(no title)

The Goldilocks of Novel Planning

This week on Instagram, I talked about planning.

I’m starting a new manuscript this week.

Although “starting” is a bit of a misnomer. I am starting the physical manuscript, but I’ve been working on the story since the writing retreat I went to in October.

I left that retreat with a kernel of an idea. Something I noodled on a long time to see if it was 1) a story I wanted to spend time in, 2) compelling and 3) workable. While describing my thought process to a writer friend, she recommended The 90-Day Novel* and so I dug in. I loved the free writing exercises that got my brain tuned into my two main characters. I started to understand them in new ways, where they came from, what they both want, and why, though their wants are similar, they are constant conflict with one another.

Then, I did my own Blueprint for a Book*. I love coaching writers through the Blueprint (developed by Author Accelerator). I use it with writers planning new stories like I am, with writers stuck in the middle who aren’t sure which way to go, and with writers about to embark on a revision. It’s a versatile tool designed to get to the heart of your story. It creates those headlights that EL Doctorow talks about:

Writing a novel is like driving a car at night in the fog. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.
EL Doctorow

Anyway, I’ve done a lot of planning is what I’m trying to say. And I still don’t know everything. There is something about where my characters end up in the end that isn’t entirely clear to me. Now I could keep digging, keep brainstorming, but in my gut, I know I won’t know until I get some of this guy on the page. I know I need to just start writing.

I’ve written about “procrastinaplanning” before and I’m perilously close to putting off starting because of it.

But I can hear the voice that’s advising me to slow down or keep planning and it isn’t mine. It’s my fear. Starts are scary. So my fear is talking loud and trying to drown out the story voice, but the story voice? He just wants to start telling me his story.

And so I am going to let him.

I may need to take a pause and regroup. Return to that Blueprint to see what’s taking me off track or what might need to be adjusted. Then get back to the page.

Planning is great. I advise it. I do it.

But at some point, I have to dive into my words and see what happens.

I have to get in the car and turn on the headlights and trust them to take me along the journey. I just never know what I might find when I reach my destination.

*This is an affiliate link which means I earn a small commission if you purchase through this link.

Image by Pexels from Pixabay

Prep for Success

Are you just starting with an idea? Stuck and unsure where your novel needs to go next? Or are you revising and know something isn’t working you just don’t know what?

The Blueprint process can help!

Want to learn more about the Blueprint for a Book tool? You can message me the word BLUEPRINT through the link below and I’ll be happy to answer any questions you have to see if this tool might help you where you are.

CONTACT ME HERE

What’s Clicking and Clunking in Your Manuscript?

Back in the fall, during my 8th grade son’s middle school walk the schedule night, I was eagerly anticipating talking to his English teacher.

It’s no surprise that English was my favorite subject in school. I’m probably not alone here, right? The reading. The essay writing. I loved all of it. Don’t get me wrong, I was no fan of deciphering Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying as a 16-year-old, but overall, that class had my heart during my extended schooling career.

Anyway, back-to-school night. School had been a few weeks in session at this point and the class was knee-deep in a novel already. As we entered the room, I noticed that every wall surface was covered with easel-sized paper with a variety of examples of middle school handwriting (side note: the prevalence of technology is not helping our children’s penmanship, people) scribbled on each. When I got a little closer, I spotted the details.

Each piece of paper was split into two columns: Clicking and Clunking.

For the clicking section, students wrote down what they understood about the story, liked about it, or found interesting. In the clunking section, students wrote down their questions or the things that they didn’t understand.

Amazing!

I thought this was genius. It immediately got me thinking about all the ways in which writers can use this clicking/clunking concept in their own writing process.

Try using this clicking vs. clunking strategy when…

…You ask beta readers for feedback

Ask your beta readers to tell you what clicks and clunks.

Clicking will help you see where your strengths lie and ensure that what your readers are taking away from the story is what you intended.

Clunking will help you see what’s tripping readers up. Keep in mind that every reader and their experience is different so just because something tripped up one reader doesn’t mean it will trip up every reader, but do take a look at those moments to ensure it’s not something you can’t clarify or otherwise enhance.

…You do your first read through

It’s so tempting when we do our first read through after a rough or first draft to pull out the red pen and start marking things up on the line level. If you need practice looking for the bigger picture structural issues (especially true if this is your first novel writing experience and you haven’t edited a large work like this before), grab a legal pad and draw a line down the center. Put clicking on one side and clunking on the other.

As you encounter things about your manuscript that you love, write them in the clicking column. It could be the snappy dialogue in chapter two or a character that’s come alive on the page or a scene that’s really working well. It’s important to recognize what we like in our own work so we can emulate that in places where we might have fallen short.

On the other side of the paper, note the places that aren’t working as you come across them. Perhaps a plot hole or a place where a character does something, well, out of character or a chapter that is all over the place with no clear direction.

