Jamie Lynn Yeager's Blog, page 3
June 11, 2013
June 4, 2013
The Craziness Is Almost Over!
Late last night I sent my manuscript off to my formatter. I can't believe that I am that much closer to actually holding a physical copy of my book. I will be getting Going Home formatted to the Kindle, Smashwords, and Createspace.
I swear that I have read more blogs, and information sites involving publishing your own novel than anyone on the planet! I am grateful for all of those smart people out there who are willing to share their vast knowledge to those who know little about publishing on their own. I hope that after this process, I will be able to help someone else fulfill their dream of writing and publishing their own book. It was extremely hard, but very worth it. And my journey is far from over!
I am now currently trying to get ready for my book launch party, which I am planning on having on June 14th. That date holds a certain significance in my novel, and in my life. The idea of throwing a party where people come to buy my book and talk to me kind of freaks me out! I like to think of myself as more of a reserved person, but it has to be done, I guess.
Hopefully, after the end of next week, things will start to slow down and the stress will ease slightly, so I can enjoy my summer. By then I will have my novel available in multiple places, and I will just have to wait and see if people like it. I get a little nervous every time I think of someone besides family reading my book, but I know I need to get over that, or at least pretend that I am not self-conscious.
Then after all the work is done ... I'll start writing my next novel. So much for a stress free summer. But I wouldn't have it any other way!
I swear that I have read more blogs, and information sites involving publishing your own novel than anyone on the planet! I am grateful for all of those smart people out there who are willing to share their vast knowledge to those who know little about publishing on their own. I hope that after this process, I will be able to help someone else fulfill their dream of writing and publishing their own book. It was extremely hard, but very worth it. And my journey is far from over!
I am now currently trying to get ready for my book launch party, which I am planning on having on June 14th. That date holds a certain significance in my novel, and in my life. The idea of throwing a party where people come to buy my book and talk to me kind of freaks me out! I like to think of myself as more of a reserved person, but it has to be done, I guess.
Hopefully, after the end of next week, things will start to slow down and the stress will ease slightly, so I can enjoy my summer. By then I will have my novel available in multiple places, and I will just have to wait and see if people like it. I get a little nervous every time I think of someone besides family reading my book, but I know I need to get over that, or at least pretend that I am not self-conscious.
Then after all the work is done ... I'll start writing my next novel. So much for a stress free summer. But I wouldn't have it any other way!
March 21, 2013
I'm Done! I'm Done!
That is...I am done with my first draft of the book. I still have a lot of editing to do, but I feel so relieved to have the entire story written out from start to finish. I have had it in my head for four years now and have been writing it for the last two years. It is so nice to get it out of my head and on paper now (or computer to be technically correct).
It was so surreal to finally finish it. I typed the last sentence of my book and instantly felt a wave of emotion. I had done it! I have accomplished one of my life goals that I have had since I was twelve years old. I just wish it hadn't taken me so long to finish. I'll just have to try to convince myself that my older age has made me wiser and given me more experiences in which I could relate to in my writing.
I need to start editing! What I probably will do is relish a few more moments of feeling accomplished before I dig in and cringe as I read grammatical errors and find small holes in my plot. Once again I will try to convince myself that with each proofreading of my story, the better I will be making it.
It was so surreal to finally finish it. I typed the last sentence of my book and instantly felt a wave of emotion. I had done it! I have accomplished one of my life goals that I have had since I was twelve years old. I just wish it hadn't taken me so long to finish. I'll just have to try to convince myself that my older age has made me wiser and given me more experiences in which I could relate to in my writing.
I need to start editing! What I probably will do is relish a few more moments of feeling accomplished before I dig in and cringe as I read grammatical errors and find small holes in my plot. Once again I will try to convince myself that with each proofreading of my story, the better I will be making it.
March 10, 2013
I Can Almost Taste It!
I am so close to being done, that it is driving me completely crazy! I just need to keep myself motivated and hopefully if I can be disciplined enough, within the next three days or so I will be done with my first novel. I am so excited I can barely stand it. I joke with people that know about this endeavor of mine, that I have honestly written this entire book while either holding a baby or listening to one cry. Let's just say I have gotten extremely talented at typing with one hand.
