annastan

Beware Revision Limbo

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 01:49:46 GMT

[If you have a minute, swing by Jennifer Nielsen's blog where I answer the very important question: Fruit or chocolate? (I bet you can't guess what my answer was.) And if you'd like to win copies of both of my books, check out this awesome giveaway.]

Last week, one of my students and I were talking about a project she’s been struggling with for a few years now. She’s brought the manuscript to several workshops and critique groups, tried starting it in various places, and has found herself consistently stuck.

When I asked her if she’d been able to get through a first draft, she admitted that she’s been so focused on getting the beginning “right” that it’s kept her from getting very far into the story.

Essentially, she’s in what I call “workshop purgatory,” which is when you keep getting feedback on your story opening, revising based on that feedback, only to get more feedback, etc. I think most of us have been there. You spend so much energy on perfecting your opening that you never actually get to the end of the story, thus trapping yourself in revision limbo forever.

My advice? Pretend the beginning is perfect and just keep going until the end. There are two reasons for this:

1. If you never get to the end of the story then it doesn’t matter how perfect your beginning is.

2. What if you find by the end of the story might completely change what happens at the beginning.

I think it can be immensely helpful to get feedback from fellow writers on how to make your beginnings stronger while you’re still figuring the story out. The more solid your opening, the easier the rest of the story will be to write. But, like everything else, it’s about balance. You can’t keep tinkering with an opening and never move beyond it.

That’s why, even though I like to revise as I’m drafting, I make sure that I keep writing new scenes along with revising the old. Otherwise, it’s far too easy to get stuck on making the book perfect…and never actually write it. That’s how I wound up with dozens of unfinished manuscripts before I finally learned how to get to The End.

Have you ever found yourself in Revision Limbo?

Reviews and Other Exciting Stuff

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 12:51:51 GMT

If you have a minute, swing by Walk the Ridgepole where I stopped by to talk sequels, secrets, and picture books.

I was pleasantly surprised to see a very nice review of Epic Fail in the April issue of the Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books. Here’s an excerpt:

“A light-hearted romp through fairy-tale tropes, this will be a hit among youngsters past the Disney-princess stage who still secretly cling to the hope that mermaids and fairies exist.” (See the full review here.)

Of course, I’m not sure why they’d imply that mermaids and fairies don’t exist, but I guess I can forgive that.

I also have some exciting things in the works:

-Three super-personalized Epic Fail ARCS will soon be up for grabs. More details to come!

-It turns out that ARCs of THE DIRT DIARY will be available at BEA at the end of May, so I’ll be doing a big cover reveal sometime before then. The cover is adorable–I can’t wait to share it with you guys!

And now back to line edits for MY SORT OF FAIRY TALE ENDING. I have less than two weeks to get the book nice and shiny before it’s out of my hands. I can’t believe the series is almost over, but I think Jenny will appreciate it when I finally stop messing up her life!

Have a great weekend!

What I’ve Been Reading: My Green Cover Phase

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:10:07 GMT

Writing deadlines haven’t left me much time for reading recently, but I’ve managed to squeeze in a few titles. Here’s what I’ve been reading. (Perhaps in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, I’ve found myself drawn to green covers recently.)

Shades of Earth by Beth Revis

I was really looking forward to this final installment in the Across the Universe series, and this book didn’t disappoint. In fact, I read it in pretty much one sitting!

Adaptation by Malinda Lo

A fascinating and creepy story about…well, I won’t spoil it for you. But I’m definitely looking forward to the sequel.

The Runaway King by Jennifer Nielsen

I was so excited to learn that Jen (my agent-mate) was a NYT best-seller! After reading this follow-up to The False Prince, I can see why. This was one of those stories that stuck in my head long after I was done reading it.

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

I have to admit that when I first tried to read this book, I had a hard time getting into it. But I decided to give it another try as an audio book, and now I’m totally sucked in. The world-building in particular is fantastic. I’m excited to listen to the rest.

That’s it for me. What have you been reading?

Originally published at www.annastan.com

What Exactly Is “Tween,” Anyway?