You’ll notice I recommend doing this on a separate piece of paper, not in the document itself. This is so 1) you don’t get caught up in line edits and 2) once you’ve read through your whole manuscript, you can analyze the clicks and clunks and look for themes (this analysis will be much easier to do by scanning a few legal pad pages than scrolling through the comments you wrote in track changes in a word doc). I bet you’ll notice that your big clunks are related — maybe character motivation not showing up on the page or lack of stakes or a vague secondary character who falls flat on the page in multiple places.

…You give feedback

Clicking and clunking is a great way to organize your own feedback in a writer’s group, with a critique partner, or within a workshop.

Clicking will give you an opportunity to tell the writer what you like and enjoy in their manuscript instead of only looking for criticism (a danger in some writing/critique forums).

Clunking is a way to think about presenting your feedback with kindness by pointing out where you have questions or need more clarity. Writers who work with me know that my feedback is filled with questions! I figure the writer already knows the answers, but it might not be on the page, and asking those questions helps them to see where they might need to spend some time developing something or getting more specific.

What do you think? Will you give clicking and clunking a try? I figure if it’s good enough and clear enough for an 8th grade English class, it’s definitely good enough for me!

Want Feedback?

Did you know I offer a one chapter (up to 20 pages) critique with a 30-minute phone call consultation and editorial letter? Get feedback on your opening chapter and see what coaching is like for only $95.

CONTACT ME HERE

Creativity is Your Super Power

We watched Spider-Man: Homecoming this weekend for family movie night. It was a re-watch for us, but I loved Peter Parker’s earnestness all over again. He’s hungry to help people, to be useful, to use his unique talents for good. While waiting for a possible call from Tony Stark (aka, Iron Man) he monitors his neighborhood giving directions to lost old ladies and trying to return stolen bikes. If only he could stop some real bad guys! Then he could get Tony Stark’s attention, be an Avenger, and really make a difference.

Well, of course he ends up embroiled in a nefarious plot much too big for his burgeoning super power abilities. Uh oh. In the end, he learns that to be the strongest super hero, he actually needs to be the best Peter Parker he can be, ie, the best human. Not only does he get the bad guy, he keeps his compassion while doing it (SPOILER ALERT) by not only sparing the antagonist’s life in the end, but saving it.

What in the world does this have to do with writing?

Many of us have super hero-level dreams: publication, being a best seller, celebrity book club lists, Netflix series and movie deals. We want the validation, the recognition, and, let’s be honest, a paycheck worthy of a “good deal” (or, pearls clutched, a “significant deal”) wouldn’t be so bad either.

But before we can achieve the accolades, or become a publishing Avenger, we need to focus on our unique super power first — creativity.

Peter’s super power, beyond his spidey-senses, web throwers, and ability to stick to the ceiling, is actually compassion. He cares for the people in his community and about helping them. The weight of potentially causing harm becomes hard for him to carry in those moments when he reaches high and falls short. When he remembers to think about others through the lens of his own humanity, he is able to reach his full potential.

Similarly, we need to focus on our creativity. Creativity allows us to observe the world, a moment, a feeling, and synthesize it for readers in a new way. Creativity allows us to create empathy in others and maybe change a reader’s heart, mind, or behavior.

That’s seriously powerful stuff.

Creativity is also our own best way of helping ourselves. Being creative has been proven to boost mood, forge new neural pathways keeping our brains healthy as we age, reduce stress, process trauma, and create community around a common creative pursuit.

Yet we often feel guilty or selfish for taking the time to follow creative pursuits.

Why?

I’m really asking. Why do you feel guilty or selfish for pursuing your creative interests?

I’ll wait.

Is it because it takes time away from other obligations?

Is it because it doesn’t make money and therefore is viewed by society as invaluable?

Is it because it feels (or we’ve been told it is) self-indulgent?

Something else?

To be honest, all of those things may be true. It might require you to prioritize some time for your creative pursuits that otherwise might be spent doing something else. It might never make money. It may be pleasurable for only us.

But it may also invigorate us so the time we spend with others is more engaging, provide value that isn’t monetary to us and those who encounter our creative work, or provide a passion and purpose to our days that reap benefits for our jobs and communities.

You have a story to tell. Something to say. Or at the very least, you’ve found this thing that brings you pleasure. Indulge it. Tell the story. Write the poem. Dash off a letter to a friend. Journal about the way the sun filters through the trees in every season.

Don’t let society or capitalistic expectations squash your creativity.

Be creative for the sheer pleasure of being creative.

Write. Draw. Paint. Sculpt. Dance. Sing. Make music. Craft. Color. Design. Doodle.

Bring your creativity to light and let it light your way in the world.

You have something to say. Say it. In whatever way you need.

We’re all out here waiting for you to be your full creative self. We need you. Just the way you are.

Be a super hero.

Featured photo above by Road Trip with Raj on Unsplash

Announcement!

