Okay, so I've disappeared into the Book Cave again :) I'm editing the sequel to Total Blueprint for World Domination (Unlock the (U)niverse - squeeeal!) and it is super exciting to know that it's so close to being with you! (The plan is to launch quietly around August 2013, so beta readers, start your engines!!!)
Meanwhile, I wanted to remind you (and myself!) of a previous blog post:
***
You know that book you want to write? It's inside you. I promise.
It already exists - you just have to start!
Those words will become sentences. Those sentences will become paragraphs. Then chapters.
One hundred words a day? It's a book in a year.
You are the best person to write that book. (You totally are.) Pick a pencil. Open a document. Start!
Why not? What if?
***
Gather supplies, open a file, type two-fingered - whatever it takes! This is your life, your legacy, your mark on the world! Pull your undies on over your pants, and head into your Book Cave! 2013 is totally the year to make it happen!
Everything is possible!
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
Monday, February 4, 2013
Friday, October 7, 2011
Taking control!
In case you missed it, here's my first guest post, hosted by Misha at My First Book (more soon!) ... You may not be able to decide who will buy or like your book, but there are some things you can control.
Your book
From the second you make the decision to write, you are in charge! You choose the genre, the word count, the content, the editing, and (if you are self-published) the cover, too. Even changes your agent and editor suggest are ultimately up to you. Your book is a fingerprint on the world, and it is absolutely your creation.
Your promotion
Facebook? Twitter? Goodreads? You choose! The amount of time, energy, and you that goes into your promotion is your choice. Forget what you could be doing, what you should be doing, or what everyone else is doing. Do what feels right for you! As Nathan Bransford says, “The next big thing is never like the last big thing.”
Your responses
An anonymous interwebber tweets you. They review your book, your baby. They call it rubbish. Crap. Badly formatted, hideously worded, error-filled-ugly-covered crap. And they do it with spelling that would disappoint a first grader. Prepare yourself. Once your work is published, it belongs to the world. Your response? Thank you. Thank you for taking the time to not only read my book, but to share your thoughts. You don’t have to correct, complain, or justify. Yes, the reviewer might be completely wrong. They might be mistaken, out of line, and all kinds of mean. (Or they might be the only person brave enough to tell you the truth..!) Either way, when someone spends money, time, and energy on you – it is awesome! One review is one review. A tweet is gone tomorrow. But the way you respond reflects on you, and a rant can reek forever.
Your intentions
Your goals are what you do, but your intentions are how you do it. You get to present yourself with professionalism, humor, warmth, and optimism (or not!) You get to choose what you put out in the world. You may get rejected, but you get to choose the agents you query, the groups you join and the writers you support. And as for who you link up with, and where you hang out? That’s right: all yours. Decide how you want to be in the world, and who you want to connect with. Because over time your intentions become who you are.
Your attitude
Chances are, even your favorite author has had some scathing reviews. Some rejection. Some slow sale days. Do you hear them going off about it? Whining? Grizzling? Nope. They’re busy. Writing.
Being a writer is a dream. It’s a top-of-the-bucket list, thing-to-do-before-I-die, can’t-believe-I-get-to-see-it-on-a-bookshelf dream. You are doing something that people aspire to. Even when the blank page is taunting you. Even when the twenty-third rejection rolls in. Even when you’re squishing rewrites in with a million other things. You are part of something amazing. Feel that with all your heart. Know that it’s true no matter what. You are a writer.
You may not be able to control who reads or likes what you write, but you can choose your words, your attitude, and your intention. Grab hold! Take control of what you can, and let the rest go. Seriously. Focus on what matters – having fun, creating the world you want, and writing your amazing next book! (I can’t wait to read it!)
Your book
From the second you make the decision to write, you are in charge! You choose the genre, the word count, the content, the editing, and (if you are self-published) the cover, too. Even changes your agent and editor suggest are ultimately up to you. Your book is a fingerprint on the world, and it is absolutely your creation.
Your promotion
Facebook? Twitter? Goodreads? You choose! The amount of time, energy, and you that goes into your promotion is your choice. Forget what you could be doing, what you should be doing, or what everyone else is doing. Do what feels right for you! As Nathan Bransford says, “The next big thing is never like the last big thing.”