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 13:11:59 GMT

More and more I’ve found myself describing the UnFairy Tale series as “Tween” even though it technically falls into the category of middle grade. And my next series, The Dirt Diary, seems to fit the Tween label even more.

So what exactly is Tween, you ask? Definitions will vary, but for me, Tween is made up of two factors:

Age

Tween tends to be about pre-teens or young teens. In my UnFairy Tale series, Jenny is 12-13 during the three books. She fits more firmly into the middle grade genre based on her age. In The Dirt Diary, Rachel is 14 and is just about to finish eighth grade. She’s more concerned with boys than Jenny is, but her story is still very light and G-rated.

Tone

For me, tween is more about tone than age. Both of my series have a light, funny tone that keeps them from getting too serious (while still infusing the story with emotion). When I think of a book being a fun, quick read about a character who’s a young teen or an almost-teenager, I would put that into the Tween category.

I think another way of labeling Tween is “Young YA” which isn’t really a category you hear about. But when I think about The Dirt Diary, that’s exactly how I would classify it. Rachel’s concerns are still rooted in middle school, but she’s about to enter into high school in a few months, so she’s starting to have more of a teenage mentality.

Here are a couple examples (off the top of my head) of other books that I consider to be Tween:

Honestly, there are so many different definitions of Tween out there that I could do a whole series of posts about it. Ultimately, though, I think Tween is hard to pin down because it’s very much an in-between genre. It’s MG that could appeal to slightly older readers or YA that could work for slightly younger ones. It’s fluid and adaptable and full of possibilities, which is probably why I enjoy it so much.

What do you think of when you hear the term “Tween”?

Accept It: You’ll Never Have Enough Time

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 13:48:17 GMT

[Some fun news: I discovered that THE DIRT DIARY popped up on Goodreads and Amazon yesterday! It's a real book! I can't wait to share the adorable cover with you soon!]

So a while back, I was taking to my father about how the older you get, the more things you have to do and the less time you have to do them. His advice? To accept the fact that you’ll always feel this way and just accomplish what you can. Very zen, right?

As I find myself in the midst of a dozen different things that are demanding my attention, I’m trying to keep breathing and remind myself that certain things will have to slide. Maybe something will get done late. Maybe something less important won’t get done at all.

For someone as Type A as I am, this approach can be painful. What do you mean something won’t get done? Or that it’ll only get done at 50 percent? But I have to do ALL THE THINGS PERFECTLY!

I guess it comes down to priorities. Which things do I have to accomplish on time and well? Which things have a little more leeway? And which might not be as urgent as they seem?

And the most important thing? Be forgiving. If you don’t accomplish everything on your list, it’s okay. Just do the best you can. I think that’s going to be my new mantra.

Originally published at www.annastan.com

6 Reasons I Stop Reading (And How to Avoid Them)

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 13:55:37 GMT

I’m knee-deep in revision right now, so here’s an older craft post that seems fitting.

I’ve been having great luck with books recently, but for a while I was in a serious reading dry spell. I’d pick up book after book and not get more than a few chapters in. After reflecting on all those books I couldn’t get through, I’ve come up with a list of things that make me stop reading – and how to avoid them.

1. I can’t connect to the character. No matter how important the conflict feels to the character, if I don’t care what happens to her, I won’t care if the conflict is resolved. That’s why when a story starts with action, it needs to clue us into the character very quickly, otherwise we’re watching things happen to a person we have no reason to care about.

Solution: Make us connect with the character right away; we don’t necessarily need to like her but we need to care enough about her that we’ll be upset if she’s crushed by an asteroid.

2. Nothing has really happened, and it doesn’t feel like anything is going to happen anytime soon. If I’m on chapter five and I’m still not sure what the story is going to be about, chances are I’ll give up on it.

Solution: Story is about conflict, and that conflict should at least be hinted at in the first chapter. Beautiful writing or a great voice will only get you so far; ultimately, your story needs to be about someone struggling.

3. The telling doesn’t do the story justice. I was excited to read a particular book because of the premise, but it was structured as a series of reports that were supposed to recount the events of the story. This approach kept me so far away from the characters that I just couldn’t get invested in the story, no matter how interesting the premise was.

