. This is more than my other books, all of which were written, edited, and published while I was working full time. In my mind, there has always been so much more pressure on the Queen trilogy.
It’s not a big secret that I’ve always wanted to support myself through my writing. Not wildly successful, but enough that would justify this break I’m having with traditional employment. I want to be proud of myself when I log into my Amazon author page and see there are plenty of pages read and books bought. I want to see reviews (good or bad). I would love to see fan art or fan fiction (yes, really). I want to see people add my book on Goodreads. I don’t care about awards, but I do want Juliette to find an audience with someone (I think she deserves that much). I’ve read plenty of YA to know where I fit into the pack, but I also know I am not the worst (nor am I the best). I am someone who, on paper, should have some success. But…
What if I don’t?
What if it fails?
What if it fails epically?
What if no one buys it?
What if people hate it?
What if I’ve been wasting my time?
Do I deserve to call myself an author if no one reads my stuff?
What if the money I’ve put towards editors, etc. have been for nothing?
Yes, of course, I was always going to write this book, but what if writing (for me) will never amount to more than an (expensive) hobby? What then? Will that be enough for me?
At what point do I say, ‘no one wants to read what you’re writing, so just stop it already?’ (Probably my biggest fear).
The worst part is, of course, there are no answers to any of these questions. I won’t know until I publish, but until I publish, then they are not possible. I have Schrodinger’s manuscript at the moment (if you will).
I still can’t pick a specific day to publish, but I think it will be this month. I’m not sure if I will feel relief or disappointment or (what I’m really hoping for) motivation to continue on and be excited about publishing the remainder of the series.
July 9, 2017
Locations I Need to Visit in England (Book 1).
It occurs to me that in a perfect life, I’d have some sort of unlimited travel budget in which to complete research for my novels (and eat at the best restaurants in the world). Honestly, I did try to visit Socotra earlier in the year (and was unfortunately turned back by bureaucracy upon reaching Salalah). While Ayah and my Fates project will have to wait for now (not to worry, as the project hasn’t gone anywhere in years), my adventures with Queen Juliette cover a unique cross section of geography. Although I don’t think I will be able to make it to England, I decided to put together a hypothetical list of my travel plans for the manuscript.
Marginal spoilers ahead (nothing specifically related to the plot).
Buckingham Palace
While I’ve seen the outside of this famous building once or twice, areas of the interior are open throughout certain parts of the year, and I would love to coordinate a trip to tour some of the locations that are not usually accessed. In the meantime, there is a lot of rich content online that did help me at least get an idea of how things look (of course, there is a bit of poetic license, but for the most part, I tried my best to aim for historical accuracy).
2. Westminster Abbey
Sounds a bit like I’m doing a regular tour of London, aren’t I? Well, as it would come as no surprise given the Queen of England is attending her coronation, I would love a walk through of the space. Fortunately, this is a location well covered on the interwebs.
3. London Bridge
I told you this was a historical tour, did I not? Well, I don’t want to spoil too much of my novel, but I will say that perhaps this structure gets a bit of a rehabilitation at some point during the book (and no, I’m not confusing it with Tower Bridge, which was completed well after the events of The Queen of England: Coronation).
4. Royal Opera House
Not a spoiler, but the climax of the novel takes place here (with a few steampunk type embellishments on my part). As with above (and my writing in general), I’d love a few more details to make the space seem more realistic.
5. Langley Castle
A quick stop for Queen Juliette and her crew on their way to recover something of historical importance, but on the list all the same. Even if the total in the novel would add up to about two sentences, at least those words would be based on actual experience.
6. Tadcaster (upon the River Wharfe)
A (real) location I chose purely for the whimsical name. Google Maps, thank you for all that you do.
7. Old Haydon Bridge
A significant venue, and probably the place I’d most like to visit on this list (no, there’s nothing super special here, but in the course of the book, it matters). #vaguereasonisvague
8. Magna Carta Island
No spoilers here, but it’s a place of relative historical importance both in reality and the manuscript (and such a stroke of luck for me to find).