Your responses
An anonymous interwebber tweets you. They review your book, your baby. They call it rubbish. Crap. Badly formatted, hideously worded, error-filled-ugly-covered crap. And they do it with spelling that would disappoint a first grader. Prepare yourself. Once your work is published, it belongs to the world. Your response? Thank you. Thank you for taking the time to not only read my book, but to share your thoughts. You don’t have to correct, complain, or justify. Yes, the reviewer might be completely wrong. They might be mistaken, out of line, and all kinds of mean. (Or they might be the only person brave enough to tell you the truth..!) Either way, when someone spends money, time, and energy on you – it is awesome! One review is one review. A tweet is gone tomorrow. But the way you respond reflects on you, and a rant can reek forever.
Your intentions
Your goals are what you do, but your intentions are how you do it. You get to present yourself with professionalism, humor, warmth, and optimism (or not!) You get to choose what you put out in the world. You may get rejected, but you get to choose the agents you query, the groups you join and the writers you support. And as for who you link up with, and where you hang out? That’s right: all yours. Decide how you want to be in the world, and who you want to connect with. Because over time your intentions become who you are.
Your attitude
Chances are, even your favorite author has had some scathing reviews. Some rejection. Some slow sale days. Do you hear them going off about it? Whining? Grizzling? Nope. They’re busy. Writing.
Being a writer is a dream. It’s a top-of-the-bucket list, thing-to-do-before-I-die, can’t-believe-I-get-to-see-it-on-a-bookshelf dream. You are doing something that people aspire to. Even when the blank page is taunting you. Even when the twenty-third rejection rolls in. Even when you’re squishing rewrites in with a million other things. You are part of something amazing. Feel that with all your heart. Know that it’s true no matter what. You are a writer.
You may not be able to control who reads or likes what you write, but you can choose your words, your attitude, and your intention. Grab hold! Take control of what you can, and let the rest go. Seriously. Focus on what matters – having fun, creating the world you want, and writing your amazing next book! (I can’t wait to read it!)
Jolene Stockman’s book Total Blueprint for World Domination takes you from this very moment to your greatest dream.
Plot a step-by-step plan for world domination!
Plot a step-by-step plan for world domination!
Monday, August 15, 2011
Pick a Pencil
You know that book you want to write? It's inside you. I promise.
It already exists - you just have to start!
Those words will become sentences. Those sentences will become paragraphs. Then chapters.
One hundred words a day? It's a book in a year.
You are the best person to write that book. (You totally are.) Pick a pencil. Open a document. Start!
Why not? What if?
Everything is possible!
It already exists - you just have to start!
Those words will become sentences. Those sentences will become paragraphs. Then chapters.
One hundred words a day? It's a book in a year.
You are the best person to write that book. (You totally are.) Pick a pencil. Open a document. Start!
Why not? What if?
Everything is possible!
Friday, July 22, 2011
Know It All
"Here's a question: do any other YA authors out there get asked if they have kids of their own? Because when I say no, I get this look..." - Claudia Gabel.
When Claudia* twittered this out, it got me thinking. "Write what you know" is a great way to tap into pure feelings and experience. You can explore real-life texture and detail from your own life. You can provide genuine emotion, and finally take advantage of some of the crap you’ve been through by spinning it into fiction. But you can also get tangled up. You can get set in, “But that’s not how it really happened,” and force your story to follow a narrower path. I’m a big believer in spring-boarding real feelings into new creations. It’s just that when I do it, I have to remind myself to balance what’s best for the story. Real life doesn’t always translate into believable fiction!
I say: whether you have kids, know kids, or were one (what feels like) two seconds ago, don’t let anyone give you the look! Have faith in your gut and your imagination, prepare an answer for the doubters, and do what feels right! Plus you know, if we had to wait for writers to write “what they know”, there’d be no Labyrinth, no Neverending Story, and not even a George’s Marvellous Medicine (I hope!)
Do you think that having kids is key to writing YA?
Do you write what you know?
(Or if it is true, and you have to have kids to write YA, and be in love to write about love, etc. Let’s not ask what’s happening over at Stephen King's place...!)
*Claudia is super-sweet, super-talented, and has an AMAZING new publishing deal. I was lucky enough to work with Claudia on my book The Jelly Bean Crisis, and can say without hesitation: she rocks! Yay Claudia - so excited to read Elusion and Etherworld!
Keep kicking ass!
When Claudia* twittered this out, it got me thinking. "Write what you know" is a great way to tap into pure feelings and experience. You can explore real-life texture and detail from your own life. You can provide genuine emotion, and finally take advantage of some of the crap you’ve been through by spinning it into fiction. But you can also get tangled up. You can get set in, “But that’s not how it really happened,” and force your story to follow a narrower path. I’m a big believer in spring-boarding real feelings into new creations. It’s just that when I do it, I have to remind myself to balance what’s best for the story. Real life doesn’t always translate into believable fiction!
