YA Book Club Not Just For Teens! discussion
Getting To Know Each Other
>
Got a blog?
Mine is http://galeminchew.bravejournal.comOn my way to check out your sites in more detail! KC, congrats on your progress with manuscript 1! Melanie, a fellow author after my own heart...I love the artwork, too! Kayla, can't wait to see what you have in mind for your blog!
~Gale
I'm following all of you and entered two giveaways. Yay!
Natasha, I love your blog and I think it's so great you're supporting ebook authors! Follow! :)Thanks, Gale! I signed up for email notifications on your blog (I didn't see a follow-type function).
Kate, I just started following your blog and hearing that you wrote your first manuscript in about a month was really inspiring. I've always wanted to write a book/story but never really thought I could do it. I'm hoping I can make it happen. I have always wanted to write, but it makes me nervous because what if its not any good? Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get into it more,tips or ideas?
I also just started my blog on book reviews, and if I ever write anything, it will eventually get put up there.
nivenreadwritesreviews@wordpress.com
Hey Niven! That's so nice of you to say. I honestly never EVER thought I could write an entire novel in such a short time. I started out same as you - wanting to write a book, but not really thinking I could do it. The first novel I wrote took me 9-10 months, but I got faster with practice. Plus, when I started writing every day the momentum really carried me. Believe me, if I can do it, anyone who puts their mind to it can do it too. So I guess my main tip would be: write every day.Also, I found this book extremely helpful in terms of creating compelling plots:
Hi Kate! Thanks for the book recommendation. I'm going to see if the library has it tomorrow. I came to realize today writing is almost as good as reading in that theres a story coming your way... but I'm in charge of how it goes! And if I don't like it, I can change it. Which is good right? Where did the inspiration for your novels come from?
Hey Niven! That is so true, and I have to admit it's a little power-trippy. You get to decide the fates of all your characters. They're at your mercy! :)As for the inspiration, hmmm, trying to remember how it happened.... I know I was reading My Blood Approves, by Amanda Hocking, and I got an idea for a story about a bunch of bottles filled with different colored liquids. Magic potions, although at first the main character uses them and doesn't realize they're magic potions. I'm not really sure where the original idea came from, just pulled it out of the ether, I guess. :)
Have you written any short stories? If you don't want to start writing novel, you could play around with shorter pieces. They're good practice and less intimidating than something longer. :)
Kate -I've written a few off and on. Yesterday, I was writing and something totally got a hold of me! I ended up writing the first two "chapters" or sections of whatever the story I'm writing is. I got a copy of the book you recommended about writing. I'm interested to read it, looks insightful. I told my mom this morning I was writing, and she asked what it was about and all I could come up with was "I don't know, but its writing itself at this point" :) Thanks for all your advice and recommendations so far.
Have you thought of the second or third book yet of your series? I loved the quote you put on your blog about the petite fours and their popularity. Gave a good taste of something more to come.
Hi Niven,Sorry to interrupt! You wrote: "I don't know, but it's writing itself at this point". I had the same experience at some points of my book! I wrote my novel over the span of several months, depending on the amount of time I could devote to writing at any given time. You will find that at certain times, more than others, the creativity and inspiration will flow like a fast moving current. Seize those moments! They will carry you farther into your storyline...then you can go back and add in details and subplots, if necessary.
I wish you great success!
~Gale
Please feel free to interrupt! I appreciate any advice or input I can get. Its so nice to hear that other writers struggle with it sometimes. I guess we're all just so caught up in how perfect it should be that we can forget it doesn't always have to be. Whats the name of your book? And are you working on another project currently?
My debut novel is Shadows of Destiny. I'm on chapter 3 of the sequel, but I may change directions and hold these 3 chapters for book 3.Perfection can be tricky. There are so many ways to make something perfect, and one person's perfect may fall just short of another's.
In the end, it is perfect if you are happy with it. Not everyone will like our work, and trying to second guess them only makes the writing process more difficult and creates more doubt in the writer's mind.
~Gale
Niven, I love what you said, "It's writing itself at this point." Sometimes you just have to let it flow and go with whatever comes out. If you're hitting a groove, then just follow it wherever it goes. Like Gale said, you can always go back and make changes. And there's always the delete button. :)Funny you should ask about a 2nd or 3rd book because I just started drafting the 2nd book this past week (I'm about 5 chapters in). The 1st book is being critiqued and edited right now, so it seemed like a good time to just keep writing. :) I so appreciate your feed back on the blurb for Book 1!
