There's a Brainstorm Brewing

I’m so glad you liked the query I crafted for the story you guys came up with. I had fun, so I might make the What If game and query a monthly feature. I’m wild and crazy like that.

I made a boatload of progress on the pages I’m revising rewriting, but I allowed myself some time to just sit and think about this new idea that’s been bugging me. I’m not sure how everyone else brainstorms (I have this feeling it’s intense and structured and I’m a giant dork for not knowing the trick just yet) but I thought I’d share what works for me.

For starters, I don’t need to have a strict outline when I start writing, but I at least like to know where I’m starting, the main conflict and characters, a few key scenes, and the end.

I’m really visual, and when I’m writing it’s as if the story’s playing out like a movie. Before I even start a new project, I find some music that captures the tone I want the story to have. Once I have a good playlist, I lie down with headphones in. And I watch the story unfold.

Sometimes I do this for a single scene I’m stuck on, but at the start of a project it’s all open and free. I’ll think about certain scenes and watch the characters interact and see where they go from there.

It’s easier for me to think about what might happen next or what obstacles I might throw at my characters when I’m watching this “movie” behind my eyes. Somehow, staring at a blank document, my brain stops buzzing with thoughts and ideas. 

Actually, I take that back. It’s still buzzing with thoughts, but none of them have anything to do with the story. Usually they’re like, “I could use another glass of water” or “I need to file my nails.”

How do you brainstorm a new story idea?

A Query For Your Story

Remember the What If game we played last Friday? And how I promised a query letter for the story you guys came up with? Here you go:

Dear Agent Perfect,

World peace isn’t always a good thing. In sixteen-year-old Miranda’s world, peace is controlled with food rationing. Most people know that rations go to the highest bidder, but Miranda knows there’s more. And it’s a secret that could kill her.

When Miranda accidentally spills the fact that those highest bidders are clones bent on taking over the world, she ignites a revolution of humans—against world peace. But when the battle heats up, the humans learn that killing a clone kills its human, and vice versa. Oh, and Kyle, the cute guy she’s had a crush on since forever? Turns out he’s a clone.

As the battle rages on, only a few remaining humans and clones survive—including refuges like Miranda and Kyle. But when the government reverts to a monarchy of clones she must decide whether to join the resistance’s fight against them or attempt to escape with Kyle.

We’d love for you to consider our 70,000-word YA dystopian ATTACK OF THE CLONES. 

Sincerely,

The readers of Tracey’s blog

RTW: On Inspiration

Road Trip Wednesday is a blog carnival, where YA Highway’s contributors and readers post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on our own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination and get everybody’s take on the topic.

This week’s prompt was: Who in your life has most inspired your writing?

Once upon a time, I wanted to write a novel. I sat at my parents’ giant computer—the one that sounded like a creaky old man when it was forced to do more than one thing at a time—and wrote. I shared my story with my sister, who told me it was really good. (I’m sure she meant “good for a 13-year-old.”)

And then I grew up. I went to journalism school. I decided writing a book wasn’t realistic, that I’d be living my dream if I could be a magazine editor. And I was partly right. I love my job. But two years ago, when I was visiting home and my family was discussing an article I had written, my sister offhandedly said to The Man, “Have you read her fiction? She’s great.”

The thought nagged me for weeks. What if I could be good? Was I willing to give up my dream just because it seemed unrealistic? So I started researching the industry. After a month of following agent, author, and unpublished writer blogs, I knew I had to write.

When I told my sister, she jumped with joy. (At least, that’s what I pictured her doing. I mean, her email had at least three exclamation points.) Through the entire process—the first draft, the first round of revisions, brainstorming ideas—she’s been cheering me on. So if I had to name one person that inspired me to write a novel, it’d be her.

As for continuing, my parents, husband, and writer friends inspire me daily. So do authors who write so beautifully I want to give up. But I don’t, and I walk away motivated to make my manuscript better.