I say: whether you have kids, know kids, or were one (what feels like) two seconds ago, don’t let anyone give you the look! Have faith in your gut and your imagination, prepare an answer for the doubters, and do what feels right! Plus you know, if we had to wait for writers to write “what they know”, there’d be no Labyrinth, no Neverending Story, and not even a George’s Marvellous Medicine (I hope!)
Do you think that having kids is key to writing YA?
Do you write what you know?
(Or if it is true, and you have to have kids to write YA, and be in love to write about love, etc. Let’s not ask what’s happening over at Stephen King's place...!)
*Claudia is super-sweet, super-talented, and has an AMAZING new publishing deal. I was lucky enough to work with Claudia on my book The Jelly Bean Crisis, and can say without hesitation: she rocks! Yay Claudia - so excited to read Elusion and Etherworld!
Keep kicking ass!
Saturday, June 18, 2011
The Periodic Table... of Storytelling
Writers, film fans, TV lovers: prepare to fall head first into James Harris's Periodic Table of Storytelling. Seriously, have you seen this thing??!
http://computersherpa.deviantart.com/art/Periodic-Table-of-Storytelling-203548951?offset=70#comments
Described as a visual metaphor for TVtropes, this visual arts project has created conversation and controversy.
Gorgeous, intricate, and all kinds of clever, this has MADE my month. Oh, to have it on a t-shirt. (And to be someone who wears t-shirts :)).
You can use it to inspire or enhance your own plots, or just enjoy marinating around in other people's!
Everything is possible!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
You can quote me on that!
There it was.
A line from my blog, smiling out of a Twitter post at me. I got quoted!!!!
Here it is:
People write for different reasons; to get rich, to get famous, to be able to work in their pyjamas, or just to get the shrieking voices out of their head... I write because I want to make a difference*.
I love the idea that pieces of me are heading out into the world, bouncing around and sending out ripples... So for me, being quoted? Having someone (thank you Tony Riches!) enjoy my words enough to repeat them? Pfffoooar. That's AMAZING. That's a little piece of me out in the world. Yay!
So, how about you? Why do you write?
*...of course, I'm not denying the shrieking voices or the joy of a life in pyjamas... and I'm not turning down any of the other good stuff either... Making a difference is just my toe-tingliest intention!
Keep kicking ass!
A line from my blog, smiling out of a Twitter post at me. I got quoted!!!!
Here it is:
"Everything is possible. Stop talking about it. Start doing it" ~ @JoleneStockman
People write for different reasons; to get rich, to get famous, to be able to work in their pyjamas, or just to get the shrieking voices out of their head... I write because I want to make a difference*.
I love the idea that pieces of me are heading out into the world, bouncing around and sending out ripples... So for me, being quoted? Having someone (thank you Tony Riches!) enjoy my words enough to repeat them? Pfffoooar. That's AMAZING. That's a little piece of me out in the world. Yay!
So, how about you? Why do you write?
*...of course, I'm not denying the shrieking voices or the joy of a life in pyjamas... and I'm not turning down any of the other good stuff either... Making a difference is just my toe-tingliest intention!
Keep kicking ass!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
X-Men Family Tree
I recently found this handy-dandy X-Men family tree. Yeah. Probably not as handy as it is dandy... But I bet the writer knows it backwards :) http://www.joe-stone.co.uk/marvelfamilytree.html
I use poster paper and colored markers to map out my books. It's great to see the big picture (even if it is a mass of arrows and ink squiggles!)
How do you keep your characters and plots under control?
Everything is possible!
I use poster paper and colored markers to map out my books. It's great to see the big picture (even if it is a mass of arrows and ink squiggles!)
Everything is possible!
Friday, April 22, 2011
South Paw
Even though it comes with smudgy pen marks, useless scissors and an early death (statistically speaking :)) I love being left-handed!
Any lefties passing by? Anyone living with a lefty?
Keep kicking ass!
Any lefties passing by? Anyone living with a lefty?
Keep kicking ass!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Tarantino spins (and borrows!) epic tales of love, violence, revenge and redemption. He throws in pop-culture gems, killer soundtracks and rapid-fire dialogue... And he writes his screenplays long hand. (Say what?!)