I just sent you a friend request - I thought we were already GR friends, silly moi!
Niven, I meant to add - I used to live in Beaverton! It's been a while, but I went to college at Willamette in Salem, then lived in Beaverton for about a year and a half. Small world! :)
My blog is not book related, yet! I will be adding a book review section but right now its beauty related. Let me know what you think..http://simplykarmen.blogspot.com/
Kate! How funny! I'm finishing up my bachelors at Portland State right now. It really is a small world! Thats great your working on the second draft! I mentioned I got the Truby book and I'm loving it. Working through some of the writing exercises really helped provide some structure I didn't realize would be helpful to the piece I'm working on currently.
Niven wrote: "Kate! How funny! I'm finishing up my bachelors at Portland State right now. It really is a small world! Thats great your working on the second draft! I mentioned I got the Truby book and I'm loving..."Glad you like the book... it really changed my life, writing-wise. You should check out Truby's website, too. Lots of good stuff there.
Amanda wrote: "My blog is fairly new, only been going about two weeks now.http://lettersinsideout.blogspot.com"
Cool blog, Amanda. You must be doing something right to have that many followers already - nice!
Follow! :)
I like the flow of your reviews, Amanda. Great work only 2 weeks in! You are certainly off to a great start (a much better effort than I have been able to put forth so far...lol)!~Gale
ok I may sound like and idiot but how do you follow a blog. I cannot find the follow on any blog. Is there something I am majorly missing?
Jenn Renee wrote: "ok I may sound like and idiot but how do you follow a blog. I cannot find the follow on any blog. Is there something I am majorly missing?"Some are different...mine has a subscribe feature where you enter your email address and it will let you know when the blog is updated. There are others that utilize a different method. Sometimes it takes some searching to find it, though...lol! Good luck...
~Gale
Mod
http://helloworldwannadance.blogspot....
Great discussion going on here!! Not sure how I missed it earlier. Niven, good luck with your writing and keep going aaaall the way to the end before going back. Remember the first draft gets the story down and gets you familiar with your characters. The second third...drafts are where the polish and re-visioning comes in. Two writing books I loved are: SAVE THE CAT and READING LIKE A WRITER
Congrats to all the new bloggers and debut writers and those that have finished their projects.
I'm in the polish stage of my YA paranormal thriller and can't wait to start querying, which should be by the middle of April.
I did write a MG fantasy first, but have a feeling that may end up being my practice novel.
My blog is www.PaulaKayMac.blogspot.com I'd LOVE more followers and will be sure to follow you all as well. Maybe it will give me incentive to post more often ; )
Niven, can you retype your blog as a hot link? I tried to cut and paste and visit, but wasn't able to check out your wordpress page.Thanks : )
Paula, I love the buy-it-forward contest you presented on your blog! What a great concept! I enjoyed the supportive feel of your site and think your readers will come away feeling the enthusiasm and joy you have for writing.~Gale
Thanks, Gale. It's so hard to know what to post. I always wonder, will anyone even care what I'm up to? Glad it gave off some good vibes, and thanks for stopping by.
Hiya!I actually have two blogs now. The first is my newest, devoted to the adventures of an aspiring YA writer - http://willablythe.blogspot.com, and the second is my book review blog: http://mywatercolormoods.blogspot.com
I blogged today at http://lldreamspell.blogspot.com/on the topic: Amanda Hocking: What Does Her Success Mean for Publishing?
Hope you will join the discussion.
Jacqueline Seewald
Here's our blog for Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy, both YA and adult...http://pnr-uf-fanatics.blogspot.com/
I recently just started a blog and have been accepted by a few publishers to write reviews for them. Please come check out my blog and become a follower if interested!http://courtney-courtneyschitterchatt...
Amber wrote: "Here's our blog for Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy, both YA and adult...http://pnr-uf-fanatics.blogspot.com/"
I love the feel of this blog! So orderly and neat, not chaotic or overwhelming... I like the idea of a shared blog, as well. It provides a little diversity in the flow of content. Great work!
~Gale
Hello! I have a blog for my new novel, "Shelby and Shauna Kitt and the Dimensional Holes" at
http://shelbyandshaunakitt.blogspot.com/
I would love to see you there!
http://shelbyandshaunakitt.blogspot.com/
I would love to see you there!
