How I Kept My New Year's Resolutions in 2014

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Hello, happy holidayers. It's almost 2015, which means about now, you're making a million promises to yourself. "I will lose 15902 pounds." "I will make my bed every morning." "I will finally figure out how to use the garbage disposal." Hats off to you, my friends. There are so many posts out there about how to keep your resolutions next year, but I thought it might be helpful to show you how I kept my resolutions this year. Say goodbye to 2014 with me, won't you?

On January 6th of last year, I wrote this post and made a handy dandy resolution guide for myself. Let's see how I did, shall we?

2014 Goals

1. Edit. Edit. Edit More. When I first wrote this, it was in regards to my first manuscript. Now that I've finished These are the Moments, the full editing process is under way. I've completed my first read-through, and now it's on to implementing the second draft edits. Mission Accomplished. 
2. Create an E-Newsletter. Hooray! The Blots & Plots Newsletter is a real thing. Currently, I'm at about 112 subscribers. Not too shabby, huh? This year, I intend to utilize this even more, tailoring it to your wants/needs/requests. Mission accomplished. 
3. Go Outside. Explore. Travel. This is less writing-focused, but certainly feeds into the inspiration for writing. In the beginning of this year, I moved to Houston, Texas. I attended a Writer's Conference in Austin, and a Blog Conference in Galveston. There could definitely be more exploring and traveling, but overall, I'm happy with this. Mission accomplished. 
4. Build a Blog Audience. As we speak, I'm at 2,464 followers on Twitter. I've started an Instagram, had a successful following on Pinterest and have a very interactive space on this blog of mine. I've made incredible friends through this space, and I'm grateful to anyone who visits me here. I can't wait to see where all of this goes. Mission accomplished. 
5. Finish. That. Novel. (Excuse me while I jump for joy.) Check and check. Mission accomplished.

Bonus Achievements

1. Empty Bookshelf Challenge. On my Goodreads page, I made a goal to read 40 books this year. So far, I've read 37. (I'm pretty positive this will hit at least 38 by the end of the year.) This was a completely random number I pulled out of the sky, so I'm pretty happy with this result. Mission almost accomplished. 
2. Oh yeah, I'm a published author. At a later date, there will be a complete post about this, but for now, just know that my short story, "Carry Urns & Stowaways" was recently published in an Australian anthology called Kindling, by the wonderful people at Writer's Edit. This was an amazing journey, and I'm thrilled to be even just a small part of it. Mission super accomplished. 

A Special Note/Words of Un-Wisdom

If I could give you one piece of advice on New Year's Resolutions, it would be this: don't waste your time making lofty, unmanageable goals. When it comes to hitting milestones, make lists of things that you're bound to make happen. I knew I would write a book. I knew I would pursue this blog. It was only a matter of time/dedication/tons of coffee. There's something amazing about wanting to climb mountains and bike across the country and be Cheryl Strayed. But I'm not going to live that kind of life (anytime soon, at least). You have to set goals that you can see yourself reaching.

P.S. Thank you for being amazing this year.

P.P.S. That was only un-wisdom because I like putting "un" in front of words. A Very Merry Un-New Year's Eve to you.

TATM is done! (Almost) (Mostly)

Dear friends,

I'm going to keep this post short and sweet, as it's bed time and I need to bring myself back down to Earth. Today I finished writing my book. That's right, it's all there in print, pretty and pink and… wait what? Let's talk emotions. When I realized last night that I only had one scene left to write, the last scene, I realized I still wasn't completely sure how I wanted it to end. That scared me, of course. So I went to sleep and hoped on every last hope that I could figure out what I wanted to say and how I wanted to say it.

This morning I woke up with a little bit clearer of a vision. A fuzzy, looking-at-it-through-a-bubble kind of image. And then I did everything possible today to put off the whole last scene that just felt so big and heavy. I even cleaned. I know. Be shocked. And finally, I sat down and wrote the scene I've been avoiding since like… the beginning of this whole adventure. And it flowed. Word after word, it just started to piece together for me, and when I wrote the last word — which is "wait" by the way, but subject to change — I thought, did I just write a book? 

And I did. Which is kind of awesome in that it's my first book. But also, I'm aware that others have written book after book before me, so I've got a long road ahead of me. Anyway. I finished writing a book today, and the editing will come tomorrow, so I feel kind of pins-and-needles-ish and I want to hug all of you and drink some kind of pink drink together. While wearing pink. (God, I really shouldn't write these posts while half-asleep.)