One of my favorite writers shares his ritual:
"I never use a computer. I just write it all by hand. It’s a ceremony. I go to a stationery store and buy a notebook. Then I buy a bunch of red felt pens and a bunch of black ones, and I’m like, “These are the pens I’m gonna write Kill Bill with.”
I love pen and paper, but I really love to work electronically. (Plus I'm addicted to cut and paste!) Do you write projects long hand? Do you have any special rituals?
Keep kicking ass!
One of my favorite writers shares his ritual:
"I never use a computer. I just write it all by hand. It’s a ceremony. I go to a stationery store and buy a notebook. Then I buy a bunch of red felt pens and a bunch of black ones, and I’m like, “These are the pens I’m gonna write Kill Bill with.”
I love pen and paper, but I really love to work electronically. (Plus I'm addicted to cut and paste!) Do you write projects long hand? Do you have any special rituals?
Keep kicking ass!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Pooh
Coming up with titles for your book? Let Winnie be your guide! Here's what not to do:
There's also Pooh's Touch and Feel Visit: A Pooh Texture Book...
I know it's silly. But these make me LOL every time :) Do you own any books about Pooh? Have an unfortunate title to share?
Keep kicking ass!
There's also Pooh's Touch and Feel Visit: A Pooh Texture Book...
I know it's silly. But these make me LOL every time :) Do you own any books about Pooh? Have an unfortunate title to share?
Keep kicking ass!
Monday, April 18, 2011
Oscar
When you get an Oscar you've made it. Everything you've worked for, everything you've dreamed of, in one shiny golden moment!
What’s your biggest dream? How will you know when you’ve made it?
I love watching award shows: the speeches, the applause, the tears, the gratitude... but I wonder what happens the next day. Do the winners bask in the golden glow, or jump right back into setting new goals?
PS Whether your golden moment was yesterday or is on its way, wouldn't it be great to just be at peace with exactly where you are? Now there's a great goal!
Keep kicking ass!
What’s your biggest dream? How will you know when you’ve made it?
I love watching award shows: the speeches, the applause, the tears, the gratitude... but I wonder what happens the next day. Do the winners bask in the golden glow, or jump right back into setting new goals?
PS Whether your golden moment was yesterday or is on its way, wouldn't it be great to just be at peace with exactly where you are? Now there's a great goal!
Keep kicking ass!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Elmore Leonard
Fly head first into rapid-fire dialogue, twisty plots, gritty guys and vivid girls. Crime fiction writer Elmore Leonard commands an action-packed world with both edge-of-your-seat and laugh-out-loud moments.
And Elmore Leonard's advice for writers?
"Try to leave out the parts that readers skip."
As a reader, what parts do you skip?
Check out the trailer for the '98 film version of Elmore Leonard's book Out of Sight :)
Got to love a strong female MC - Karen Sisco rocks!
Keep kicking ass!
And Elmore Leonard's advice for writers?
"Try to leave out the parts that readers skip."
As a reader, what parts do you skip?
Check out the trailer for the '98 film version of Elmore Leonard's book Out of Sight :)
Got to love a strong female MC - Karen Sisco rocks!
Keep kicking ass!
Friday, April 1, 2011
Action!
How much have you written today?
One hundred words? One thousand? Ten?
Ten or ten thousand, every bit brings you closer!
Keep kicking ass :)
Thursday, February 17, 2011
What did you call me??!
Do your characters come to you in vivid multi-color: likes, looks and intentions at the ready? Or do you create a bio? Hack away bit by bit until personalities and peculiarities reveal themselves? And what about the name?It’s like naming a baby. Only harder. Because if your baby hates their name they can always grow up and change it. A child can use something else, abbreviate, or get a fake ID. Eventually, they might forgive you. But if you give your character the wrong name? It will stare out at you from the pages of your book forever (no pressure :)).
One of my MCs is named after the 18 year old entrepreneur, Poppy King. I played with other names, but this one just “fit”. I like the idea of names being special or meaningful, but sometimes it really is like the character exists without you.
Do you name your characters after favorite people, pets, songs or items? Do you start looking for people to punish, or to pay back? (Your school bully becomes an extra, your favorite teacher? A heroine...)
So, what are some of your character’s names, and how did you pick them?
Keep kicking ass!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Helvarial Shenanigans
Think you know your Arial from your Helvetica?
Twenty Helvetica company logos redone in Arial... can you tell the difference?
(I got 15/20 :))
Keep kicking ass!
Twenty Helvetica company logos redone in Arial... can you tell the difference?