My sincere appreciation to anyone who takes the time to visit and read. Disclaimer: I'm very opinionated and honest with everything I write but I never mean disrespect to anyone.msjlee333.blogspot.com
thebookbashreviews.blogspot.com
I also have a short story in this contest. If read it and enjoy it you can vote for me by pressing "like"
http://www.americasgotstories.com/201...
Kate (K.C.) wrote: "If you have a blog and you'd like to share it here, I'll follow you!
Mine is here: http://kcneal.blogspot.com/"
Thanks for asking the question! I belong to a few writing and reading communities. To show support for my fellow writers, I have been trying to compile lists of who has blogs and what the names are, so I can focus first on visiting them when I have time to check out blogs.
As for me, I started two blogs about a year ago. My book review blog is growing steadily and next month I'll host my first book tours. My story blog never took off and so right now it lays dormant.
Here are the URLs:
http://allisonsbookbag.wordpress.com/
http://allisonsstorytime.wordpress.com/
Mine is here: http://kcneal.blogspot.com/"
Thanks for asking the question! I belong to a few writing and reading communities. To show support for my fellow writers, I have been trying to compile lists of who has blogs and what the names are, so I can focus first on visiting them when I have time to check out blogs.
As for me, I started two blogs about a year ago. My book review blog is growing steadily and next month I'll host my first book tours. My story blog never took off and so right now it lays dormant.
Here are the URLs:
http://allisonsbookbag.wordpress.com/
http://allisonsstorytime.wordpress.com/
NebraskaIcebergs wrote: "Thanks for asking the question! I belong to a few writing and r..."Allison, great blog! I love the focus on children's and YA books. I enjoyed the clever rating system and found it more descriptive and refreshing compared to the typical star system.
Thanks for sharing the link!
~Gale
Amber wrote: "Here's our blog for Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy, both YA and adult...http://pnr-uf-fanatics.blogspot.com/"
Awesome blog, you got me back into Hunger Games with it hehe.. loved the 1st book!
my blog:
http://books-tea-and-kitties.blogspot...
Kate (K.C.) wrote: "If you have a blog and you'd like to share it here, I'll follow you!Mine is here: http://kcneal.blogspot.com/"
I checked out and followed your blog too... thanks, J.Lee
msjlee333.blogspot.com and thebookbashreviews.blogspot.com
Karmen wrote: "My blog is not book related, yet! I will be adding a book review section but right now its beauty related. Let me know what you think..http://simplykarmen.blogspot.com/"
Hi, Karen. I followed your blog... I like it! It's so girly, LOL.
http://thebookbashreviews.blogspot.com/
http://msjlee333.blogspot.com/
Kaye wrote: "Hiya!I actually have two blogs now. The first is my newest, devoted to the adventures of an aspiring YA writer - http://willablythe.blogspot.com, and the second is my book review blog: http://myw..."
Hi! I tried to get to your first blog but it wouldn't let me.. Not sure why but I followed your second listed blog.
http://msjlee333.blogspot.com/
http://thebookbashreviews.blogspot.com/
Gale wrote: "NebraskaIcebergs wrote: "Thanks for asking the question! I belong to a few writing and r..."
Allison, great blog! I love the focus on children's and YA books. I enjoyed the clever rating system ..."
Thanks for the visit and the compliments! My blog is almost one year old and gaining momentum as I add regular posts and new features.
Allison, great blog! I love the focus on children's and YA books. I enjoyed the clever rating system ..."
Thanks for the visit and the compliments! My blog is almost one year old and gaining momentum as I add regular posts and new features.
Here's mine! www.the-wanderlust-diaries.blogspot.comNot writing/reading related...but hopefully I'll have one of those soon!
Ooh ooh! I will have to find you all when I have more time. :Dhttp://spakedom.blogspot.com/ is where I am usually, though I'm also at http://achinghope.blogspot.com/ I am confusing sometimes.
Anyway! I am excited to run amok.
YA Book Club Not Just For Teens!
Books mentioned in this topic
Severance (other topics)Dolphin Girl (other topics)
Volition (other topics)
Shadows of Destiny (other topics)
My Blood Approves (other topics)
More...
Mine is here: http://kcneal.blogspot.com/