All Write Already: Year Of Your Book

by Gena Showalter

  There’s no right way or wrong way; there’s only your way and what works best for you. Do not listen to anyone who tells you otherwise. But wait! Be aware: What works for you one day may not work the next time. Be open to change and try experimenting with different methods when needed. If one approach stifles your creativity, try something else.

  JILL: Your writing space can also change from day to day and book to book. Tall, Dark and Filthy Rich I wrote in a notebook while waiting in the car at the school pickup line. Lord of Rage found its way onto the page while camping and At the Heart of Christmas was written almost exclusively on my laptop. Rules don’t dictate where and how we write. Just because one book was written at a noisy coffee shop doesn't mean you must mirror that same environment for the next book. As you change, your methods can change.

  Your assignment: Write roughly 250 words for your novel.

  Bonus assignment: Write one paragraph longhand, and type another paragraph into a digital document. Get a feel for both methods. Do you feel more creative one way? Did you want to keep going when typing, but struggled to form ideas when writing longhand, or vice versa?

  Day 42

  Reflect and Catch Up

  Anyone who wants to write professionally needs to figure out her process. Each author works in her own unique way. For example, I write by the seat of my pants – meaning I have a scene in my head that inspires me, I sit down and start writing, and I let my muse guide me along the way. I never know for sure what my characters will do or say and they surprise me all the time. For me, the process is almost like reading a book, because each page unfolds with new surprises.

  Other authors want/need to plot in advance. I have an author friend who creates scenes and then ties them together, and yet another friend who writes the ending first and then backtracks.

  If I tried any of those methods, I’d never complete another book because I’d be so frustrated, and if they tried my method, they say they’d ramble all over the place without any coherency.

  I also write “complete,” meaning I don’t do first or second drafts. I edit as I go, often rereading the previous 10 pages before diving into the next part of the story. That way, when I’m done I’m done! I have friends who write a first draft, and some who write three.

  I get bored very easily and rereading my own work would be painful for me, but the point is that there’s no wrong way as long as it works for you. Whatever helps you take a story from start to finish is what you need to do, because a book isn’t finished until... it is.

  One thing I’ve always felt passionate about is the avoidance of critique groups. I know they work for some authors (see paragraph 1!) but in this flooded market, the most unique thing any author has to offer is her voice. If multiple voices have gone through your book, you’ve diluted that filet mignon to beef stew... and everyone sells beef stew, right?

  Lastly, write for YOU. If you don’t enjoy the process, if you don’t love your characters and aren’t involved in each scene, the reader won’t be either. Worse, the entire process will become a heinous chore, and seriously, there are less stressful jobs than making yourself write a book you don’t love. If you laugh with your characters, if you cry and curse alongside them, if you finish your book to complete satisfaction, the reader will too. Happy writing to all!

  –By New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster

  Day 43

  POV: Point of View

  The point of view you use determines how your reader will see the world and the characters within it. Some authors prefer a single point of view throughout their books. Others like to use a double point of view. In romance, we often use a double point of view to showcase both love interests. You can even write scenes from a secondary character’s viewpoint...or a dog...or a door—whatever or whomever you’d prefer!

  Think about your narrator’s personality and flaws. How do they see the world differently than the people around them? Are they aware of those differences? Are they reliable, only speaking the truth, or do they lie to themselves? Do their feelings and opinions cloud their judgement? How do you want your narrator to come across to your reader?

  Can’t decide on a narrator for a particular scene? Ask yourself which character has the most to gain or lose by what is about to occur.

  Some authors keep a running tally of screen time for each character. Just remember, it’s your world and your rules. Don’t create artificial scenes in an attempt to maintain some kind of balance.

  To build suspense about a certain character’s thoughts, you can stay out of their head.

  Your assignment: Write roughly 250 words for your novel.

  Bonus assignment: Write a short scene involving two main characters witnessing a fight, having an argument, or going to an event, but use only one point of view. Then, write the same scene from another character’s point of view. Which works better for that scene and why?

  Day 44

  Which Tense?

  When writing your novel, you have several tenses to choose from.

  Present: I am eating a cookie.

  Past: I ate a cookie.

  Future: I will eat a cookie.

  But there’s also:

  Present perfect: I have eaten a cookie.

  Past perfect: I had eaten the cookie.

  Future perfect: I will have eaten a cookie.

  In terms of your narrator, you get to choose between:

  First person: I ate a cookie.

  Third person: She ate a cookie.