Who inspires your writing?

On Motivation

I don’t have kids, so when I hang out with them I’m always surprised by their absolute adorableness.

This weekend, my nephews and niece came to visit. (Their parents came, too.) So I’m sitting on the couch, legs up on the coffee table, and my 5-year-old nephew sits down next to me. He slouches so his feet reach the coffee table, and he clasps his hands behind his head.

After a good minute, he looks up at me and says, “This is nice. Relaxing.”

“Very relaxing,” I say.

He puts on this expression that I’ve only ever seen in adults. Even though he’s a pipsqueak, his expression was 40 years old and world-weary. “I never get to relax these days,” he says.

I die.

In other news, I’m currently bribing myself to finish revisions. I thought about going on a hunger strike, but A. I would probably pass out way before I could finish writing, and B. food is writer fuel, and C. I’m weak in the face of dinner. Instead, I picked a book I’ve been dying to read and told myself I couldn’t read it until I was done.

I heard about Divergent a while ago. I love Veronica Roth’s blog, and I’d been reading it in the days before Divergent was really Divergent. When everyone on earth was giving away an ARC, I entered over 1.2 billion contests. I lost them all. I read the first 100 pages online. Then I cursed myself because it only made me want to read more.

And then it happened. The book was delivered. I had it in front of me, ready to read whenever I felt like it. And I really wanted to. But…

But there were these revisions, see. They kinda sorta really need to get done. So I set a Law: no reading Divergent until this round of revisions is over.

(Am I the only one who hangs a carrot in front of them while they work?)

In other news, I’m 26 people away from 250 blog followers. Remember way back when I said there would be a contest at 250? Well that’s still on. But I’m adding to that. I’m 11 followers from 300 on Twitter. If I hit 300 by the time I hit 250 I’ll double the prize.

All sorts of insanity will ensue. There might be fireworks. And cupcakes. And a dance party.

Consider yourself warned.

Q: How do you motivate yourself to hit writing goals?

One more thing: On Friday, I’ll post a query letter for the story you guys have been creating. If you haven’t seen Friday’s post, check it out. We’re playing 

“

What If.

” 

All you have to do is ask a question that follows up on the last commenter’s question.

What If...?

I’m in the middle of revising rewriting this story and, as I mentioned, a new idea is acting like a child, nudging me constantly and screaming “Pay attention to me!” But while you can lock a child out of your room,* I can’t block the idea. So when I’m not writing I’m brainstorming, which is sort of one long game of What If.

Let’s play the game, shall we? I’m going to pose a “what if” question and you can follow it up with another question in the comments. Build on each other’s questions (your “what if” question will directly relate to question posted above you, but feel free to add characters, etc.) so we can see the story come together.

You know, I’d say:
What if Tracey got an agent?

And you’d say:
And what if she sold to a top publisher?

And the next person would say:
Then what if she got a three-book deal?

The person after that would say:
What if the publisher begged her to never stop writing?

Um, I think you get the idea.

So here’s the real what if:
What if there was world peace?

I’ll post the full story, based on your “what if” questions next week.


*No, I don’t have children. Why do you ask?

RTW: Rewards

Road Trip Wednesday is a blog carnival, where YA Highway’s contributors and readers post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on our own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination and get everybody’s take on the topic.

This week’s prompt was: How do you reward yourself when you meet your writing goals?

I know there are word count goals and figuring-out-annoying-plot-problems goals, but I really only reward myself after the first draft and then after each time I edit.* I’m okay with being a reward miser. I’m pretty sure I’d get nothing accomplished if I didn’t have a giant goal to work toward.

When I finished the first draft of my current WIP back in January I celebrated with cookies or cupcakes and the return of Fringe. I wore pajamas. Life was good.

Now that I’m revising rewriting—yes I’m still revising rewriting that same first draft—I’ve decided to switch things up. No, this has nothing to do with the fact that Fringe is over for the season.