New blog content will now be posted on Fridays! If you are a newsletter subscriber, you’ll receive this content two days earlier on Wednesday. Want to make sure you don’t miss a blog post as well as be privy to new services, programs, or other announcements from my coaching business? Subscribe to my now weekly newsletter and never miss a thing!

SUBSCRIBE HERE

Happy New Year! My 2024 Word

Happy New Year, writers and friends! I hope you had a lovely holiday. I spent the last two weeks snuggled with family and enjoying time with friends. I gave myself permission to let go of the pressure of what I should be doing and took time to simply be present. It was a much needed digital and mental break.

This week, I’m slowly dipping my foot back in the fast-moving river of real life. The kids are back at school. I have actual appointments at specific times I have to show up to. I suddenly know what day it is again.

But as I begin to rejoin the hamster wheel of life, there are also things I need to reassess as I move into the new year. Habits I need to let go of and new ones I would like to start. Goals I am excited to make progress towards. I am trying not to let the list of to-dos and the burden of the early morning alarm clock drown out the beauty that is this time of renewal.

As is my tradition, I have picked a word to reflect my goals and intentions for 2024. (Do you pick a nudge word?)

Last year, the word was focus, and if I’m honest, I totally lost sight of that word somewhere in May. In fact, I had to look it up before writing this post to remember what last year’s word even was. Not a good sign. I ended the year feeling like I sprayed my attention in every direction like a broken sprinkler, hoping it might land on a goal or two to help them grow. I accomplished little more than exhaustion and frustration with that scattershot focus.

While I ended the year feeling a bit flustered and defeated, I don’t want to minimize what I actually did manage to accomplish last year: I completed my revisions and pitch documents and started querying. I attended two writer’s retreats and one writer’s conference allowing me to deepen my connection to craft and the community of writers I love so much. I worked with some fantastic clients this past year helping them to make progress toward their writing goals. I launched a Start Your Novel for PR Pros workshop that I plan to present again in 2024. I blogged here more weeks than I didn’t. I started playing with a new manuscript idea.

As I contemplated my business and writing goals for 2024, I realized it is time for me to level up in both categories. Stepping into my own power as a writer and a coach and a member of the writing community is a difficult thing for me, but something I am ready to do.

But leveling up sounds perilously close to climbing the ladder and one of the things I didn’t enjoy about the corporate world was just that: the constant need for advancement for advancement’s sake up someone else’s predetermined ladder.

There are a lot of things about the ladder metaphor that rankle for me:

The ladder is linear with only room for one on a rung at a time leaving little space for collaboration or hand holding. There is no room to pause or take a diversion on the ladder. The climb is prescribed one rung after another with little room for experimentation lest you fall off and, horrors, have to start over or behind your peers. Plus, I was never even sure where this ladder was headed. The ladder itself is simply a means to an end.

None of that feels good to my core values of craft, community, and connection.

As I contemplated how I wanted to level up this year in a way that did feel alighned with these core values, an image came to mind.

A mountain.

A mountain is a slow climb by nature. It’s full of expected obstacles. There are opportunities to stop and enjoy the view, pick wild flowers, or pitch a tent to stay a while in a particularly pretty spot and rest. You can walk side-by-side with companions, you don’t have to go it alone. You can detour and meander. You can pick the mountain that best suits your mood or needs on any particular day or trip. When you reach the top of one, you can always find another to climb if you want.

This year, my word is mountain to remind me:

This life and work (coaching and writing) are a journey that takes time and preparation
The journey may be hard and slow at times, but it is also beautiful and rewarding
The journey is often the point, not the destination
There is room on the mountain for many
Sometimes you need a guide–I will ask for help when I need it and be a guide for others when I can
Everyone’s pace up the mountain is different, as long as I keep putting one foot in front of the other, I will reach the top regardless of how I “place” in relation to others

It feels right. I am ready to take the next, slow steps up my mountain of 2024.

I hope our paths cross on my journey up the mountain for a short picnic or even a long hike to the top. Whatever it may be, I will be sure to pack some extra snacks and water to share and am always happy to pull up a spot on a rock and simply enjoy the view with you.

I hope 2024 is filled with writing progress and success for each of you this year!

What word did you pick for 2024? Share in the comments!

Featured photo above by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Let’s make 2024 the year you finish your novel!

If you need help determining your writing goal for this year or are contemplating how a coach might help you achieve it, set up a free discovery call with me and let’s chat to set you up for success!

SCHEDULE A CALL HERE

Twas the Night Before Writing

It’s officially that weird week where, if you are like me, you’re trying to hold down regular routines while your to-do list of non-work tasks continues to grow and the clock is ticking and it makes you feel like nothing is actually getting accomplished.