9. Readymeade
A waystation, but an important stopping point in our heroine’s journey, as she struggles with some difficult choices.
10. Red House
Another location that was a bit of a serendipitous find, and a place that acts as a safe house for some of the main characters during a difficult time.
11. Mayfair District
Home to the Queen’s former townhome, but also a fashionable destination for a ball early in the novel.
12. Arthur’s Seat
While not explicitly in any of the books, for a while I considered making the location an important place. Now, with all my research about Arthur and Excalibur, it’s more an homage I would like to make.
Books 2 and 3 have their own set of locations that I would love to explore, and I hope to share them with you at a later date!
July 5, 2017
My Idea (redone by someone else and coming to HBO this month).
The Duplass brothers’ new HBO show Room 104 is an anthology that tracks a new set of guests in the titular room each week.
(Where have I heard this idea before?)
While it’s been said that there are no original ideas, now and then, there are some instances of similarity that land just a bit too close for comfort. Enter, Room 104, a television comedy by the Duplass Brothers (set to air on HBO later in the month). Now, from the trailer, it’s obvious the tone is quite different to my book, Room 702. Clearly, there are entirely different stories happening in their room vs. my room, but the concept of one room being the location for many stories is nearly identical (even if the rooms themselves are quite different). Now, I think it needs to be said that I did research the subject before I set out to write my book. In research for any of my novels, I read tons of similarly themed books (my current list of novels about Queen Victoria is massive). As with Life After Joe (where I depressingly read book after book about widows), with 702, I threw myself into the world of hotels (including fiction, behind the scenes, new books, older books, blogs about hotels, and other articles on the subject). I did this because I didn’t want to write a book that had already been written. I wanted the voice and story of the suite at the Winchester to be a new one.
So, as much as I would like to claim any sort of ownership to the television series, it would be nearly impossible to prove that either of the Duplass’s read my book (and therefore have some sort of instance of infringing on my intellectual property).
I’m mostly bummed because I always thought my book would make a good series. Now, in some way, I guess I’m right. I just wish it was my adaptation rather than theirs. Or, that I had been able to work some part of my story into theirs.
Will I watch this series? Probably, mostly out of morbid curiosity (and that James Van Der Beek is in it). And will I be frustrated if the stories start to overlap like they do in my book? You bet. Do I wish the Duplass Brothers success in this endeavor? Well, I’m not sure if I’m ready to be the bigger person here just yet…
What would you do in this situation?
June 1, 2017
Mid-summer hibernation.
I’ve been enjoying a low-key week. I kept my food reviews limited to two and with the trilogy done (well, on paper at least), focused on some other projects that don’t usually get a lot of love… Oh yeah, and packing! I’m off to Australia tomorrow.
May 25, 2017
Week by numbers.
Yes! I’m alive. And I have numbers!
65,403, words. The rough draft of the third book in The Queen of England trilogy is complete. As with the two previous books, I imagine the final / next draft will come in around 70K, but this is a great place to start. Now that the third book is officially over, I’m in the process of gathering my notes (spread across two notebooks, Pinterest and my Kindle) to put together the strongest stories possible. Of course, this book will be ‘in the drawer’ until July at the very earliest (and probably longer).
189, pages. In case you wondered what that looks like exactly.
1 (of 2) visas we have in place for a country we’re going to in less than a week. Stressville, population Hubs and myself. If you have any sway with the travel gods, please call in a favor.
57, points (so far) I need to include in book #2. I’ve gone super nerdy and have constructed a Google doc that includes the books and columns for each and all the details I’ve missed including or need to consider.
2, number of spin classes I did this week. Yay for getting back on the bike!
1, number of filmed spots I did for the Entertainer (talking about — you guessed it — food!). I’ll let you know when the video is ready. [image error]
