Gabe Cole Novoa's Blog, page 23

Vlog: On Writing Distinctive POVs

You asked, I answered: today I'm talking how to write distinctive POVs, especially when working on multi-POV novels.



RELATED LINKS: 

How to Choose POV Characters (vlog)How to Write Multi-POVs (vlog)5 Dual-POV Writing TipsHow to Write Deep POVHow to Differentiate Your POVsHow to Write Description Through Character

Do you find it challenging to differentiate your POVs?
Twitter-sized bite: 

Author @Ava_Jae vlogs on writing distinctive POVs, especially when writing multi-POV novels. (Click to tweet)

About Those Online Relationships

Photo credit: benowhere 3.0 on FlickrSo this April, I'll have been on Twitter for six years. It's kind of amazing to think about how much has changed in those years, both in myself as a person, and in my career stuff, and in, well, the world.

Given I've been online for so long, it kind of goes without saying I've made a lot of online friends along the way. And when I think about relationships in my life, it's not really surprising that I consider many people who I've met on Twitter friends.

Though the stigma about online relationships seems to be slowly fading out as meeting people online becomes the norm, there's still a pretty big crowd of skeptics out there who roll their eyes at the mention of online friends. I've heard every argument against the validity of online relationships—the claim that people are fake online, that you can't really have a relationship if you haven't met them (?), that it's not real, dangerous, not the same, etc.

Almost six years into this, though, I'm more sure than ever that online relationships can be as real and rewarding as in-person relationships. The many people who I met online and have since met in person have been equally wonderful in person, and there was something kind of comforting of knowing you've already skipped the awkward "getting to know you" stage by the time you've met. For an introvert, online spaces where you can make friends—and better, where you can make them based off mutual pre-established interests—are gold. They cut out the social anxiety that keeps many of us silent in person and smothers conversations before they have a chance to bloom.

It's online where I've been able to talk about things people in my real life surroundings wouldn't understand. It's online where I've been able to connect to a community of like-minded individuals I haven't found in my everyday life. It's online where I've made some truly wonderful friends who I'll always be grateful for.

While online relationships certainly shouldn't replace your real life friends and interactions, they're certainly wonderful to have, especially if you don't have a wide community of like-minded people in your everyday life. I love my online friends, and I'm very grateful to have them. :)

What do you think? 

Twitter-sized bite:

Are online friendships valid? @Ava_Jae shares her thoughts on why they're so important. (Click to tweet)

How to Write a Synopsis

Photo credit: Rsms on FlickrSo this blog is turning six years old this year, and I've realized all this time I've managed to avoid writing a post on how to write a synopsis. Sure, I wrote a joke post about writing a synopsis, which was really more like agonizing over writing a synopsis, and I wrote about a new thing I've been doing that's saved me a lot of pain, namely, writing the synopsis before writing the first draft, but there are still times when you and I will have to write synopses for manuscripts we've already written, and, well. It's not easy.
I'd be remiss if I talked about synopsis writing without pointing you to Susan Dennard's excellent post on writing a one-page synopsis, which I reference when writing my own post-manuscript synopses. I'm not going to reiterate everything she says, and there are a lot of important points in there, so take the time to look it over.

But let's say you know the basics about putting down the main plot points and making sure you cover all the important events from beginning to end (yes, that means giving away the end) and you're still struggling. Because condensing your book into a synopsis? Is really hard.

The way I usually go about it when I have to write a synopsis after writing the full manuscript, is to not worry about the length at first. I go through and explain the major plot points, trying to keep each point no more than a sentence or two. If you're a plotter like I am, it helps to have your outline out next to you while you do this—both because chances are likely you already condensed the main plot points into a sentence or two for your outline, and because it's easier to decide what's vital to mention and what isn't when you have the whole outline in front of you.

Then I write. I cover the main conflict and plot, the important plot twists, briefly mention any romantic entanglements when relevant (although, if it's not a huge part of the plot, then I gloss over that), and make sure the core of the story is explained.

When I reach the end of this initial synopsis, it's usually way too long—like, eight to fifteen pages when it should really be no more than three or so. But that's okay; for me, at least, it's much easier to cut than it is to add, which brings me to my next step: condensing.

This is also a good time to make sure you've formatted your synopsis correctly. A synopsis should be single-spaced, Times New Roman point 12, regular margins, etc. I mention this now because in the past I've accidentally had the wrong font, done a bunch of work condensing, thought I was done—then realized the font was wrong and when I changed it still had half a page left to cut. So to save you that agony, make sure you've formatted correctly from the beginning.