I do need to mention my embarrassing job of posting lately. It has been years, and I am ashamed. Hopefully now I will be posting at least once a week. And hopefully my next post will be a celebratory one. Where I will be treating myself to something, I'm not sure what yet, great in honor of finishing this goal of mine. I would like to thank my husband, Steve. He has been pushing me to finish for these last few months. It has been nice having to answer to someone who at least cares that I finish, especially when I would get discouraged thinking that the end was nowhere in sight.
Now I can see the end clearly and it is taunting me! So I am going to keep pushing on. I only have three more chapters! So, instead of posting something too long, I will cut it short and hopefully use the time I saved to write another chapter. Wish me Luck.
I do need to mention my embarrassing job of posting lately. It has been years, and I am ashamed. Hopefully now I will be posting at least once a week. And hopefully my next post will be a celebratory one. Where I will be treating myself to something, I'm not sure what yet, great in honor of finishing this goal of mine. I would like to thank my husband, Steve. He has been pushing me to finish for these last few months. It has been nice having to answer to someone who at least cares that I finish, especially when I would get discouraged thinking that the end was nowhere in sight.
Now I can see the end clearly and it is taunting me! So I am going to keep pushing on. I only have three more chapters! So, instead of posting something too long, I will cut it short and hopefully use the time I saved to write another chapter. Wish me Luck.
February 20, 2011
We will yet have Miltons and Shakespeares of our own
Lately I have been reading about the Whitney Literary Awards, and have decided to add that to my vision board. One of my goals is to be nominated for this award sometime in my life. You need to be an LDS author to qualify. This award was named after Orson F. Whitney, who was an author and poet. In 1988 he gave a speech entitled, Home Literature, where he said:
"We will yet have Miltons and Shakespeares of our own. God's ammunition is not exhausted. His brightest spirits are held in reserve for the latter times. In God's name and by his help we will build up a literature whose top shall touch heaven, though its foundations may now be low in earth."
By no means do I feel I compare to most authors now or past authors, most times I actually feel inferior and so insignificant. However, I truly feel that I am meant to write this story. I also would hate to hear anyone else say that they feel unqualified or not as talented as someone else. If you have a love for writing, then write. You are one of those "bright spirits" that Orson F. Whitney was talking about. I am one of those "bright spirits", even though I may not feel like it all the time.
I need to focus on my little successes in this journey to help from getting overwhelmed. I am pleased to say that I have completely finished the epilogue and first chapter to my novel, and I am starting chapter two. This chapter is one of the most important chapters to me, where a very special character in the novel is introduced. I just hope that I can do it justice to how I picture it in my head.
Hopefully in the next few days I will be writing about how I have completed chapter two, focus and discipline is the key. And so far things are progressing nicely!
"We will yet have Miltons and Shakespeares of our own. God's ammunition is not exhausted. His brightest spirits are held in reserve for the latter times. In God's name and by his help we will build up a literature whose top shall touch heaven, though its foundations may now be low in earth."
By no means do I feel I compare to most authors now or past authors, most times I actually feel inferior and so insignificant. However, I truly feel that I am meant to write this story. I also would hate to hear anyone else say that they feel unqualified or not as talented as someone else. If you have a love for writing, then write. You are one of those "bright spirits" that Orson F. Whitney was talking about. I am one of those "bright spirits", even though I may not feel like it all the time.
I need to focus on my little successes in this journey to help from getting overwhelmed. I am pleased to say that I have completely finished the epilogue and first chapter to my novel, and I am starting chapter two. This chapter is one of the most important chapters to me, where a very special character in the novel is introduced. I just hope that I can do it justice to how I picture it in my head.
Hopefully in the next few days I will be writing about how I have completed chapter two, focus and discipline is the key. And so far things are progressing nicely!