Obvious? Ridiculous? Take the quiz!
 |
| http://www.ironicsans.com/helvarialquiz/ |
(I got 15/20 :))
Keep kicking ass!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Giving the reader more...
Of course, your book is amazing. It’s AWESOME. It’s plotted to perfection, edited to oblivion and ready for readers. But is your book enough?
Competition for readers is fierce. Already, authors have to ask, “am I enough?” and build the ever-elusive platform. Now, adding value (for the people already cool enough to buy your book) is something else for authors to think about.
As part of my instructional design study, I’m translating Total Blueprint into a Moodle course. I love the idea of making the book an interactive (and ultimately, even more inspiring!) experience.
So, what else is there?
- Authors provide discussion forums, or background novellas.
- Authors promote their book with merchandising.
- Authors let readers get into their head with book playlists.
- Authors post or create teasers and trailers.
As a reader, what “extras” do you expect? Do you expect any at all?
As an author, are you giving your readers enough? Of your book, of your world, of you?
Keep kicking ass!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
First things first, on the first of the first!
1/1/11 One. Uno. Tahi.
This is the perfect time to set some goals! And for motivation? Throw in some Big Fat Whys! The trick is to make your goals doable, and your Whys inspiring…
Here’s one of mine:
Goal: I am going to write a new YA book (60,000ish words).
Why? I want to feel the joy of creation and completion. I want to see my words come to life on the page. I want to send it out to readers (and make their day / decade!) I want to express myself. I want to change the world. I want to take over the world!
Make the next 12 months count!
This is the perfect time to set some goals! And for motivation? Throw in some Big Fat Whys! The trick is to make your goals doable, and your Whys inspiring…
Here’s one of mine:
Goal: I am going to write a new YA book (60,000ish words).
Why? I want to feel the joy of creation and completion. I want to see my words come to life on the page. I want to send it out to readers (and make their day / decade!) I want to express myself. I want to change the world. I want to take over the world!
Make the next 12 months count!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Act II: The Guts
I’m heading into Act II of my latest project :)
As a reader, Act II is where things really amp up, and you find yourself totally absorbed in the story (think: up all night to finish the chapter). And as a writer? Act II is where you get to have fun!
Act II
The guts, the juicy meat, the middle – Act II kicks things up a notch (or twelve!) In the average YA fiction, it's around 100 pages.
In Act II, you start making life tricky for the character you set up in Act I. And by tricky? I mean, super-difficult (more conflict! More disasters! More adventure!) a series of obstacles getting bigger and bigger, until… Act II ends with a high stakes situation that forces Act III (the resolution) and the wrap up.
Okay, so that’s Act II, I’ll see you on the other side!
Keep kicking ass!
As a reader, Act II is where things really amp up, and you find yourself totally absorbed in the story (think: up all night to finish the chapter). And as a writer? Act II is where you get to have fun!
Act II
The guts, the juicy meat, the middle – Act II kicks things up a notch (or twelve!) In the average YA fiction, it's around 100 pages.
In Act II, you start making life tricky for the character you set up in Act I. And by tricky? I mean, super-difficult (more conflict! More disasters! More adventure!) a series of obstacles getting bigger and bigger, until… Act II ends with a high stakes situation that forces Act III (the resolution) and the wrap up.
Okay, so that’s Act II, I’ll see you on the other side!
Keep kicking ass!
Friday, June 11, 2010
Passion
I am writing a brand spanking new first draft. This is the part where the plotting pays off and the abyss opens up. It’s exciting to feel so wrapped up in creation. And terrifying! But I know this is what feels best to me – to disappear into my Book Cave. To create, expand, and (sometimes) chuck it all out and start from scratch. And it’s all totally worth it.
The best and the most we can ask for – is to have the clarity of passion in our lives. To want something so totally and completely, that all action is clear, all problems dissolve, and all else is irrelevant.
Finding your passion can be as simple as following your heart, or as challenging as jumping into the unknown. It can be a lifelong pursuit, or a single moment. Either way, for the time that you feel it, it is so, so worth it.
Keep kicking ass!
The best and the most we can ask for – is to have the clarity of passion in our lives. To want something so totally and completely, that all action is clear, all problems dissolve, and all else is irrelevant.
Finding your passion can be as simple as following your heart, or as challenging as jumping into the unknown. It can be a lifelong pursuit, or a single moment. Either way, for the time that you feel it, it is so, so worth it.
Keep kicking ass!
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