Solution: Experimentation is great, but you still want to draw in your reader. If you want to keep some distance between your reader and your characters, for example, give us some other compelling reason to keep reading.

4. The story doesn’t make me care. Sometimes there’s a general “So what?” that I feel when I’m reading; why should I care what happens in this story? Often this is because the stakes aren’t high enough or the characters’ motivations aren’t believable. I want to care about these people and what happens to them, but if it feels like their struggles aren’t genuine or necessary, then I probably won’t keep reading.

Solution: Make the stakes high but also make them believable. If the character is taking big risks for something she doesn’t care about and that doesn’t really affect her, chances are we won’t care about her struggle.

5. The story is too derivative. Of course all stories are inspired by others stories, but if I start reading a book that is trying too hard to be like something else (Twilight, perhaps?), I usually find that distracting. Often I get the feeling that I’ve read this book before, and it was better the first time.

Solution: If you’re writing a story that’s been told many times before, you have to find a way to make it your own – find that special twist that makes your story unique.

6. It’s just not my personal taste. This isn’t a fault as much as it is a reminder. Your story will not be for everyone. My husband absolutely loved a book and encouraged me to read it; I got about halfway through and had to put it aside because it was just too gory for me.

Solution: Keep your ideal reader in mind and write for him. Of course, you want your story to have a broad appeal, but it’s impossible to cater to everyone.

So that’s my list of “deal-breakers” and some possible solutions. Now it’s time for yours. What makes you stop reading a book? What are some possible solutions to those problems?

Originally published at www.annastan.com

EPIC FAIL Book Trailer!

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 15:16:31 GMT

If you have a minute, pop over to the Cabinet of Curiosities where I talk about lots of things, including my biggest hair wish.

Remember way back in 2011 when I released a book trailer for My Very UnFairy Tale Life? And it was so amazing that it totally changed your life? And you sat in front of your computer for MONTHS waiting for the book trailer for My Epic Fairy Tale Fail to come out? Well, the wait is finally over. Here it is. Get ready to have your life changed all over again.

Originally published at www.annastan.com

Ducks, Deadlines, and First Reviews

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:08:08 GMT

It’s been a busy week!

I’m over at the Crooked Book talking about lots of things, including my favorite word. Hint: It waddles.

Aaaand, the first review of My Epic Fairy Tale Fail is in. And it’s a good one! Kirkus says:

“Staniszewski again keeps her tone light and frothy with plenty of wry humor…Middle school friendships offer a nice theme, as does Jenny’s casual acceptance of her fantasy life. The humor is balanced with a poignant subplot when Jenny learns that her long-lost parents disappeared from this very place, leading her to believe that she might be able to find them…Flippant fantasy fun.”

Hooray! Getting this review was a much-needed boost of confidence since I just found out that my deadline for the first Dirt Diary book has been bumped up. I’m a little nervous about getting everything done on time, but I’m sure it’ll all work out. (Fingers, toes, and eyes crossed, as Rachel from The Dirt Diary would say.)

What’s new with you?

Originally published at www.annastan.com

E-Book News and Schedule Changes

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 14:46:38 GMT

I was so excited yesterday to see that My Very UnFairy Tale Life is only $1.99 for Kindle and Nook. I know it might seem strange that I’m happy about my book being so inexpensive, but I’m hoping the sale will help get it out to new readers. And just in time for the second installment in the series.

Speaking of series, I’m entering the land of crazy deadlines at the moment, trying to keep up with the publishing schedules for the UnFairy and Dirt Diary books, so I’m going to be adjusting my blogging schedule. I’ll be here on Tuesdays and Fridays–with an occasional other day, I’m sure.

And if you see me wasting time on FB and Twitter in the coming weeks, please yell at me and tell me to get back to work!

Friday Five: Manic Edition

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 17:05:18 GMT

1. Oh boy. Now that UnFairy 3 is out of my hair for a bit, I’ve been trying to catch up on my To Do list. It’s amazing how many things slide right out of your brain when you’re busy, even if they’re important things. Slowly slowly slowly getting caught up.

