K.M. Levis's Blog, page 4

TIPS AND TRICKS TO WIN NANOWRIMO

Here are some tips and tricks to win your first Nanowrimo. In November 2016, I decided to join my first ever National Novel Writing Month (aka Nanowrimo). I’ve heard of it before in hushed irreverent tones around alleys and alcoves (not really). But I never wanted to join because I was too scared to commit to such a hectic schedule.

Eventually I decided to bite the bullet – mainly because there was an idea in my head that wouldn’t leave me. If you’re going to try your first Nanowrimo, or your own month of writing, read up on how I won my first try.

Plan, plan, plan – Before November even hit, I was already writing up the characters in my book. It’s not just about the first and last names. I also created their personalities, quirks, likes and dislikes, background story and more. They were real people before I started writing the first chapter. Even the small characters were full people too. It helped solidify the characters’ interactions with each other.

Plot, plot, plot – I use Scrivener with my writing so plotting was easy using the corkboard feature. I added all the chapters and wrote what happens each chapter. My writing flowed really well because I was looking at the plot points I already created. Having said that, there were moments when I had to add or change what happened in the story and had to rearrange the plot points. Although you’ve plotted, make room for changes because we all know some characters take a life of their own.

Write, write, write – This is a no-brainer but more than just writing, make sure you create a time for you each day to write. I started first thing in the morning. Before I tackled all my other work, I wrote down my chapter for the day. The 1,600 words per day challenge might look really difficult but trust me, they can just fly through when you’re in the zone.

Write even more – Don’t just stick to the allotted number of words each day. If you are in the zone and have more time, keep writing. Trust me this will do you good for the whole month because there will be days when your word count will barely reach 500 words. Having extra words written down will keep you on your word track for the month.

Don’t sweat it – If you don’t reach that word count though, don’t worry about it too much. Writing is fun so enjoy that moment building your world. Even if you don’t “win” Nanowrimo, you still wrote most of your novel so that’s a win.

LESSONS FROM MY PATH TO PUBLICATION

There are many lessons to an author’s path to publication. Getting published is a big thing for writers, we all know that.

But the path to publication is daunting, filled with many hurdles. We need all the help we can get. Mine was just as hard and it took a long time before I got published. But every time I tried, I learned something new.

So here are the things I will always remember from this process. Hopefully, it will help someone else too.

WRITING IS A MARATHON
Doing 20 minutes a day can create a whole novel without overwhelming you. If your life is very busy, give up 20 minutes to do writing. Maybe skip social media or cut back on TV watching. I worked on my novel while I was on a full freelance writing schedule and raising a toddler. It can be done.

GOOD EDITORS AND ASSESSORS ARE ANGELS
I had my manuscript assessed and I also hired an editor. They didn’t just help with my manuscript, they also helped me grow as a writer. It may be expensive but you can put away some money to save up for it. Give something up – a handbag, a pair of shoes. Treat it like a layby and eventually, you’ll have the money to get your manuscript assessed.

LISTEN ONLY TO THOSE WHO MATTER
I had some disheartening feedback about my manuscript and I was so down I didn’t want to do it anymore. But the professional advice I got was very encouraging and put me back on track. Open your ears to constructive criticisms and just ignore the rest of the noise.

JUST KEEP AT IT
So simple isn’t it? But it’s so true especially during trying times. It is a marathon, you need to pace yourself. If you look at it like a giant project, you’ll get too overwhelmed and give up. Bit by bit will get you there too.

KEEP LEARNING
When I decided to work seriously on my fiction writing, I took courses, joined organisations, went to events so I could learn as much as I could. Although I’ve been a writer/journalist for over 14 years, I still update my skills by taking courses and learning from other writers. Never stop educating yourself.

THE BENEFITS OF WRITING WITH SCRIVENER

There are many benefits when writing with Scrivener. I started using Scrivener only last year, before I joined my first Nanowrimo. I have read other writers raving about it and I was intrigued. Of course, I did my research before buying it.