Now allow me to be a little sentimental. Big thank you to everyone who reads this blog and has followed through this crazy (bound to be crazier soon) book journey with me. All of your tweets, comments and thoughts really mean a lot to me, and I'm just so happy to be part of this amazing community. You are the best. And now, a video:

A Lesson in Editing and A #TATM Update

This one goes out to all you post-NaNoers. And everyone else knee-deep in the thick of their own rambling, misspelled words. Last week, I talked a little bit about how I just recently merged my dual timelines, and now I'm all, "Holy Heck, this looks like a book." When I made this merge, I realized there were a few filler scenes that I needed to finish writing, before I could print out the dang thing and get a good look at it. I'm happy to say that I only have two more filler scenes + the final scene (which I am shaking in my boots just thinking about) until I can move forward with what I consider to be my second draft editing.

When people say that writing is hard work, I think they really mean editing is hard work. Dear Lord, is it tough. My second draft of These are the Moments is a mix of edited and non-edited chapters, that I am fully prepared to hack into with my pink pen (red's too creepy) once all of the writing is done, done, done. I have a strategy, I promise you. First step, write the book: check. Second step: merge the timelines: check. And for my editing plan? Well, it goes a little something like this (ten points if you caught that Aaron Carter reference):

An In-Depth Read-Through

This is what writer people like to call "macro edits." Big picture stuff. My first read-through isn't going to be a hey, I think you missed a comma there kind of reading. It's going to be a you gave that girl two different last names and a what happened to the cat kind of editing. Here's what to look for in this stage:

• Subplots: Do they each have enough "screen time," so to speak? Are they evolving? Is there a resolution? For example, my main character, Wendy, and her relationship with her sister Claudia is an integral subplot. They begin the novel a little distant, their age difference acting as a kind of barrier, and by the end, well…. you'll see.
• Themes: What's your story trying to say? And more importantly, how well is it communicating that message? I'm not a huge believer in the bold, HEY THIS IS THE THEME method. I think stories affect everyone in different ways. Example: one theme of TATM is the idea of growing up and dealing with that post-college phase of your life. This is communicated through her living at home again, getting used to a full-time job and trying to be self-sufficient. In the end, Wendy has to realize that she's an adult now. But it takes a while to get to that point!
• Transitions: This one is doubly important for me, as I'm basically making two stories fit to one. But in general, is your story fitting together? Can readers follow your zigs and zags? My story covers ten years of livin' so it's especially important for me to keep readers grounded in when things are happening. The last thing you want is for a reader to get confused. They'll most likely give up.

Keep notes from your first reading. In a notebook or in the margins of your print-out. Whatever you feel most comfortable with!

Review and Edit

Wow, what a whirlwind, huh? Okay, now's the part where you go back and check out all the crazy notes you made. Then make the changes. This might involve big edits, like reworking full scenes, or minor edits like cutting sentences or paragraphs. On the first round, try to focus on the big issues first, and then trickle your way down to the baby fixes. With TATM, I don't anticipate too many total scene reworkings. I conquered a good deal of that when I transferred my scenes from paper to computer.

Was that so bad? Yeah, it was. I'm not gonna lie to you. But guess what! It gets easier… I think. The next step is another read-through, with a narrower focus. Look for things like hey I use the word "look" a heck of a lot and okay, I need to vary those sentences a bit. Actually, now that I think about it, this step might be even tougher than the first. I tend to drive myself crazy over this kind of thing, over thinking it, when I should just leave well alone. Hey Jenny, nobody cares how many times you used the word blue. They just don't. Keep a little perspective, I'd say. After this round of edits, make the changes. Read, Edit, Repeat. More and more focused with each cycle. You get it.

END NOTE: This has nothing to do with anything in this post, but I'm currently reading a fantastic set of e-books on self-publishing, called The Indie Author Power Pack: How To Write, Publish, & Market Your Book. I highly recommend!

What's your best advice on the editing process? No, really. Help a sister out.

Writing Dual Timelines: A How To

So, you're writing a dual timeline? And you're thinking to yourself: hmm, how the heck is this going to work? You may be thinking: how do I balance these two or one storyline is more interesting than the other or why the heck is this so hard?

My novel, These are the Moments, spans ten years, flipping back and forth each chapter. There a few great ways to write this kind of narrative. I, however, have only done this once. So let me give you my version as well as some back-up plans, for those of you more structured folk.

A dual timeline is a novel/short story/what have you that takes place in… you guessed it, two periods of time. This could be historical fiction or contemporary or whatever you choose. My novel is a contemporary fiction, spanning high school into college and then post-college life. Here's how I did it:

Option One

Option One shall be known as "Jenny style," not because I have some sort of copyright on this, but just because I said so. If you read this post, you'll know that I started writing my novel on paper. I began with whatever scenes popped in my head at the time, not really concerning myself with plot points or the flow of the thing.

I saved that until I transferred it to my computer. In grouping my timelines, I decided to structure them separately, in "past" and "present" order. Yes, I waited until the stories could stand on their own before combining them into one, structured novel. The reason? I wanted to feel what it was like for each piece of each story to flow one after the other. I needed to make sure I didn't miss anything in each timeline before I sorted them together. 