February 9, 2011
Plotting, plotting, and some more plotting
I just read this amazing quote by Willa Cather, the famed novelist of the early twentieth century that said, "There are only two or three human stories, and they go on repeating themselves as fiercely as if they had never happened before." Stories don't need to be completely original, they just need a little twist, something fresh. I have that!
I believe I am almost done hashing out my plot and creating an outline for my novel. The other day I was cleaning my house and listening to some music (a lot of my inspiration comes while I am listening to music) and all of the sudden a certain part of my plot that had been foggy at best, sorted itself out in my mind. Answers to questions I had been asking myself for the past few weeks came to me. I am so relieved because these few new details have made my original plot more rich and believable, where I feel even more people can related to it.
I have decided to try to listen to music while I am writing certain scenes and planning others to help inspire and create more emotion. I like to visualize my scenes in my head like I were watching a movie, and you can't visualize a movie scene without hearing music play in the background. The music is what creates most of the emotion you are feeling while you watch. So I hope doing this will help with my writing. If anyone is curious as to which songs I was listening to during certain scenes I will be able to tell them. And I am open to any suggestions, whether it be an artist or specific song.
I believe I am almost done hashing out my plot and creating an outline for my novel. The other day I was cleaning my house and listening to some music (a lot of my inspiration comes while I am listening to music) and all of the sudden a certain part of my plot that had been foggy at best, sorted itself out in my mind. Answers to questions I had been asking myself for the past few weeks came to me. I am so relieved because these few new details have made my original plot more rich and believable, where I feel even more people can related to it.
I have decided to try to listen to music while I am writing certain scenes and planning others to help inspire and create more emotion. I like to visualize my scenes in my head like I were watching a movie, and you can't visualize a movie scene without hearing music play in the background. The music is what creates most of the emotion you are feeling while you watch. So I hope doing this will help with my writing. If anyone is curious as to which songs I was listening to during certain scenes I will be able to tell them. And I am open to any suggestions, whether it be an artist or specific song.
February 4, 2011
What a Character
Author Gary L. Blackwood once said, "I can't develop a situation into a plot until I know who the main character is and what he or she is like."
I am so excited because my main character is starting to develop a life and personality of his own, as I am developing what he looks like and how he would act in certain situations, he seems to put himself into predicaments without much effort on my part. He is very complex and kind of a mix of a few people that I am close to in my life, myself included.
My secondary characters are also coming along well. I have a good handle on most of their personalities and how they would react in certain situations except one...this character is going to be more of a struggle for me, mainly because I don't know too many people in my life who has this characters type of personality. Sorry I am being so vague, but I don't want to give away certain characters and plot sequences in my novel. I actually haven't told anyone what my novel is really about. Let's just say...it is a contemporary realistic young adult novel with a twist of fantasy! Maybe as I develop more of the novel and write more about it, I will divulge a few secrets.
One secret is that my novel takes place in Boulder City, Nevada (right next to Hoover Dam).
I am so excited because my main character is starting to develop a life and personality of his own, as I am developing what he looks like and how he would act in certain situations, he seems to put himself into predicaments without much effort on my part. He is very complex and kind of a mix of a few people that I am close to in my life, myself included.
My secondary characters are also coming along well. I have a good handle on most of their personalities and how they would react in certain situations except one...this character is going to be more of a struggle for me, mainly because I don't know too many people in my life who has this characters type of personality. Sorry I am being so vague, but I don't want to give away certain characters and plot sequences in my novel. I actually haven't told anyone what my novel is really about. Let's just say...it is a contemporary realistic young adult novel with a twist of fantasy! Maybe as I develop more of the novel and write more about it, I will divulge a few secrets.
One secret is that my novel takes place in Boulder City, Nevada (right next to Hoover Dam).
February 3, 2011
Writers Write!
Author Ray Bradbury once said, "Find something you love to do, and you will never have to work a day in your life."