So first, I want to offer you all permission to handle your work however you see fit. I squeezed in my creative work this morning and will prioritize that work in the next few days. My clients are all taking holiday breaks (whew! You all deserve it!). My husband (who works remotely) and I will be going out for our annual Cox Work From Home Holiday Office Party lunch tomorrow–one of my favorite traditions. And I’m taking a little break from the business to rest and regroup for 2024.

To that end, I will be hitting post on this blog then taking myself and a peppermint mocha to my local independent bookstore to grab some titles for my kids (and try to resist buying books for myself).

As we head into this holiday week, I wanted to leave you all with a little something fun.

I loved Amy Bernstein’s recent post on Substack about the 12 Days of Doubt (if you aren’t already following her on Doubt Monster, do yourself a favor and start right now!) and have been inspired to rewrite my own holiday classic for you writer friends out there.

Enjoy!

Twas the Night Before Writing

Twas the night before writing, despite all their vows,

Not a writer was writing, instead they cleaned house.

Scrivener was opened on the laptop with care,

In the hope that the muse would soon put some words there.

With my spouse watching Netflix, and I with my tea,

Had just settled down to edit rough draft three.

Then out on my phone there arose such a clatter,

I sprang to Instagram to see what was the matter.

When what to my wondering eyes did appear,

Distraction, procrastination, and even fear.

With a little old driver so loud and so stout,

I knew in a moment, it was my self-doubt.

More rapid than query rejections my fears came,

And I whistled and shouted and called them by name:

“Now grammar! Now structure! Now imposter syndrome!

Now stakes! Now plot holes! I have scenes told and not shown!

Oh the fears and the doubts and the way that I stall;

Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!”

And then in a twinkling I heard on the roof,

The reminder and memory of each little goof.

My writing felt tarnished and I felt unworthy.

Until I remembered I’m the god of my story.

So I drank my tea and stretched my arms to the sky,

It was time to take my words and teach them to fly.

From chapter one to the end; the words flowed freely,

Then I revised until it was time to query.

Brave writers must be and always ready to learn;

To reach publication, for the goal we all yearn.

Now let’s give ourself grace and erase all our doubts;

And keep writing and writing to get the words out!

There will be time to tackle our writing goals in 2024. Right now, I want to wish you a very happy holiday filled with rest and good books!

Featured photo by Dan LeFebvre on Unsplash

My Next Newsletter Drops 12/31/23

Want more writing help and musings right in your inbox? Want to stay up to date on new services and opportunities to work together? Join my newsletter.

Fail to Succeed to Advance Your Writing Career

A friend posted this Michael Jordan quote on her LinkedIn profile recently:

“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed.”

The same day, I listened to musician Jon Batiste on the Armchair Expert podcast. Very early in his career, he and the Stay Human band would jump on a subway car and busk for the passengers. The idea eventually morphing into what he called “social music” — using music as a way to connect with people on an emotional level, meeting people where they are.

In the course of the conversation about that time, he said he and his bandmates had a clear intent to try things. To put themselves out there and see what worked. (Conversation starts about 14:23 and I don’t know where to tell you to stop because I found the whole thing compelling).

He said they’d remind each other:

“Let’s get rejected today.”

Wow. What a hard thing to do.

Michael Jordan and Jon Batiste are two very different people with two very different talents. Both equally brilliant at what they do–basketball and music respectively. And both their messages are the same: In order to succeed, you have to fail.

You have to try lots of things and submit lots of times and take a lot of shots and probably get kicked off a few subway cars before things start to click and fall your way. And even when they do, you still can have a miss, get a rejection from a publication, airball a shot, play a wrong note.

Just like a rejection today doesn’t mean you won’t have success tomorrow, a success today doesn’t mean you’re through with rejection. If only!

Sylvia Plath said, “I love my rejection slips. They show my I try.”

Isn’t that just it for the creative life. For life at all, really.

Even Tennyson got in on the action, “‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”

We’re all just walking through life risking rejection and failure at every pass. But if we don’t take that risk, are we living at all? Sure, it can be safer to scribble in a journal, to avoid the structure class, to refuse to join a critique group…but the safe things can keep our writing insular and probably stagnant. Or, we can join a writing association, take a class, read a craft book, and watch our skills improve on the page, this growth fueling potential success.

Does that mean we’ll be published? I can’t answer that. But if you derive joy from writing and seeing your skills improve and testing the boundaries of your capabilities, that might be success enough. For me, I’ll keep writing regardless of where my publishing journey takes me. It’s in my DNA to write. Even if those words never see print beyond my journal or hard drive or this blog.

When the writing/revising/querying/marketing gets hard–and it will–we need to remind ourselves that it’s all just another paving stone of our larger path. Our path to the next success or the next breakthrough. Every edited line or rejected manuscript is bringing us closer to the next level of our craft, the true mark of success.

And when you get there, then perhaps you’ll find external success, too. I can’t guarantee that, but I can guarantee you certainly won’t find it by attempting to avoid rejection or failure.

