Category Archives: Writing Process

April 17, 2014 · 6:08 PM

Emerging from Chaos: Relishing the Post-Draft Cleanup

Image courtesy of adamr/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Maybe I’m just weird, but there’s something euphoric about the post-draft cleanup period … when the manuscript reaches its (temporary) end and the keyboard-punching squalor in which I’ve been living finally goes away.

Out go the late-night fro-yo bowls, the drained mugs with solidified coffee residue at the bottom, the piles of notecards, the “reference” books, the illegible pencil notes, and the reams of print-outs bloody from my Bic round stic pen. Oh, and the random sweaters I kept taking on and off. And the receipts I meant to file away. And the inboxes that look like George Costanza’s wallet. And the to-do list for my non-writing life that’s been completely on hold for months. Continue reading →

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April 4, 2014 · 9:53 AM

My tribute to a publishing heroine: Hazel Gaynor, author of THE GIRL WHO CAME HOME

About six months ago, when I was trying to figure out this whole publishing thing, I connected with a brilliant and wonderful author by the name of Hazel Gaynor. To an aspiring author, she was a beacon of hope and kindness in a world of locked doors.

By that time, her self-published e-book, The Girl Who Came Home, had sold nearly 100,000 copies and gone on to secure a re-publishing deal (plus an additional title) from William Morrow.

To me, she was living proof that an author with a good book and a dedicated work ethic would eventually find success. There may only be one Promised Land, but there are countless ways to get there.

When I reached out to her for advice with Desperately Ever After last fall, she could have easily glossed over my questions or sent me an indifferent, “Just keep at it!” But she didn’t. She took the time to answer all of my questions in-depth; she asked about my life and told me about hers; she put me in touch the brilliant Andrew Brown of Design for Writers; she introduced me to Catherine Ryan Howard‘s invaluable guidebook, Self-Printed; she offered to be my second-ever author interview on Skipping Midnight (after the also wonderful Heather Webb); and she has continued to support me in this brand new life that I’m determined to make work.

Hazel was the first of many writers I’ve since met who’ve completely disproved the notion that this industry is filled with cutthroat, uber-competitive people who are only out for themselves.

This past Tuesday, William Morrow released the “new and improved” edition of The Girl Who Came Home. Below are the Amazon summary and link. I just purchased my paperback copy (the original is on my Kindle), and hope you’ll consider doing the same. Continue reading →

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November 22, 2013 · 7:57 AM

Understanding Writers

I found this post by Dahlia Adler a few months ago and loved it. For some reason, it seemed perfect for a rainy Friday. Whether you’re a writer or a reader, it offers some good insight.

Read it, comment, and then head on over to The Daily Dahlia for more.

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If you enjoy Skipping Midnight, fairy tales or puppies (and come on, who doesn’t like puppies?) please head over to Facebook and “like” my page. Who knows, maybe it’s a wizard in disguise and doing so will grant you eternal good karma. Just sayin’…

The Daily Dahlia

Non-writers, we love you. We really do. We love how badly you want us to succeed, how badly you want to give us advice, and the incredible amount of support you give with your words and wallets. You are amazing. And when you try to make suggestions as to how we should go about publishing our books, it’s not you we’re frustrated at, exactly. We know that writing looks easy; it’s something we’ve all had to do in school a zillion times. And we know we’re not all getting paid for it yet, and that makes it look like it’s just this fun little thing we do to pass the time or indulge our insanity, and yes, it is that too.

But here’s the thing: it’s hard work. It’s time-consuming. It’s soul-sucking. And it’s so, so much more than you think it is. It’s something that requires a lot more…

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November 8, 2013 · 9:46 AM

Why every writer needs a dog

There from the beginning

The great Jennifer Weiner (author of Good in Bed, In Her Shoes, and, my personal favorite, Goodnight Nobody) doesn’t need to give advice to the legions of writers salivating over her wild success. With 10 bestsellers and 11 million copies in print, she could easily spend the rest of her life in seclusion, mailing out manuscripts for instant publication, and cashing in royalty checks. Instead, she is constantly going on Twitter to make adoring fans laugh; on Facebook to provide glimpses into her life; and all over the web to answer questions and make hope-swollen writers feel a little bit at ease.

A few years ago, when I decided to stop dreaming about becoming a novelist and do something about it, I found a great deal of guidance from a spot on her website. In addition to the numerous pages reflecting her success, there was one titled “For Writers.”

It was filled with great advice. But the best, hands down, was this: GET A DOG Continue reading →

Welcome to National Novel Writing Month

Image courtesy of Felixco, Inc. / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Think you can write 50,000 words in a month?

No, they can’t be the same words repeated over and over again, Bart Simpson. But a bona fide novel? What’s so hard? After all, you must have survived at least one 2,000-word term paper all-nighter… pounding Red Bull and chewing on your hair while your roommate snored away… stumbling up to class the next day looking like you spent the night trapped in a bunker with a rabid raccoon.

All you’d have to do to participate in National Novel Writing Month is repeat that daily from today until November 30. Heck, you’d even have five days to spare. Psht. Child’s play.

Hold up there, Hemingway. Continue reading →

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January 22, 2013 · 10:29 AM

Revision Vision

I finished the second book in the Desperately Ever After series over the holidays, and now it’s on to those wonderful weeks of revising.

Luckily, while I sometimes want to throw my computer at the wall, I do in some sick and twisted way love revising. This is when the layers really start to emerge.

For me, the first draft puts me at JFK airport on a two-hour layover. The second, third, and come-what-may drafts get me out onto the streets, strolling Riverside Park at sunset, smelling the chestnuts at the corner of 43rd and Madison, soaking in the lights at Times Square, riding the glass elevators in the Marriott… you get the idea. Continue reading →