I have decided that a realistic writing goal for me, being a mother of three, would be to write five hours a week. Anything extra will just be an added bonus! I am going to steal any spare time I may have, be it during naps, late at night, early in the morning, or any breaks I may have during my work days. I love the quote by award-winning children's author Katherine Paterson, "Success might have come sooner if I'd had a room of my own and fewer children, but I doubt it. For as I look at my writing, it seems to me that the very persons who took away my time and space are the ones who have given me something to say."
I have decided that my biggest critic is going to be myself, so I have decided that I just need to believe in myself. I need to tell myself every chance I get that I will make a career out of my writing and I will accomplish my goals. My brother recently competed in a regional wrestling tournament where he did the best he has ever done, he took first in Region. He kept telling himself that he would win! So...
I will publish a novel!
I will publish a novel!
I will publish a novel!
I have decided that a realistic writing goal for me, being a mother of three, would be to write five hours a week. Anything extra will just be an added bonus! I am going to steal any spare time I may have, be it during naps, late at night, early in the morning, or any breaks I may have during my work days. I love the quote by award-winning children's author Katherine Paterson, "Success might have come sooner if I'd had a room of my own and fewer children, but I doubt it. For as I look at my writing, it seems to me that the very persons who took away my time and space are the ones who have given me something to say."
I have decided that my biggest critic is going to be myself, so I have decided that I just need to believe in myself. I need to tell myself every chance I get that I will make a career out of my writing and I will accomplish my goals. My brother recently competed in a regional wrestling tournament where he did the best he has ever done, he took first in Region. He kept telling himself that he would win! So...
I will publish a novel!
I will publish a novel!
I will publish a novel!
January 30, 2011
My Dream
I have this amazing story in my head.
I need to tell it. I need to write it down. My mind is filled with these unique, one of a kind characters who have their own lives, who make mistakes, who laugh, cry, love, and have a story to tell. I want to tell their story. I feel like I was inspired to write this novel.
One day I was walking to the park with my two year old son and newborn daughter, and this fictional plot started building in my head. The more I thought about it the more excited I got. Most people who know me wouldn't be surprised to hear that ever since I was a young girl I wanted to write. I would write plays, short stories, and write faithfully in my journal. I wanted to be the youngest person to be published (needless to say, that didn't happen), however I was and am still focused on accomplishing my goal of writing young adult fiction.
This blog will be my outlet where I can share my triumphs and (hopefully few) defeats as I start writing. I am new at this and realize I may not fully comprehend the road that is ahead of me, but I will find out soon enough. By starting this blog I am, in a way, forcing myself not to give up, it is not an option. How can I allow myself not to accomplish my dream? It will be hard to disappoint myself, it will be even harder to disappoint my friends, family, and people I have never met.
This story means a lot to me, and I can honestly say that it will be the most important novel I will ever write. I owe it to somebody very important in my life, it is whom the novel will be dedicated to. I truly feel that writing it will change my life, I would like to also believe that those who read it will experience something magical.
I need to tell it. I need to write it down. My mind is filled with these unique, one of a kind characters who have their own lives, who make mistakes, who laugh, cry, love, and have a story to tell. I want to tell their story. I feel like I was inspired to write this novel.
One day I was walking to the park with my two year old son and newborn daughter, and this fictional plot started building in my head. The more I thought about it the more excited I got. Most people who know me wouldn't be surprised to hear that ever since I was a young girl I wanted to write. I would write plays, short stories, and write faithfully in my journal. I wanted to be the youngest person to be published (needless to say, that didn't happen), however I was and am still focused on accomplishing my goal of writing young adult fiction.
This blog will be my outlet where I can share my triumphs and (hopefully few) defeats as I start writing. I am new at this and realize I may not fully comprehend the road that is ahead of me, but I will find out soon enough. By starting this blog I am, in a way, forcing myself not to give up, it is not an option. How can I allow myself not to accomplish my dream? It will be hard to disappoint myself, it will be even harder to disappoint my friends, family, and people I have never met.
This story means a lot to me, and I can honestly say that it will be the most important novel I will ever write. I owe it to somebody very important in my life, it is whom the novel will be dedicated to. I truly feel that writing it will change my life, I would like to also believe that those who read it will experience something magical.