So fail on writers! Let’s go get rejected today.

Featured image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay

Craft Book Recommendations

Looking for craft books to augment your writing journey? Whether you’re studying craft or need a little mindset inspiration, I have a list of some of my favorite craft book on my Bookshop.org Craft Book page. This is an affiliate link and I do receive a small commission if you purchase through the site. You also support an independent bookstore every time you shop at Bookshop.org!

Finding the Writing Routine that Works for YOUR Work

Writing is about perseverance. You have to keep going. The work only gets done if you keep writing. The revision only gets done by revising. The querying is only successful if you keep sending them out.

This week, I posted a quote from Neil Gaiman over on Instagram:

“This is how you do it: you sit down at the keyboard and put one word after another until it’s done. It’s that easy, and that hard.”

Truer words have never been spoken.

The answer is easy, but the work is hard.

When the work gets hard, our procrastination and distraction monsters move into action. Instagram and Wordle are way more fun for our brains in the moment than sitting down to work out a thorny plot problem. Or is it just me?

As writers, however, we have to stop and consider which will ultimately be more satisfying.

If you are anything like me, this is when the guilt monster shows up because I know that writing the book is more satisfying but my monkey brain wants the quick dopamine fix.

This month, I’ve been trying to slay some of my own distraction/procrastination/guilt monsters. Monsters that have kept me from starting a new project and want me to slow my pace querying the old one (that’s the fear monster…he really doesn’t like me putting myself out there so brazenly).

So I’ve been experimenting with some new routines and making them a priority:

No checking my phone in the morning when I wake up. Reaching for the phone was typically my first action after stumbling downstairs making sure the high schooler was up for school. I wasn’t proud of it, but email, social, they all sucked me in under the guise of “catching up.” Instead of reaching for my phone, I am now reaching for a journal. I do a version of Morning Pages while the high schooler is getting his breakfast then by the time the middle schooler is downstairs and getting his breakfast, I’m changing for my workout. Which leads me to…
Movement every day, first thing. I try to build movement into my day (writing can be a very sedentary pursuit) but found that I was slipping a lot. It was easy to push a walk off to meet other deadlines or find an excuses to not stop my flow to get up from my desk. Now, I tackle it first to make sure it’s happening. And I’m feeling much better when I finally sit down to my desk to write.
Creative work comes first. I go to my desk after my workout, put the phone on do not disturb, and focus on my creative project for an hour or two depending on what I’m working on. I have long known that morning is my most creative time, but lately, I had not been prioritizing it then blaming myself when I didn’t feel inspired in the mid-afternoon.
No phone after 8pm. No more mindless scrolling before bed. No seeing an email I’ll need to respond to tomorrow. No anxiety over the day’s latest awful headlines before bed.

After just a week, I already noticed a difference:

The day I had a morning appointment 45 minutes away and couldn’t do my creative work first thing was the least productive day I had overall. Focusing on my creative work first actually made me more focused and efficient when I switched later to coaching and a volunteer project.

Having to push through in a workout in the morning made pushing through the mental blocks later in the day easier. I’d already practiced perseverance for the day and won. And the day I had the early morning appointment, I did manage to prioritize my workout, so it wasn’t a total loss.
Limiting my phone use has decreased a bit of my anxiety this holiday season and I find myself sleeping better on the days I hold fast to the rule. That’s a total win and something I knew intellectually, but is always fascinating to watch play out personally.

Granted, one week is a small container, but the results were positive enough to keep me trying in week two. I am excited to see what else I learn or where I need to make adjustments.

I know this may seem like a stretch — you came to this post looking for tips on how to write when it’s hard. But setting up our minds and bodies for success is the first step. Figuring out where your monsters live will help you determine what you need to do for your writing routines.

Ask yourself:

When does the writing start to feel hard? Maybe when it’s too emotional or writing description or getting to that open door sex scene. Knowing what triggers you to seek avoiding your writing will help you make an informed plan to get that writing task done.
What does the voice in your head say when the writing feels hard? If the answer is, “I don’t know what to do” or “I’m never going to be good at this” or “this whole book stinks and I don’t know who told me I could write a novel” then you’re avoiding the hard monster stuff. Try to identify your monster first so you can start to recognize that pull to distraction or procrastination or negative self-talk before it happens.
What is your go-to form of distraction when it starts to feel hard? When you reach for your phone or open an Internet window or head for the pantry for a snack, ask yourself why you’re doing it? The answer could be as simple as, “the scene I’m writing is boring.” That’s an ‘easy’ fix. Go back to the beginning of that scene and start again or do some thinking on the stakes or the character’s scene motivation. If the answer is more of a mental monster, then it’s time to bring in the bigger routine changers. Put your phone in another room or turn off your wifi. Write in focus mode in Word or Scrivener. Take a moment to breathe, stretch, get a glass of water, then set a timer to deal with that hard thing for 10 minutes. Promise yourself a reward (an Instagram check-in or that snack) if that helps. Eventually, it will feel less hard to tackle the hard. Meta, right?
Sit with the hard. Hard is going to happen. Acknowledge it. Appreciate it. You’re doing hard work. Remind yourself of that. And take a break when you need to.