2. The spring semester starts next week. I have NO idea how that happened. I guess time flies when you’re having…revision fun?

3. I’m over on Alison Formento’s blog today for a Book Splash interview, where I talk sea anemones and Star Wars sand castles. Can you say NERD?

4. Husband Ray and I are going away this weekend for a much-needed change of scenery. I’m looking forward to not being glued to my laptop for a couple of days.

5. I just started reading The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson, the sequel The Girl of Fire and Thorns. I loved the first book in the series, and I’m really looking forward to diving into the sequel.

Have a great weekend!

Originally published at www.annastan.com

Writing Yourself Into a Corner

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 13:32:53 GMT

(If you have a minute, check out an interview with yours truly over at the GroggSpot.)

I’m happy to report that I sent UnFairy 3 to my editor yesterday. Woohoo! Even though this was supposed to be a “first draft,” the publishing schedule is pretty tight, so I wanted to get the initial draft nice and polished since I won’t have much time to revise later on.

Luckily, I have some awesome critique partners, as well as an agent with a fantastic eye, so I was able to get the manuscript to a point where I was pretty happy with it. Yesterday, however, as I was doing one last pass, I realized I’d written myself into a corner. I’d cut out a magical element in the story because it felt overly complicated, and now the ending didn’t quite work. Oops.

Normally, when I write myself into a corner, I step away from the project and let my brain sort it out. But in this case, I didn’t have the luxury of taking time away. I must admit I kind of went into panic mode. Thanks goodness Husband Ray, with his logical programmer brain, was able to come up with a pretty easy fix. As Heather said, “It’s awesome when you live with your beta reader.”

It’s funny how often I’m reminded that writing is a collaborative process. When you’re hunched over your laptop, mumbling under your breath, it can feel like you’re in it all alone. But that’s really not the case. That whole “it takes a village” thing is absolutely true.

What do you do when you write yourself into a corner?

Send More Chocolate

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 15:12:55 GMT

In the revision cave. The light is dim here. I can barely remember what my book is supposed to be about. Must finish by Monday to send to my editor. I hope she doesn’t read it and realize she’s made a huge mistake.

The dog keeps staring at me. I think she wants to eat me. Either that or she’d like me to pay attention to her instead of staring at the laptop and talking to myself.

The chocolate stash is getting dangerously low. Soon I’ll move on to spooning sugar into my mouth. After that, god knows.

Back to work now. (I don’t want to!) Must keep revising. (Do I have to?) Must finish. (Can you please finish it for me?)

See you all on the other side.

A request and what’s in store for 2013

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 13:44:27 GMT

Happy 2013! I can’t believe it’s a whole new year. It hit me yesterday that this is the year I’m going to have TWO books come out. How crazy is that? I think we must mark the occasion with a dapper kitten.

Before I launch into what’s in store for 2013, I have a request. Since my second book is coming out in just two months (eek!) I’m hoping to line up some interviews, guest posts, limerick contests, etc. Any chance you’d like to have me stop by your blog? Please? *bats eyelashes* If so, just let me know!

So 2012 is going to be a jam-packed year. Here’s what will be keeping me busy:

-The EPIC FAIL unofficial blog tour (which I’m working on organizing right now)

-The release of MY EPIC FAIRY TALE FAIL on March 1st (woohoo!)

-Furious typing as I finish revising the third UnFairy book and also work on the two books in the Dirt Diary series (which will be coming out in early 2014)

-The release of MY SORT OF FAIRY TALE ENDING in November (the last in the series–can you believe it?)

-Plus all sorts author-y things, including a tween/YA panel at the AWP conference in March and a variety of school visits and events (which I’m lining up right now)

-Oh plus, you know, real life. I foresee a lot of caffeine in my future.

What’s in store for YOU in 2013?

2012 Reading Highlights

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 13:58:57 GMT

I don’t know how 2012 is almost over, but I guess that means it’s time to look back at the books I most enjoyed reading this year (though they didn’t necessarily come out in 2012). I realized this year was very YA-focused for me, so next year I plan to read a bit more middle grade.

Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn’t Have) by Sarah Mlynowski

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

Every Day by David Levithan

Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally

Hysteria by Megan Miranda

The Different Girl by Gordon Dahlquist

UnWholly by Neal Shusterman

The Cabinet of Earths by Anne Nesbet

The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy by Nikki Loftin

Which books did you most enjoy reading this year?

Oh and Happy New Year! I have to share this adorable song that I probably also shared last year.

A giveaway winner! And the cutest Christmas picture ever.

Mon, 24 Dec 2012 13:20:31 GMT

If you have a minute, hop on over to YA Outside the Lines where I’m reflecting back on the “in-between year” in my publishing journey.

Also, I’m popping out of the revision cave to announce the winner of the Super Sourcebooks Giveaway! Thank you to everyone who entered–it was great to see so much Sourcebooks love.

And the winner is….

Tom M. Franklin!

Hooray!

And now, as promised, the cutest Christmas picture ever:

Going from Revising to Rewriting

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 14:22:59 GMT

You know when you send your manuscript to a beta reader, hoping to get small comments back? And instead, you get feedback that makes you realize you still have a long way to go? Yup. That’s what happened to me this week.

I’m grateful to have such honest beta readers who point out when things aren’t working, but it means I have to really dig in to my WIP and do more work than I was planning on. But you know what? If the result is a better book then I’m willing to do it–even if I whine a little along the way.

So off I go, back into the revision cave. Please send chocolate. (Or some chocolate Lab puppies.) (I promise not to eat them.)

Originally published at www.annastan.com

Final EPIC FAIL Cover and 1st Chapter Sneak Peek!

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 14:04:45 GMT

Two announcements today! First, I have the final official cover for My Epic Fairy Tale Fail:

It’s not super different from the previous version, but I love the stamp effect around “fail.”

And now for the bigger announcement:

You can finally get a sneak peek of My Epic Fairy Tale Fail!

Download the first chapter HERE.

Enjoy!

Originally published at www.annastan.com

9 Tips For Finishing That Novel

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 13:30:15 GMT

I’m currently in grading/revising land, but here’s an older post you might enjoy.

Once upon a time, I had only one writing goal: to actually finish a novel. To be honest, I wasn’t sure I could do it. If you’ve never written “The End” before, it can feel like a daunting task. And if you’ve done it once, you might start to doubt that you’ll be able to do it again. But you can! Here’s how:

1. Give yourself permission to write something terrible. I can guarantee that you won’t get it right on the first try. Your first draft might be the worst thing in the world, but you know what? That’s what revisions are for. Let yourself write an awful first draft. The next one will be better.

2. Start small. If you don’t have an existing writing schedule, declaring that you’re going to write four hours a day might be a tad ambitious. Start off with a half hour or with a manageable word count goal, and go up from there.

3. Work toward a goal. Whether they’re weekly word counts, daily writing blocks, or final deadlines, set concrete goals and work toward them. Writing contests can be great motivators, as can things like NaNoWriMo.

4. Hold yourself accountable. Make sure there are consequences if you don’t reach your goal. If you’re not good at cracking your own whip, ask a friend to bully you into staying on task. Or better yet, ask an enemy, someone who would like nothing better than to see you fail. How’s that for motivation?

5. Celebrate small victories. Instead of getting frustrated at how much you still have to do, acknowledge what you have done (wrote that difficult chapter, reached your weekly word count) and let that feeling of accomplishment motivate you to keep going.

6. Don’t beat yourself up. Even if you don’t reach your goal, keep going forward! You might fall behind on your writing schedule, but don’t get discouraged. You’ll have setbacks. Just keep pushing on.

7. Don’t get distracted by shiny new ideas. The brand new idea you came up with might seem more appealing than your current project, but if you’ve never finished a novel before then you need to stick with the one you’re working on. Because if you finish one, you’ll finish another.

8. Let the story carry you forward. If you’re an outliner, figure out what happens later in the story to keep you on track. If you’re a pantser, think of an image or feeling that you want to leave readers with and write toward it. And remember to hold on to whatever you love about the story, especially when you hit a rough patch.