  We know authors who like to write their first draft in first person to help them delve deeper into character emotion and thought. When the book is complete, they write a second draft with everything in third person.

  GENA: I’ve written books in third person past, first person past, and first person present. The tense I chose always depends on my target audience, storyline and characters. In Playing With Fire, I decided to stay inside the heroine’s head exclusively, leaving the hero shrouded in mystery. (He’s a sexy government agent sent to neutralize her after she develops superpowers over the 4 elements.) As the two seem to fall in love, I wanted the reader to wonder if he truly had her best interests at heart.

  Your assignment: Write roughly 250 words for your novel.

  Bonus assignment: Yesterday, you wrote a scene from two different points of view. Today, we’d like you to take one of those scenes and flip the tense. If you wrote it in past tense, change it to present, and vice versa. If you wrote in third, change it to first, and vice versa. Do you notice any differences in terms of emotion, feeling, or mood?

  Day 45

  Inside Joke

  In real life, people who are close often have inside jokes.

  JILL: I know Gena has mentioned this, but you need to know my side of the story. When Gena dropped by my house and STOLE a garden gnome right off my porch, I only discovered the theft when she sent me a picture of the poor statue with a knife to its throat. The nerve! I loved that gnome I also hated. Of course, I had to retaliate by stealing the stuffed singing lobster I’d given her, putting it in a pot, as if I planned to boil it…while filming it all. And that’s how the battle of Lobby and Gnomie began—Gena’s fault. Now, we tease each other about this and most people have no idea what we’re talking about.

  It’s fun to give our main characters inside jokes as well. This adds a new layer of authenticity.

  GENA: Gnomie had it coming! Sorry, I just had to get that out of the way. Anyway. In The Darkest King, the heroine is a killer unicorn-shifter. Yes. I said unicorn-shifter. In her society, they repay every wrong with a diabolical punishment à la The Good Place, like forcing the commitment-phobic hero to pretend to be her boyfriend in order to gain something he wants more than breath. Throughout the book, the two tease each other about this fake relationship in ways others find confusing.

  “The wedding’s off! We’re broken up.”

  “Hate to break it to you, baby, but we just got back together.”

  Your assignment: W
rite roughly 250 words for your novel.

  Bonus assignment: Create an inside joke for two of your characters.

  Day 46

  Vision Boards and Storyboards

  A vision or dream board is a collection of images and quotes meant to inspire you. People do this to focus on and magnify their dreams and goals.

  You can also make a vision board for your story!

  By using images that remind you of your characters and the locations they visit within your story, you can remind yourself of the most important visual details at a glance.

  The physical appearance of your characters

  Their home

  Their office

  Outfit ideas

  A storyboard is a little different. Rather than photos, you keep plot points arranged in the order they need to be written. This creates a visual blueprint to follow as you write.

  Some authors find storyboards and vision boards to be a helpful part of their brainstorming process, as well as aiding in their need for organization. You might be one of them!

  Your assignment: Double your daily word count today! Write roughly 500 words for your novel.

  Day 47

  Get Your Second Wind

  The weather can play a large part in your story, affecting the scene’s setting, the character’s clothing choices, whether or not someone’s plans need to change, and any number of other things.

  We have tips to navigating these weather situations!

  Referring to the seasons of the year can act as shorthand. As soon as you read the word “summer,” you automatically think sunshine, heat, swimwear.

  Seasons can affect your characters’ moods. Too hot in summer, too cold in winter, too rainy in spring, and too dreary in fall, and someone might complain.

  Tornadoes and hurricanes can create danger and chaos. Lightning can illuminate and electrify. Storms can be frightening or cleansing.

  Location changes everything! Rain may be falling in town while it’s clear in the mountains above. Traveling south will bring warmer weather. Don’t forget that the northern and southern hemispheres experience the seasons at opposite times of year

  Your assignment: Write roughly 250 words for your novel.

  Bonus assignment: Determine what season(s) take place during your story. How does the time of year affect your characters? Does weather play a significant role? Does the weather play a role in character behavior. Did it trigger a memory?

  Day 48

  Interview Your Main Characters

  You know your characters better now. But do you know them well enough? Today, you’re going to interview your main characters, asking silly questions to get to know them on a deeper level.

  Bonus: You might want to find ways to pepper their answers throughout your story!

  We’ll help you start!

  Would you rather fight a zombie and get bit, or be a zombie and do the biting?

  You’re in trouble. Do you involve others or handle it on your own?

  If you were a movie, what would be your title?

  What pizza toppings are you?