Back to condensing! So this is where you need to ask yourself what is vital to cover and what isn't. Oftentimes, when you think about it, you'll find you've mentioned scenes you could breeze over with half a sentence or cut altogether, so that's the first area you'll want to cut. Once you've gone through and made sure every scene you mention is absolutely vital to understanding the plot, you'll then want to take a look at your word choice.

Ask yourself if that scene you described in three sentences could be described in one, or if you could mash those two scenes together into the same sentence. Then when you're done with that, it'll be time to condense your language. For a list of words and phrases to look out for, check out my two line editing posts, How to Condense Without Losing Anything Useful and How to Make Cuts Without Losing Anything Useful.

In the end, how long should your synopsis be? I aim for one to three pages, generally, but guidelines vary situation to situation and agent to agent. If you're querying, it's a good idea to have a one page synopsis and a two-or-three page synopsis ready, because a lot of it comes down to preference. There are situations where longer synopses are okay, too (especially if your manuscript is super long), but in general, shorter is better.

With all those steps in mind, the synopsis is yours to master. Here's hoping you won't have to do another one for a while. ;)

How do you tackle writing a synopsis? 

Twitter-sized bite:

Struggling to condense your manuscript into a synopsis? @Ava_Jae shares some tips for this dreaded step. (Click to tweet)

You're Doing Just Fine

Photo credit: that.alastair on FlickrI've seen a lot of lamenting in my writerly social media circles about how difficult creative-types have been finding it to get back to their creative work since the election. From writers saying they haven't been able to write a word since, or talking about how difficult it's been to revise, or how slow the words have come, or even how much people's reading habits have taken a hit—it's been hard for a lot of us.

I've also seen some people come down pretty hard on themselves about it, so here's a post for you: you're doing just fine.

Look, everything is hellish right now. The last week and a half of our Bully in Chief has been worse than many of us imagined. Between protests, and phone calls, and keeping informed when every hour there's something new, our political climate is really emotionally draining right now. It's not remotely surprising so many of us have been struggling to make progress.

I've written a post already about self-care in these times, so I'm not going to reiterate that, but I will say this: things are hard, and if you're lagging behind your usual output, know you're not alone.

Some things that I've found helpful in terms of boosting my productivity as of late include:

Not checking Twitter until after I've gotten out of bed and brushed my teeth, etc. Closing Twitter and turning my phone face-down on my desk when I need to focus. Setting concrete tasks I need to accomplish every day and checking them off when I do them. Building in extra time into my expected completion dates/self-determined deadlines. Putting on headphones and listening to lyric-less music (like soundtracks) when working.
But the main point I want to make is this: whether your progress has been stalled, a trickle, or a slog, you're not alone, and you're doing just fine. We're all trying to figure this out together one day at a time. 
Finally, for some encouragement, check out the #WriteYourResistance tag on Twitter. It's beautiful, inspiring, and encouraging—which I think we could all use. 
How have you been handling your creative output since November? 
Twitter-sized bite:

Struggling to get back to your creative work since the election? You're not alone. (Click to tweet)

Vlog: On Writing Flashbacks

Another week, another question! This time I'm talking flashbacks, how to write them, and when to use them.




RELATED LINKS: 

How to Write Without Filtering (vlog)On the Info Dump (vlog)On Writing Dreams and NightmaresOn Writing Flashbacks (blog post version)
Do you use flashbacks?

Twitter-sized bite:

How and when should you use flashbacks? @Ava_Jae shares some tips in today's vlog. #writetip (Click to tweet)

Discussion: Favorite and Least Favorite Parts of Writing a Book

Photo credit: Denise P.S. on FlickrThere are so many steps to writing a book. From idea generation, to plotting (if you plot), to first drafting, to revising, revising, revising, to line edits, then finally whatever the final steps for your manuscript are. And the experience is a little different for everyone—some love first drafting and dread revising, some are most alive when brainstorming but slow down while first drafting, etc.

I've mentioned here several times that revising is my favorite part of working on a book, and that remains true. As fun and exciting as first drafting can be, there's something uniquely satisfying about taking the story you have, pulling it apart, and piecing it back together again with new material to make it even better than you originally imagined.