I didn’t need the extra expense and tried the free trial first to see if I liked it. It was magic. I bought the software (it’s a tax deduction too!) and used it for the November writing challenge.

Here are the reasons why I love using Scrivener.

MAJOR ORGANISER
Scrivener allows you to plot your story easily using a virtual corkboard. I’ve plotted before on a notebook, but having everything up there chapter by chapter made it easy for me to change the plots as I went along. If I had to move things around, I only had to copy and paste. It also allowed me to go through all the plot points without having to flip pages around.

There is also a Character section on Scrivener which allows you to create the characters fully before delving into the story. It really helped me when I was doing Nanowrimo because I already created the characters’ traits, attitudes, issues etc before starting the novel. This allowed me to know the characters already and how they reacted to certain situations.

benefits writing using scrivener

RESEARCH AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
I loved the section where you can dump all your research. It made everything so convenient. I had a specific look in mind that I wanted for my characters. I also had an idea about the places, settings etc. All I had to do was Google the images that inspired the look and dragged and dropped them to the photos section on Scrivener. When I needed the inspiration to describe the characters and places, I simply looked at the photos in the folder again. Articles and links can be dropped, too. This was a very handy tool for me as I needed to describe a part of the novel really well and had to refer to the image constantly.

MAKES REVIEWING EASY
With the chapters having their own individual sections, it was easy to flick through the chapters to see any continuity issues. I didn’t have to scroll through the whole book to see what I wrote on the previous chapter. You can also place your plot notes on the sidebar so you can review your plan as you go along. It was easy to remember the characters’ full names too because the sidebar contained all their names, titles etc. If I forgot the physical description of one character, I just click on it and read what I wrote then go back to writing.

When you’re done writing, there is a way to compile your chapters into a manuscript in formats like .doc or .pdf.

I’m sure I’m only using the most basic features of Scrivener but so far it’s working for me. One day I’ll go through the tutorial and see what other features I can use.

Some people might have second thoughts about spending the money for yet another writing app, but Scrivener is a great investment. You won’t regret it.

TIPS FOR WRITERS

My last trip to the Philippines was a great opportunity to meet up with various writers and readers of The Girl Between Two Worlds.

I must admit, it was a bit daunting talking to people about the book and meeting readers who are genuinely invested in the story. There were also moments when I felt a bit like an impostor talking about my writing journey. But then it occurred to me that my writing experiences are valid and I’m sure there are things other writers can learn from it.

I shared some of these things with the students and writers group I met up with. It was quite a productive trip.

READ A LOT
Read in different genres, styles, authors from different countries. It will enhance your own writing skills. Plus, it is also a great pastime. Try taking up a Goodreads challenge one year. It will be fun!

EDUCATE YOURSELF
Never stop learning about the craft. Attend conferences, take online courses (through MOOC or Coursera) and talk to other writers. Education never stops. There are a lot of free online courses out there if you can’t afford it. Or you can save up and make it a priority.

CHOOSE YOUR SUPPORT GROUP WELL
Having good people on your corner is priceless because there will be moments when you feel like you want to give up, or you think your work is crap. You need to have people who believe in you.

PICK YOUR BETA READERS WELL
Just because they’re your relatives doesn’t mean they make great beta readers. Find beta readers in the genre that you are writing – someone clever but also honest about your work.

NEVER GIVE UP
Like what Dory said just keep swimming. It will get hard. It will get frustrating. But if you love the whole process then don’t give up. Just keep going. This isn’t an easy task but it is a fulfilling one.

To everyone who came to see me, thank you so much for your support. You have no idea how much I appreciate it.

ARE YOU A PLOTTER OR PANSTER?

I have been asked a lot about this and I’ve also read a lot of authors discuss their own preference.

To clarify, a plotter is someone who plots the whole book – twists and turns, arcs and all that. Pantsers basically figure things out as they go along. There are many advantages to both ways and it is really up to you what you choose. Personally, I have tried both.