I’ve given up sugar since I last celebrated, so a dessert feast was out. And then it hit me…
Since the dawn of time (like, more than a year ago) I’ve been dying to read Divergent. I entered approximately 2.4 million contests to win it so I could read it early. I lost each one. Finally, my copy shipped. It’s here, sitting on my bookshelf, staring me in the face like, “You said you wanted to read me so bad, so do it! I’m tired of sitting here so stiff and unused. OPEN ME UP AND FRICKIN’ READ ME!!!!”**

But then I couldn’t read it. If I did, it’d be over and the experience of reading it the first time would be done. Also, I hear it’s really great, so I’m sure I’ll feel crappy about my book once I’m done, making it almost impossible to work on my book. And, more importantly, it was one hell of a motivator to finish these revisions.

So that will be my reward.

What’s yours?

*But if the glorious day comes when I get an agent or a book deal, you better believe I’ll be popping the Champagne.
**Obviously the book isn’t part of the Abnegation faction.

Where Ideas Come From

When I first decided I was 100 percent going to write a book and there’s nothing you can do to stop me so don’t even try, I struggled for an idea.

It seemed like that part should come easy. Every blog post I read was written by authors who have too many ideas to use in a lifetime.

I’m doomed, I thought.

I squinted real hard and attempted to squeeze one out of my brain. All I got was this lousy headache.

Then one day something sparked an idea. It was an awful idea, but I didn’t know that at the time. I turned it over in my mind and decided that, yes, it was definitely going to be the next Great American Novel.

A month later, I realized that idea was crap. It was such crap that I was probably a worse writer for even having the idea in the first place. And then one day another idea sprouted. And another.

It was as if I was blocked. The craptastic idea was somehow shoved in the wrong spot in my brain and as soon as I shimmied it out dozens of ideas fell out like water from a faucet.

Are they all good? No. I will never write about most.

Are some good? Yes. (At least I think so. There’s an above average chance I’m deluding myself.*)

Which brings me to the point of this post. I’ve been going about my business, revising my WIP like a good little author…

When BAM!! a new idea hit. And it was all like, I’m shiny and fun and possibly the greatest idea you’ll ever have. Write me.

And I was all, Psh. Wait your turn.

Can you work on two (or more) stories simultaneously?

*After looking at the word deluding so many times it doesn’t even seem like a word. I mean, say it five times and tell me it sounds like an actual word.

RTW: The Audio Book

Road Trip Wednesday is a blog carnival, where YA Highway’s contributors and readers post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on our own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination and get everybody’s take on the topic.

This week, Road Trip Wednesday the prompt was: If you could pick a celebrity to read the audio book of your WIP or your favorite novel, who would it be?

The problem with audio books is that even the best ones can be ruined by a bad reading. Okay, maybe not ruined, but definitely reduced in overall awesomeness.

I read The Road on paper and loved it. (If you haven’t read this, I highly recommend it.) Since The Man drove hours to work every day, he bought the audio version. I was in the car one day while he was listening and heard something that didn’t make sense.

I paused the book to explain it to The Man. The reader, who had been changing his voice to either fit the man or the boy, switched the two in scene. Anyhow, I’m not saying the audiobook of The Road is bad by any means, but was it as good as the real book? No.

Which is why I like to hear author’s reading their own books. You’re not getting someone else’s interpretation of when to pause, what to yell, when to emphasize a word.

That said, the ideal narrator for my WIP would be a mix of Natalie Portman and Emma Stone.

source

The main character is a girl who is grieving the loss of her sister. She’s quiet, insecure about her physical disability, and feeling out of place as she returns to a home she lived in before her sister’s death. I think Natalie Portman would do a good job showing the character’s insecurity, vulnerability, grief and, in a way, her irrational desire to bring her sister back to life.