There is, however, a part of revising that I don't particularly love, and that's the meticulous bit of line edits where you look up words to cut and go through your manuscript, one by one, to see which words will stay and which have to go. While it's definitely an important part of polishing, the meticulous, monotonous (and slowwww) nature of the process tends to get boring very quickly. The rest of the line editing process I generally enjoy, but that search and destroy bit, necessary as it is, not so much.

When the slog is over, however, it's always worth it, because the manuscript reads crisper and more purposeful then before. But let's be real, no one ever said writing a book was easy.

So those are my favorite and least favorite parts of writing a book, now it's your turn: what are you favorite and least favorite parts of writing a book? 

Twitter-sized bite:

What are your favorite and least favorite parts of writing a book? Join the discussion on @Ava_Jae's blog. (Click to tweet)

Fixing the First Page Feature #31

Photo credit: lwpkommunikacio on FlickrThe first month of 2017 is nearly over! And...what a month it's been. Yeesh. But the bright side is the first Fixing the First Page critique of 2017 has finally arrived, so let's do this.

As usual, I'll start by posting the full first 250 excerpt, after which I'll share my overall thoughts, then my redline critique. I encourage you guys to share your own thoughts and critiques in the comments (because I'm one person with one opinion!), as long as it's polite, thoughtful, and constructive. Any rude or mean comments will be unceremoniously deleted.

Here we go! 
Title: A MURDER OF OWLS

Genre/Category: Adult Urban Fantasy/Thriller

First 250 words:

"Jacinta Rose committed her first murder ten years before she was born.

Six months ago, when the memories of her serial killing first returned, she’d thought herself delusional. But now, as she lingers in the rotting heart of the power station, she can’t deny the truth any longer. All her research has brought her here.

Jacinta stands on a web of concrete bridges suspended three stories high. Drab steel walls frame the vast industrial area, barred windows twisting the afternoon light as it spills inside. Only her dark pea coat keeps a gaunt chill at bay. The power station is old and withered, a nest of spiders and memories. From her perch, Jacinta can see where the body landed. In her mind’s eye, she can still see the body. 

The power station had been decades away from being abandoned after Cyclone Briar, the floor a writing mass of bodies and machinery. She’d walked nonchalantly, rolling up the sleeves of her casual black suit. Brown skin and dark curls reflected back at her in the glass windows parallel to the walkway. Despite the gulf of time, she still appeared twenty-five.

The foreman was looking way, didn’t even see the knife she seemed to pull from thin air. It rippled like liquid silver and stabbed into his back once, twice. Rubies of blood fell. Jacinta struck him hard in the neck before the first droplet hit the walkway. The man twisted, muscles spasming. Smiling, she swept his legs out from underneath him, and he fell."

Huh, okay. Well firstly, before I forget I want to say I love the title—it's really cool. But at any rate, this is an interesting opening. Super dark, obviously, though I'm not entirely clear whether this is before an inciting incident or if this is a prologue. The biggest issue I'm having upfront is I'm not connecting to—who I'm assuming is—the protagonist. From my perspective right now she's just a random (immortal?) murderer who killed someone for no reason. As a reader, I need to better understand what's going on here and what the justification is for these violent acts before I'm going to give this protagonist the benefit of the doubt. Especially since she seems to enjoy it.

Secondly, I'm missing the tension and hint of conflict here, because I don't know why the protagonist (or who I'm assuming is the protagonist) is doing this. Of course we can't expect to know everything on the first page, but a hint of that motivation could really help both clue the readers in as to why they should care about what's going on and better understand the protagonist so we don't assume this is just a bloodthirsty killer.

Now for the line edits!

"Jacinta Rose committed her first murder ten years before she was born. Very interesting opening line.

Six months ago, when the memories of her serial killing first returned, she’d thought herself delusional. I'm questioning whether you need this line right here, because right now I'm finding it confusing and it isn't adding any understanding to this scene, for me. But now, as she lingers in the rotting heart of the power station, she can’t deny the truth any longer. What truth? All her research has brought her here.

Jacinta stands on a web of concrete bridges suspended three stories high. Drab steel walls frame the vast industrial area, barred windows twisting the afternoon light as it spills inside. Only her dark pea coat peacoat keeps a gaunt chill at bay. The power station is old and withered, a nest of spiders and memories. From her perch, Jacinta can see where the body landed. It'd be more effective if you replaced this with a description of the body. That way you aren't filtering ("Jacinta can see"), but by describing it the readers know Jacinta can see it. In her mind’s eye, she can still see the body.  Recommending deleting that line because it's basically the same as the previous line.