IN MY CASE
My first novel, The Girl Between Two Worlds, was pantsing all the way. I never plotted the end, never thought of the twists, never thought of the arc even though I already knew it was going to be more than one book. That was quite a risk for me because if you don’t plan a series, there is a risk you will miss some things. But that was how it ended up and so I went with the flow. It was my first novel too so I wasn’t familiar about the best plotting technique.

Book two was a different matter. I plotted it two years before the first book was even released. I knew the start, the middle and the end. But it did not work out that way. When I started writing book two, I followed through with the first half of the plotting. But then there came a point when my character changed, new characters were introduced and the events escalated.

It wasn’t a deliberate thing for me to do. It just kind of happened. I had time to think about the book for two whole years and in that time, I wrote down notes on changes I wanted to make. I kept a lot of things from the plot I wrote but the second half of book two was very different from how I initially imagined it.

HOW DIFFERENT?
For one, I decided to make it a duology instead of a trilogy. Yes it is a longer book from the first one but I realised there was no point stretching it to a trilogy. I listened to one lecture about writing YA novels and they said only do a trilogy if it is indeed a trilogy. But don’t do it if you’re just doing it to have a trilogy. Good point.

But I digress.

I have three other manuscripts that I’m editing aside from book two of The Girl Between Two Worlds. I was panstying in two of those books and plotted the third one. The one I plotted was for Nanowrimo – my first ever attempt. It helped me prepare for the grueling writing month and avoid writer’s block.

Still, I don’t have a favourite. Both worked for me. I just follow whatever feels right in that project. The lesson here is you don’t have to do it the way others do it. Try both and see what works well for you.

Thank you!

Since the release of The Girl Between Two Worlds in July, I’ve had the most amazing responses from people.

First, of course, is the amazing support from family and friends. I was overwhelmed. I mean, we all interact on Facebook, commenting on each other’s posts and trying to keep in touch after all these years. But I was really surprised that they went to find my book on the first week and posted a picture of themselves on social media.

Sometimes you kinda think that we don’t really pay attention much to each other’s posts. But I was wrong. They do pay attention and they supported this great milestone in my life. More than just supported. They shouted on rooftops (metaphorically, of course, I don’t want people falling off because of my book) and they became my passionate ambassadors.

Then there are those I don’t know who are also big fans of my debut novel. At first, I was a bit confused why I was getting a lot of friend requests from people I had no connection with. Then I realised they were readers! Once I replied, I started getting more ‘fan mail’ from people. There were more posts on social media, more direct messages, more interactions.

I am grateful. So very grateful.

Your support, your emails, your social media posts help me be better at what I do. And it makes things much more enjoyable. So much more enjoyable.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

How to be an active writer

When writing stories, we are all told to write active sentences and avoid the passive ones. But I reckon this mentality can also apply to our personal goals as a writer.

Maybe you wake up one day and realise you have a book inside you that you want to release. You are determined to finish it, publish it and make millions, quit your job and retire to an island paradise.

We all know it doesn’t happen that way. But you can control the first part of it – the writing part. So you write and you write and you write. Then finally you have a manuscript ready for publishing. What you do next will determine if you are an active writer or a passive one. Do you sit around and wait for a publisher to see your work? Do you actively go out into the world and learn more about your craft? Or do you just place the manuscript in the bottom drawer and forget about being a writer?

If you are determined to make writing as part of your life, or make writing as your sole job, then there some things you can do to be an active writer.

EDUCATE YOURSELF
When I moved from journalism writing to fiction writing I found there was a lot more to learn than I first imagined. Since journalism writing is my day job, I decided to take a refresher course to sharpen my skills a bit more. Also, it turns out there are a lot of changes in the industry since I first started. I also took classes online and joined seminars and conferences to learn more about the world of fiction writing. There is so much to know about this industry. Staying home and not doing anything really isn’t an option.

PICK THE RIGHT EVENTS
Just because there is a writing festival doesn’t mean you should buy all the tickets to all the events. You’d end up in debt. I learned this a long time ago. It is best to go through the program and read what it is about then think of whether or not this will help you with your writing. Having said that, consider seminars on marketing too. The industry has changed. Today, authors are expected to know how to market themselves. Going to these events will help give you a clearer expectation on what the industry is really like.