If you’re still stuck, remember why you’re writing this story. Something drew you to the page or inspired this particular story problem. Free write on your inspiration and find the heart of your writing motivation. Write it on a sticky note and put it near your desk so you can reference it whenever you need.

Your story is important. Don’t let hard keep you from finishing.

Happy Writing!

Need Help?

Each week, I reserve time for 20-30 minute discovery calls with writers to discuss where they are in the writing process, what’s holding them back, and how to find the right kind of help. Want to chat?

Schedule a call! You don’t have to go it alone.

SCHEDULE A FREE DISCOVERY CALL HERE

My Craft Book Recommendations for the Holidays or Any Writing Day

Writing is an iterative process. Each draft improves the more we work on it. Each new manuscript improves the more we learn.

And as writers, there are a myriad ways to learn every day.

We learn every time we notice the light through the trees, taste something new, experience an unlikely emotion in a mundane setting, are transported to our past because of a scent, are moved by new music, overhear a conversation that sparks our imagination, or read a new book that challenges our assumptions or presents story structure in a new way. We learn when we take classes or go to workshops or even just chat about books and stories with another writer over coffee or Zoom.

And we learn from craft books.

There are so many to choose from, so I have put together a listing of my most reliable craft books just in time for the holiday season. You can find all of these books on my Bookshop.org Craft Book page (this is an affiliate link and I do receive a small commission if you purchase through the site. You also support an independent bookstore every time you shop at Bookshop.org!).

Books on Structure:

Save the Cat! Writes a Novel, Jessica Brody This is by far my go-to on story structure. I have highlighted and sticky-noted this book within an inch of its life. But, nothing breaks down story beats as well for my brain. Plus, she uses examples from familiar novels to help you visualize these beats in a real work. If you aren’t sure what needs to come where in your novel, this book is for you.
Blueprint for a Book, Jennie Nash Are you pantser who is plotter-curious? I have pantsed my way to a novel and after learning the Blueprint system at Author Accelerator, I am a convert. You’ll never find me outlining an entire novel, it’s just not how my brain works, but this book will walk you through the story fundamentals you need to know before you start so you have a solid structure under all that fun pantsing you want to do later. If we work together, I can guarantee you won’t escape without doing some aspect of this book. It works at all stages of the process (ideating, drafting, revising) to keep your story on track.
Honorable Mention: Story Genius, Lisa Cron I love Lisa Cron’s Wired for Story, which is more theory than manual. This book is more nitty-gritty for getting the work done. The reason it’s an honorable mention is that I think the story misbelief section is genius, but the scene breakdown exercises did not work for me. Some writers swear by her book, though, so I always encourage writers to check it out. But like any craft book (or feedback), take what works for you and leave the rest.

Books on Revision:

Intuitive Editing, Tiffany Yates Martin This is the book I wish I had the first time I was revising a novel. Unfortunately, Tiffany hadn’t written it yet. But lucky for you, she has now. This book walks you through the high level editing process so you can attack those big picture issues first before you get mired down in those tempting line edits. Trust me, this book is gold.
The Artful Edit, Susan Bell This book is also a fantastic guide through the editing process. It’s filled with examples and case studies and interviews with various authors. Plus, it’s a fantastic historical look at editing and how it’s changed with the advancement of technology in publishing.

Books on the Creative Process:

On Writing: A Memoir, Stephen King Part memoir, part craft book, this is a must read in my opinion. Again, his advice might not pertain to every writer’s process (I do not believe you need to write every day), but I find myself rereading the craft section of this book at least once a year and picking up something new I needed to hear in his direct and witty voice.
The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron When you are lost or need to refill your creative well, go to this book. This book is meant to establish a creative habit in your life, to honor that impulse, and nurture those seeds of creativity. Morning Pages and Artist Dates are not techniques I use every day, but they are tools I definitely pull out of my box when I need a refresh and reset.
The Creative Habit, Twyla Tharp While Twyla Tharp’s medium is dance, her thoughts on creativity apply to any discipline. I found myself inspired reading it and The Creative Autobiography exercises are insightful if you find yourself, like me, drawn to living a creative life.

Books on Mindset

Bird by Bird, Anne Lamott This book is worth it for the metaphor that bestows its title alone.
Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert The letter to fear and its role in the writing process is one I go back to again and again.
The War of Art, Steven Pressfield This slim little nugget acknowledges that the work can get hard and reminds us that we can work through it.

What did I miss? What are your favorite craft books and why?