The power station had been decades away from being abandoned after Cyclone Briar, the floor a writing mass of bodies and machinery. She’d walked nonchalantly, rolling up the sleeves of her casual black suit. Brown skin and dark curls reflected back at her in the glass windows parallel to the walkway. Despite the gulf of time, she still appeared twenty-five. This paragraph is pretty well done. We've got nice description and some important information without info-dumping. 

The foreman was looking away, didn’t even see the knife she seemed to pulled from thin air. It rippled like liquid silver and as she stabbed into his back once, twice. Adjusted because the knife didn't stab him itself—she used the knife to stab him. Rubies of blood fell. Jacinta struck him hard in the neck before the first droplet hit the walkway. The man twisted, muscles spasming. Smiling, she swept his legs out from underneath him, and he fell." Last note: I'm a little confused here about whether this is the body she was looking at near the beginning of the sample and if we've jumped back in time to see what happened or if this is another body.

Okay, so all in all, this is an intriguing opening that leaves me with some hesitant questions. If I saw this in the slush, I'd probably read the next page or so to see where this was going and if I got better insight into the protagonist, but if this turned out to be a prologue or I didn't get what I was looking for, I'd probably pass.

I hope that helps! Thanks for sharing your first 250 with us, Amy!

Twitter-sized bites:

.@Ava_Jae talks character connection, motivation and more in the 31st Fixing the First Page Feature. (Click to tweet)

Changing Social Media Strategies in Changing Times

Photo credit: purity9090 on FlickrSometimes I think back to a year or two ago when my Twitter feed was 98% about books and publishing and everything therein. About a year ago as the election revved up, that slowly started shifting, but the real adjustment came just a couple months before the election.

Now my feed is mostly political with a smattering of book and writing stuff thrown in. Because our world is different.

The other day I talked to a Twitter friend and agent sibling about this necessary shift. We agreed that in this dangerous political climate it sometimes felt weird to tweet book, writing, or publishing stuff at all when there was so much going on. I've taken the tactic of tweeting bookish stuff when it comes up without preamble because unfortunately we are now in the days where there's always something going on. But it does still feel like an odd mix sometimes.

The world is changing and it's on us to make our voices heard. That means calling our representatives and senators about issues that are important to us, and encouraging others to do the same. That means educating ourselves every day, sharing information and fighting disinformation. That means marching when you can, donating to organizations doing the work when you can, supporting journalists, remaining vigilant, and speaking up.

So, yeah, my feed has drastically changed over the last year. And while I'm sad that it's necessary, I don't regret the shift for a second. This is too important.

Some journalists, political activists, and publications I've found incredibly enlightening and helpful to follow in these times include (in no particular order):

Emily Ellsworth (@editoremilye)Celeste P. (@Celeste_pewter)Judd Legum (@JuddLegum)Matt McDermott (@mattmfm)Summer Brennan (@summerbrennan)Christopher Hayes (@chrislhayes)Lauren Duca (@laurenduca)Teen Vogue (@TeenVogue)The Road to 2018 (@Roadto18)
All in all, times are changing and it's up to us to respond appropriately. I'm making a point to stay actively engaged because I can't sit back and do nothing. And it starts with this. 
Have you shifted your social media strategies over the last several months? 
Twitter-sized bite: 

Author @Ava_Jae talks shifting social media feeds in volatile times. Have your social media feeds changed? (Click to tweet)

Vlog: When Should You Try to Get Published?

Today I'm answering another question, this time about when you should try to get published.




RELATED LINKS: 

On Age and Publishing (vlog)Books Written Before Debuts: Stats5 Things to Know Before Getting an Agent (vlog)How to Get an Agent (vlog)How to Get a Book Deal (vlog)How to Get Traditionally Published (vlog)
What do you think?

Twitter-sized bite:

When should you try to get published? Author @Ava_Jae says the answer varies, but don't rush. #vlog #pubtip (Click to tweet)

Fixing the First Page Winner #31!

Photo credit: abakedcreation on FlickrQuick pre-post post to announce the winner of the thirty-first fixing the first page feature giveaway!

*drumroll*

And the thirty-first winner is…



AMY LUKE!


Yay! Congratulations, Amy!

Thanks again to all you lovely entrants! If you didn't win, as always, there will be another fixing the first page giveaway in February, so keep an eye out!