9. Be patient. It’s tempting to get impatient and want that book to be to done already! But some projects take longer than others. And trust me, publishing is the slowest business on earth, so you might as well start exercising that patience now.

Bottom line is, no one can write the book for you. It won’t be easy and, let’s be honest, that book may never get published. But if you’re serious about writing, do whatever it takes to finish that novel. Because there is nothing quite like writing “The End.”

Books I can’t wait to get my paws on!

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 13:42:11 GMT

A note that “Jenny’s First Adventure” (the UnFairy Tale e-prequel) is now available free on the Kobo website.

Even though I can’t wrap my brain around the fact that the year is almost over, I’m excited for 2013 because of all the great books that will be coming out. Here are some of the titles I’m looking forward to:

Prophecy by Ellen Oh

Prodigy by Marie Lu

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Shades of Earth by Beth Revis

Boundless by Cynthia Hand

What titles are you looking forward to in 2013?

Originally published at www.annastan.com

WIP Wednesday: Done Revising (For Now)

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 00:18:04 GMT

Reminder: Today is the last day to enter the Super Sourcebooks Giveaway!

It’s the end of the semester, which means that I need to put aside revising for a little while and focus on reading papers, grading, etc. Luckily, I managed to get UnFairy 3 ready to send to one of my beta readers last night. (Yay for small victories!)

I’m still feeling uncertain about the story, though I think I’ve managed to make it more tense and interesting in this last round of revisions. I’m sure there are elements missing, but at this point I need someone else to point me toward what those might be.

For now I’m going to try not to think about the WIP and focus on other responsibilities instead. Hopefully when I come back to it next week, I’ll feel ready to dive in again.

How are you all doing with your WIPs? Anyone else taking a little break?

Originally published at www.annastan.com

Super Sourcebooks Giveaway

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:24:01 GMT

I’m sure I’ve mentioned before how much I love my editor at Sourcebooks, and how much fun it’s been to work with the Jabberwocky team. Now that I have not one but two series in the works with my publisher, I’ve decided to do a giveaway that highlights some other recent Sourcebooks titles.

So here it is, the Super Sourcebooks Giveaway!

One lucky winner will receive:

-A signed copy of My Very UnFairy Tale Life or My Epic Fairy Tale Fail (your pick)

AND

-Your choice of any two books from the list of 2012 Sourcebooks titles below.

The contest is open internationally (anywhere Book Depository delivers) and ends on December 12th at midnight EST. More details on how to enter are at the end of this post.

For Children/Tweens

Real Mermaids Don’t Hold Their Breath (Real Mermaids #2) by Helene Boudreau

Mira’s Diary: Lost in Paris by Marissa Moss

The Undertakers: Queen of the Dead (The Undertakers #2) by Ty Drago

Elliot and the Last Underworld War (The Underworld Chronicles #3) by Jennifer Nielsen

The Cupcake Club: Peace, Love, and Cupcakes by Sheryl Berk and Carrie Berk

Samantha Sutton and the Labyrinth of Lies by Jordan Jacobs

For Young Adults

The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart (Magic Most Foul #2) by Leanna Renee Hieber

Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova

Anastasia Forever (Dreaming Anastasia #3) by Joy Preble

Stealing Parker (Catching Jordan #2) by Miranda Kenneally

The Lies That Bind (The Liar Society #2) by Laura Roecker and Lisa Roecker

Who I Kissed by Janet Gurtler

To enter this giveaway:

Just leave a comment. Yup, simple as that.

For extra entries:

-Sign up for my newsletter. (Click here or on the link in the sidebar.) [+2 entries]

-Become a fan of the UnFairy Tale series FB page. [+1 entry]

-Link to this contest on Twitter, Facebook, etc. [+1 entry per each link]

Please make sure to list your extra entries in the comments.

Good luck and happy reading!

Knowing the Purpose of Every Scene

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:08:18 GMT

I’m still in the revision cave, but here’s a revision-related post you might enjoy. Also a reminder: my Super Sourcebooks Giveaway ends in 2 days! Just comment for your chance to win 3 awesome books.