  Would you rather be invisible for the rest of your life or never have another moment of privacy?

  If you were a car, what kind would you be?

  Believe it or not, there is meaning to the madness. Knowing if someone views themselves as a sports car or a junker held together by duct tape and a prayer can give true insight into a character.

  Your assignment: Write roughly 250 words for your novel.

  Side Note: You can save your character interviews to use as promo later!

  Day 49

  Reflect and Catch Up

  The words in the first line of a book are some of the most important lines you’ll write. Yet when that thought puts me into a panic, I tend to think of what my character would say about first lines. It often comes off dramatic, sarcastic, or in some cases, a bit murderous. If I leave that first line to what my character needs, even if it’s only a small shadow of who they are as a person, I can let those words flow.

  –New York Times bestselling author Carrie Ann Ryan

  Day 50

  Action Then Reaction

  When good or bad things happen in someone’s life, they react physically, mentally, and emotionally. Don’t gloss over those details in your story! What physical changes come over your characters? Do their thoughts fragment? What emotions unfurl inside them?

  In most scenes, you might notice the action comes first, followed by a reaction. (For reference, a flashback is a way to show reaction before action.) As in real life, we react to something first—we flinch/smile/gasp—and then we think about it. This don’t have to be a long, drawn out rumination, especially when you’re in the midst of an action scene. You can make a brief mention and expound later. Allow your characters to react emotionally, then process what they are feeling and figure out a plan of action.

  Your assignment: Write roughly 250 words for your novel.

  Day 51

  Too Much? Too Little?

  How much should I be writing a day?

  Honestly, every author is different. One person’s pace might not work for another. And really, your pace can even vary from day to day. Your health, energy, motivation and spare time can change, often depending on outside factors.

  Every book is different, too. Sometimes the words just flow, your fingers flying over the keyboard. Other times, you may struggle to craft a single paragraph.

  Some writers are adamant about writing every single day. Others prefer to deliberate for weeks, even months, then word vomit a draft as quickly as possible. Don’t be afraid to give different methods a try; it might take a little trial and error to find the pace that works for you. Monitor how much you are writing in any given hour, where your writing flows, and the environment that best stimulates your creativity.

  Be careful not to make comparisons with other authors. It can take as little as three days for a lettuce seed to germinate, but up to two weeks for a parsnip. Even though they have different timelines, they’re both still vegetables.

  Your Assignment: Double your daily word count! Write roughly 500 words for your novel.

  Day 52

  Blatant Foreshadowing

  Foreshadowing is a warning or hint of a future event. It creates a sense of foreboding that can keep your reader flipping pages to find out what happens next.

  Think of it this way: If the author takes the time to give a detail, it could be important later on. If someone in a TV show notices a strange noise coming from their car, chances are good the car will break down later and cause some trouble.

  Your characters can notice or feel a prickle of unease. The fine hairs can rise on the back of their neck. Their blood can flash-freeze. Someone can say something that raises suspicions. “Did you see that?” You can use a prophecy: As the moon swallows the sun, a dark warrior will rise to rule the land, but will he be good or evil?

  You can even use flashbacks. Like showing a murder that occurred in a haunted house a century ago in order to showcase what could happen to your main characters when they move in.

  Foreshadowing doesn’t have to be long and drawn out. It can be as simple as one sentence. Game of Thrones is practically branded on foreshadowing. Who hears the phrase “Winter is coming” and doesn’t start thinking about direwolves and dragons?

  Is it necessary to foreshadow? No, not always. But foreshadowing can do two things for your story. First, it can build apprehension or excitement and keep the reader reading. That’s obviously good for you and your story. Second, it can prepare the reader for what’s coming next. Some readers/viewers like to guess what will happen next.

  Another bonus? It can be tons of fun for the writer!

  At this stage of your manuscript, you might not know how your book will end and what to foreshadow. Use our old standby suggestion of keep writing and figure it out later. You can go back and weave in foreshadowing at any time.

  Your assignment: Write roughly 250 word
s for your novel.

  Bonus assignment: Think about whether there is some kind of omen in your book. A prophecy? A sign? Could you enrich your story by adding a hint at what’s to come?

  Day 53

  Subplots

  A subplot is a secondary story that runs parallel to the main story. Meaning, you are incorporating an additional story in your novel. This side-story can be written from the point of view of your main characters at a younger or older age than the time of your main tale, or side-characters known or unknown to your main characters. This side-story might seem to deviate from your main one, but it will always support your theme.