BE BOLD AND CONNECT
Everyone says that by nature, writers are shy little creatures. We write on our own and suffer in silence. We retreat to our hidey-holes. But this won’t help you with writing or marketing your book. Find your courage and meet the people on the panel during events. Talk to other writers. Talk to that author you read a lot and tell them about it. Also, when you finish a book and you really love it, tweet that author or leave a comment on their Facebook page. Email them even. You never know when a tweet or a comment will lead to a piece of advice that could help you.

Put yourself out there. No one will be able to do it for you but yourself.

HAS WRITING FICTION ALWAYS BEEN THE END GOAL FOR YOU?

Here is my answer to an interview question “Has writing fiction always been the end goal for you?”

ANSWER:
For a very long time I never saw myself as ever writing fiction. I was trained as a journalist. I’ve done TV, radio, online, print and photography. Fiction was something I like to read but never really thought of writing.

Not to say I never dabbled in fiction. When I was in uni, I wrote a short story and sent it to a creative writing professor. He said it had potential. But I never did anything with it.

Then years later, I had a daughter and went on maternity leave. I started to think of all the stories my mother told us as kids. We couldn’t afford books that much so Mama would make up stories for us. I wanted to preserve those stories and so I decided to write a children’s picture book and self publish it.

I guess the bug kinda bit me cause couldn’t stop thinking about these stories I wanted to write. It’s like something clicked in my head and I couldn’t stop. The Girl Between Two Worlds is my first ever novel – I mean it’s the first one I ever wrote in the novel department. It took around five years to get off the ground. It went through so many changes because I was learning in every single draft.

Even now, with the book being published, I still have a lot to learn about the industry. But I never thought I would end up here, and enjoy it immensely.

RESEARCHING YOUR COVER

When I decided to publish books on my own, I wanted some inspiration for the cover. I’m not a designer but I have a good eye for design. So when The Girl Between Two Worlds was picked up by Anvil Publishing, I looked forward to working with the artist to create the cover.

I sent out some concepts I had in mind and they sent me back studies of the cover. What I had in mind were not as good as the ones that the artist came up with. They were amazing.

Even though the designing part was not something I did, I still had to do my homework in this department.

THE STEPS TO A GOOD COVER
First, I went through the covers of my book’s genre and looked at what was out there. It provided me with ideas of what I liked and what I didn’t. It also gave me ideas about what covers were being used a lot.The girl between two worlds

Second, I went through some DIY sites for cover making to see what layouts are available out there. I also wanted to get some idea on the fonts and colours that would suit the book. Canva is a good free site to get into for book covers, including ebooks.

Third, I asked freelance artists for their rates on making book covers. It is a good step so I know how much I need to spend to do it myself (this was before the book was picked up).

When I began discussions on the cover, there were studies that stood out to me more than the others. I learned to compromise with the marketing team when we had differing opinions about which cover should be used. In the end, we ended up with one we were all happy with. I was lucky to have a very talented artist for my book but it does help when authors do their homework as well.

THE SURPRISE OF WRITING

For a very long time I never saw myself as ever writing fiction. I was trained as a journalist. I’ve done TV, radio, online, print and photography. Fiction was something I like to read but never really thought of writing.

Not to say I never dabbled in fiction. When I was in uni, I wrote a short story and sent it to a creative writing professor. He said it had potential. But I never did anything with it.

Then years later, I had a daughter and went on maternity leave. I started to think of all the stories my mother told us as kids. We couldn’t afford books that much so Mama would make up stories for us. I wanted to preserve those stories and so I decided to write a children’s picture book and self publish it.

I guess the bug kinda bit me. I couldn’t stop thinking about these stories I wanted to write. It’s like something clicked in my head and I couldn’t stop. The Girl Between Two Worlds is my first ever novel – I mean it’s the first one I ever wrote in the novel department. It took around five years to get off the ground. It went through so many changes because I was learning in every single draft.

Even now, with my books being published, I still have a lot to learn about the industry. But I never thought I would end up here, and enjoy it immensely.