Featured photo above by Tom Hermans on Unsplash

My Next Newsletter Drops 11/30/23

Want more tips and recommendations based on what I’m reading, watching and listening to? Want to stay up to date on new services and opportunities to work together? Join my monthly newsletter. The next issue arrives in in-boxes on the last day of the month.

When Receiving Feedback Be Curious, Not Judgmental

Receiving feedback is often just as hard as a rejection.

We send off our work to a friend, critique partner, beta reader, editor, and while we do these things for the constructive feedback these readers can impart, there is a large part of ourselves hoping for a gold star.

“I found nothing wrong, it’s perfect! A best seller in waiting! Send it out now!”

But that won’t happen. Ever. Sorry.

When you send your work to someone for feedback, that’s what they are going to give you. It’s kinda part of the deal. They want to help or you have paid them to help. They are going to read with a critical eye for improvement.

Some may read with a critical eye just to criticize, those readers aren’t necessarily helpful. But those who read in good faith, who offer feedback to challenge your skills, or point out places that would benefit from a second/third/whatever look, they want to help you.

How you respond to that feedback is up to you.

As someone who has received feedback and someone who gives feedback as a coach, I have some advice.

Be curious. Not judgmental. (Thanks to Ted Lasso)

My experience with feedback (both when I give it as a coach and receive it as a writer) is that the first 24-48 hours are rough. They can feel soul crushing. Or rage inducing. Either way, they aren’t pretty hours. Writers can cycle through a variety of reactions like defensiveness, what-do-they-know-ess, to full on doubt that they can even do the thing.

This is why I typically recommend you read your feedback and then step away. Do not respond. Do no edit. Do nothing but process whatever emotion that feedback brought up in you.

When that’s passed, read through the feedback again.

I bet it feels different. Mine always does.

Now. Get curious.

Think about your initial response and see which comments elicited strong reactions from you. Is there a pattern? Was it about something you think you did well? Was it in relation to an issue you aren’t sure how to resolve? Chances are the feedback that sets us off is the feedback that scares us. Whether it’s because you aren’t sure how to fix it or you’re afraid you aren’t good enough in general or you were overtired and hangry when you initially read the feedback or something else entirely.

Understanding why you reacted to feedback the way you did can help you uncover the parts of your story that need deeper work. Early in my writing journey, I received feedback that the stakes weren’t clear. I was so irritated. I’d worked on my stakes. I thought I’d included it. But, stakes were hard for me in those early days. Picking stakes that emotionally resonated and carried through clearly in the novel sounded easy but weren’t because there were other things about my character’s motivation that also weren’t clearly on the page. At first, this feedback seemed wrong. After all, I’d spent so much time on it. But after taking some time away and returning to the manuscript with this feedback in mind, I was able to see what they meant. It’s not that some stakes weren’t there, but because the ultimate story problem was vague, the stakes weren’t as resonant. I needed to do some deeper work to fix that. Not just add in a ticking clock or the threat of losing a job.

It was uncomfortable for me to realize I needed to study this aspect of craft more. And so my reaction was strong. Luckily, I was able to learn from that feedback and experience and now, whenever I start a new story, this is the area I spend the most time on because I know it can be a blindspot for me. What I think is clear in my head isn’t always clear on the page.

So, after you process your feedback and understand why you are reacting to certain parts of the feedback more strongly than others, you can look at this feedback with a more curious gaze:

Is this feedback given with good intent?
What can I learn from this feedback?
Is there something that isn’t on the page? (So often, we know our stories too well and what we think is clear might not be clear to the reader at all)
Are there areas of craft I need to study on?
Do I need to ask clarifying questions? It’s always okay to ask questions of your feedback giver to be sure you understand. Miscommunications happen, which can also lead to strong emotions.
Is there something I was afraid wasn’t right that they are pointing out as a weakness?
Is this about the work or about me? (NOTE: It should always be about the work. It’s hard to separate the writing from the writer, but feedback is most definitely not meant (when given properly) as an affront to the writer).
What feedback do I strongly disagree with? Can I justify my choices? Not all feedback needs to be taken. You are the creator of your stories. You get the final word.

Use a growth mindset when approaching your feedback to see where you can grow. And remember that last point–sometimes growth is knowing which feedback to accept and apply and which to simply ignore.

This isn’t easy. Feedback feels personal and criticism can be hard to ingest. Remember to give your feedback time to settle. Be curious. Then get back to revising!

Featured photo by Dim Hou on Unsplash

*************

Need Feedback on Your Manuscript?

Are you looking for feedback on your manuscript? I offer manuscript evaluations as well as revision coaching walking you through the revision process. Each week, I reserve time for discovery calls with writers to discuss where they are in the writing process and how they can find the best feedback fit. Want to chat? Schedule a call!