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But she’s also strong and confident. My main character’s sister outshone her for most of her life, but she also loved her. And because of their bond my main character is self-confident. Once she gets to know people she’s no longer shy, but animated. Emma Stone would be great for when my character is around people she trusts—because she’s much less guarded with them. Her tough voice would also be perfect for the parts of the book where the main character is fighting for her life and the life of those around her.

Which celebrity would you pick to read your WIP (or your favorite book)?

 

Sweethearts Review (Or, Why You Shouldn't Judge a Book by Its Cover)

I’m in love with Cameron Quick.

True, he’s not an actual boy. (We’ve covered my illogical crushes already.) He’s from Sara Zarr’s novel Sweethearts. Which you should buy. And read now.

Here’s the blurb:

As children, Jennifer Harris and Cameron Quick were both social outcasts. They were also each other's only friend. So when Cameron disappeared without warning, Jennifer thought she'd lost the one person who would ever understand her. Now in high school, Jennifer has been transformed. Known as Jenna, she is popular, happy, and dating—everything "Jennifer" couldn't be. But she still can't shake the memory of her long-lost friend.

When Cameron suddenly reappears, they both are confronted with memories of their shared past and the drastically different paths their lives have taken.

I’ll admit I didn’t want to buy this book. It’s the cookie, really. It’s so pink and heart-shaped and sickly-sweet. It didn’t look like the kind of book I’d like. But here’s where that whole not judging a book by its cover comes in, because we all do it and a lot of times we’re wrong.

Not only did I really, really like this book, but the story wasn’t sugary in any way. It’s a bittersweet story driven by two amazing characters that Zarr masterfully crafts. I felt for Jenna and her longing. By the end of the novel, I needed Cameron as much as she did. I smiled along with her and I cried (yep, had to break out the tissues) with her, too.

What I love most is that Sweethearts isn’t a love story. It’s about friendship and childhood bonds and the way one person can change your life so much they take up space inside you for the rest of your life. 

Anyone else read this? Or any other Sara Zarr novels? What do you think?

Openings

There is nothing I fear more

Starting a novel

The hardest part

I may speed through most of my first drafts, but the part that stalls me

I can’t move on until I get my opening just right and that

Even worse than

Beginning a novel is

Beginnings suck.

You Know You’re A Fiction Writer When…

source

...you’re crushing on someone who doesn’t exist...

...and that someone lives in your head.

Fill in the blank: You know you’re a fiction writer when ____________

Trust Yourself

Speaking of revisions…

So I’m revising my WIP, which has been a lesson in inconsistency. The first day I touched it, I edited chapters one through four. I hit chapter ten before I took some time off to move and unpack.

When I returned, my WIP had become this huge, insurmountable task. In my spare moments I’d open it, remember how much work I had to do, and shut it again.

(Note: This is not a useful process if the goal is to finish revisions some time before the 2012 Apocalypse.*)

I’d revise on weekends when I had a full day to think about just how awful my story was. And then I’d finish a section and decide this was going to be worse than crap. I’d dive into a book to relax, which would only leave me thinking that there was, in fact, no way I could turn my story into something even remotely as good as the book I just read.**

I’d been a while since I opened the document—maybe a week and a half—when I started revising on Saturday afternoon. By Sunday night, when I finished, I had revised one chapter and rewritten five.

Also, my shoulders hurt.

A complete lack of faith in my ability as a writer and storyteller was behind my hesitation to jump in. Because when I re-read those chapters, they were good. Not perfect, of course, but good. What I thought I’d never figure out, I did. And it works in the story.

We all revise differently, but here’s what I took away from my weekend of marathon revisions:

1.     Find a computer.

2.     Pull up a chair.

3.     Open your manuscript.

4.     It’s not that bad.

5.     You’re going to make it better.

6.     Stop your whining.

7.     Write.

No matter how much the blank page or revision notes make you want to quit and take up coal mining, you will figure it out. So stop stalling. Open and write.

 

*Or the zombie Apocalypse. Whichever comes first.

**Curse you John Green and Melina Marchetta!