A while back, Laura asked a great question in the comments: What is the most recent leap in understanding craft you’ve made? I had to mull this over for a while since I feel like I’m always learning more about craft. But when I thought back to all the revision I’ve been doing lately, one main theme emerged: the importance of knowing the purpose of every scene.

This might sound like obvious advice, but I don’t just mean knowing what happens in the scene (e.g. Suzie has a fight with Adam), I mean really knowing what every moment, every sentence, is contributing to the story. That way, if you wind up cutting out a paragraph, for example, you know exactly what function it was serving in your story and you can determine if that function can be served in some other way.

I came across a perfect example of this in one of my WIPs. As I’ve mentioned before, I had to do some serious cutting from the beginning of a WIP. While it made the pacing work better at the beginning, I realized that it also completely eliminated scenes that established the tight-knit relationship between the main character and his father, and it also took out the introduction of an important secondary character. I went back through the opening chapters and wrote in a short little scene that helped show the relationship between the main character and his father. Then I worked in a mention of the secondary character before we meet her.

When you’re going through your WIP, you need to know exactly what every moment of every scene is giving you. If there are lines, paragraphs, or pages that don’t actually DO anything to further your story (add to character development, advance plot, etc.) you either need to cut them out or you need to give them a reason for being there. It’s this kind of line-by-line precision that will make every word of your story count.

Thanks, Laura, for asking such a thought-provoking question! Okay, now it’s your turn, dear readers: What is the most recent leap in understanding craft you’ve made?

Help! My opening chapters are boring!

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 13:44:28 GMT

First, just a small “Eek!” because I found out MY EPIC FAIRY TALE FAIL is now up on NetGalley. That means people could be Reading It Right Now! So scary and exciting!

Okay, so as I’ve been revising UnFairy 3, something about the opening chapters has been bugging me. Finally, I created a spreadsheet that lists the action, length, and location of each chapter. And what did I discover? That my opening is BORING.

The first chapter is full of tension and danger, but after that the characters mostly walk, talk, and look at things. Snoooore. Those chapters are important to the story, however, so I need to find a way to make them more interesting.

Here are some things I’m going to try:

-Tension! I’ll be revisiting The Fire in Fiction by Donald Maass, who gives lots of tips on adding tension, especially in places where it doesn’t naturally exist.

-Conflict! Right now, there’s some internal conflict and some external conflict, but both need to be heightened. A lot.

-Stakes! The stakes for Jenny are pretty high, but I think I need to clarify them so that we really feel she has something to lose. Perhaps having her imagine what her life will be like if she fails her mission will help solidify how important it is for her to succeed.

-Humor! I know that when a story makes me laugh, I’m excited to keep reading it. So on top of the things I listed above, I’m going to keep pushing the humor to help engage (and entertain) readers.

I’d love to hear your tips! How do you spice up boring chapters?

Writing Wisdom From James Scott Bell

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 13:38:12 GMT

Yesterday, I took an hour out of my day to participate in a free webinar by James Scott Bell on his approach to revising a novel. I’m a huge fan of JSB’s books on craft, so it was great to hear him talk about his ideas.

The webinar was full of good reminders about the revision process (e.g. make sure the stakes are high enough, make sure the character has something to lose in every scene, etc.) but JSB also had some interesting answers to the questions people asked at the end.

Here were a couple that stood out (as paraphrased in my notes):

-When asked about drafting, JSB had this tip for creating word count goals for yourself:

Determine how many words you can comfortably write every week, and then raise that number by 10%.

-When asked how to pare down a manuscript, he said:

Look for threads in the story that are doing less work, and cut out subplots that don’t threaten the character in some way.

What great craft advice have you heard recently?

The Free UnFairy Tale e-Prequel Is Live!

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 14:33:12 GMT

Just popping out of the revision cave to announce that the free My Very UnFairy Tale Life e-prequel is now available. Read about Jenny’s first magical (mis)adventure and get some extra fun bonus content:

You can download the ebook in a variety of formats on Smashwords (including formats that you can read online instead of on an ereader) and the book will be available (for free) via BN, iTunes, etc. very soon!

Originally published at www.annastan.com