SCHEDULE A FREE DISCOVERY CALL HERE

The Key to Querying: Do Your Research

When I worked in public relations, I spent a ton of time in my entry-level years building media lists. And while the drudgery of culling through the giant Bacon’s Media Directories back in the dark ages of media research was mind-numbing, I learned a lot.

I learned how to find the right match for the right story. When you found a reporter who you just knew was going to respond well and with curiosity to your story, that’s where the magic happened. I remember finding the perfect Wall Street Journal reporter for a story once. They were so perfect a match to our content that they broke embargo (when you ask a reporter not to publish before a certain date) on the story and printed early. Our client was royally irritated, but I was over the moon excited despite our client’s frustration over the timeline because I knew the right story had gotten into the right hands and that would be beneficial to the message getting to the right audience.

While the Internet makes this type of research much easier now, it’s still a slog to read old articles and find the right fit. But the right fit is imperative to distributing a press release or creating a relationship with a reporter.

The same is true when you’re querying fiction.

My skills researching reporters are the same skills I use now to research agents to query my manuscript. There are lots of places to look, and you should look at all of them.

Today, I wanted to give a quick rundown of the tools I typically use to research an agent.

Querytracker. Querytracker has a huge database of agents you can search by genre. Each entry also includes links to their agency pages, social feeds, personal pages (if applicable) as well as details on how to query them. The best part? You can filter out those who are closed to queries, saving you time and energy. (There is a fee for premium access, though you can still get quite a bit of information with the free service. I recommend playing with it first to see if it’s helpful to you before jumping into any subscription.)
Agency Websites. You’ll find that Querytracker will spit out several agents at an agency who might fit your genre, but that doesn’t mean each is right for your story. I will visit each agency’s website to see what authors they work with, the types of books they publish, and to visit each agent bio to determine which agent at the agency is the right fit for me. Many agencies require you to pitch to only one agent at an agency, so it’s important that you choose wisely. This is a great opportunity to also dig into and confirm submission guidelines as sometimes Querytracker doesn’t have the most up to date information.
Socials. While narrowing down the agent search, I will check in on their X/Twitter and Instagram pages. This can show you a lot about who the agents are already working with, how they promote their authors, what they are interested in, and perhaps provide a lead to a common connection. Did they retweet they binge watched a show you also love? That might be your way in. Especially if it connects to your manuscript in any way.
MSWL. Manuscript Wishlist is a great resource that digs a little deeper into what each agent might be looking for or, sometimes more importantly, what they aren’t looking for. This is a great cross-reference to make sure you’re story is a good fit as well as a place to find tidbits you can use for personalizing your query. An agent I recently queried had a request for a story with the vibe of a particular album in her MSWL. An album I had listened to on repeat during edits to keep the mood of my manuscript consistent. It made for the perfect lead in to my query letter.
Publisher’s Marketplace. Find out what your prospective agent has sold lately and get the business side look at the agents you are interested in. NOTE: Publisher’s Marketplace also offers a subscription. It’s pricier, so weigh that before committing, try a free trial, or plan accordingly.
The Library. Some agents look like a great fit, but I don’t know the authors they represent. A trip to the library to skim through some of their titles might be in order to see if I want to be part of their cadre of writers. The library is also a great place to pick up some titles you admire and check the acknowledgement page to see who represents them.
Google. Don’t forget your tried and true search engine. Googling for articles with the top agents in your genre is one way to find leads as well as find places they may be speaking about their interests.
Writing Conferences. Meeting or pitching agents at writing conferences is excellent, but even if you can’t attend a writing conference, check the schedules of conferences that interest you/pertain to your genre and see which agents are speaking or attending. These might be good fits for you. Add them to your list and then dig deeper into their preferences with the methods listed above.

Remember when you’re querying to follow the agent’s submission guidelines exactly, to have a tight and short query letter, to follow your genre’s conventions (word count, subject matter, etc), and to provide only the materials they ask for in the format they ask for them. This is a professional communication regarding a potential business relationship, so present yourself accordingly.

Agents are looking for quick reasons to say no. Don’t give them any. You want your no, if you get one, to be based on the content of your manuscript. A no received from an agent because they already rep something similar or just aren’t in love with the story despite its stellar writing allow you to move ahead with confidence. A no because you sent an attachment when they clearly stated to paste the pages into the body of the email or your word count is entirely too high for a young adult novel aren’t helpful to you as a writer. They waste the agent’s time and yours.

Set yourself up for success. Do the research. Find the right match. And with perseverance, you just might be getting the magic you need to take the next step in your publishing journey.

For more tips on how to stay on track during the query process, check out this blog post from March.

Featured photo above by Becca Tapert on Unsplash

********

Are You Ready to Query?

Before you query, check out my free guide to 5 Common Manuscript Mistakes and make sure you aren’t querying prematurely. These mistakes are ones I have seen over and over again by writers who think their manuscripts are ready. This guide will help you identify them so you can fix any big problems before hitting send.

GET THE GUIDE