Why this works: This helped me to group my scenes together. It gave me confidence that each story had its own arc, before I fit each of them into place. 

Why this doesn't work: Say you prefer writing your scenes in order. This method could potentially trip you up. Also, it's tricky to go over the transitions of the story this way. Maybe you have a certain idea for how the scenes should fall, but in combining them, it doesn't work.

Option Two

Option Two shall be known as the "Write Through the Dang Thing" method. If you're an excellent multi-tasker, and can envision the story each step of the way, then this is for you. In this method, you just write straight through both of the timelines, alternating back and forth each scene, if that's what you choose to do. 

It's important to give equal time to each timeline, as each is equally important. Remember: each story informs the other. Personally, I don't think I could master this method. I'm not very good at envisioning my story step-by-step, because I'm always coming up with new plot ideas that I need to weave into the existing story. 

Why this works:It allows you control over where both of your dual timelines are heading, and let's you keep a tight back-and-forth between them. 

Why this doesn't work: It's difficult to handle the progression of one story, let alone two. There's a greater chance of getting stuck.

Option Three

Let's call option three the "Cheater" method. Okay, it's not really cheating, but you'll get the idea. This is a method for a novel with flashbacks or a story within a story. This is a novel that doesn't give equal time to each timeline, but rather uses one of the time periods occasionally through the work. This could be in the form of a letter or a story or dreams. 

For this type of story, you'll need a strong example from the secondary timeline in order to really sell it. The purpose of the secondary timeline in this kind of novel is to shed some light that we might not otherwise see on the primary timelines. 

Why this works: It helps you to "show" rather than "tell," depending on the way you choose to write it. This pulls the reader out of the story for just a moment or two. 

Why this doesn't work: It can come off as gimmicky, if not done correctly. Try to be organic with using this tool, and think to yourself, "Can my story survive without this?"

Okay, so there you have it! A lesson in writing dual timelines. Have you ever written a story this way? If so, what's been your biggest challenge/success?

How to Write a First Draft

Hey there, writer! Are you stuck in first draft no man's land? Are you feeling that creative writing slump? You've come to the right place. 

A first draft is kind of like riding a horse: you hold on for dear life and see where it takes you. Maybe not a horse. Something less tame. Like a hippogriff. That'll work. In writing the start of a novel, you have to think big picture. Luckily, I've got a few tips to help you write a killer, super quick first draft:

What's my character's story?

A first draft is where you really get to know your characters. The more you write, the more you learn. Using creative, get-to-know-you character techniques will help you breeze through your draft.

One of a writer's toughest job is to make realistic characters. Especially secondary characters who don't get as much page-time.

Tips on writing kick-butt characters:

• Get informed! Head over here to learn more about creating believable characters.

• Test their settings. Allow your characters to interact with each other in a setting that makes sense. Then throw them into a setting that doesn't.

• Conversation. Write a conversation between your main characters, focusing only on their words. (Translation: ignore dialogue tags.)

What are my themes?

Theme is a bit tricky. It's never something you state outright in the book, but it's the essence of what your story is trying to say. You say it without saying it. That totally makes sense, right?

The way you get to the heart of this is by seeing how your main character reacts to the plot. How is your character interpreting what he/she is doing, events that are happening to him/her? I suggest not over-thinking theme at the start of your story. As you write your scenes, it just kind of starts to present itself.

My story has a lot of themes, but the overarching one is: do people ever really change? This comes in the form of a love story, through the experiences of my main character growing up, and through the mirrors of her friends, who are also just trying to figure the "adult" thing out. 

Tips on finding your theme:  

• Reread your scenes. Does any "message" keep popping up in your mind? What's the thread keeping your story together?

• Know your characters' motivations. Okay, we're back to characters again. What are their obstacles? What unites them?

• Keep a theme list! Keep a separate tab in your writing notebook specifically for theme ideas. What words/phrases resonate with you?

What's going on with my plot?

Everyone writes in his/her own way. Personally, I write scene-by-scene, rather than in chronological order. I write the scene that I feel like writing in that moment, and hope that one day, all of these scenes will come together.

Stories come in a range of frameworks. You've got your Hero's Journey set-up and your pillar structure and countless other ways.  Remember: there are always exceptions to the rules. As long as you keep true to your story and where it needs to go, you can keep the action/progression/build up. Also, editing helps.

What's that you say? You want more tips? But, of course!

• Outline that 'ish. Personally, I'm a pantser. I don't outline until the second draft, and even then, it's maybe only a page long. My friend Kristin's got great advice on outlining here.

• Brainstorm. The possibilities are endless! Brainstorm the directions your novel can take.

• Know your "why." Every chapter, every scene, every sentence has a purpose. Knowing why you are writing ______ can help determine where you're heading next.

HOW DO I FINISH THIS DRAFT?

Are you ready for a tough truth? Planning is the sneakiest form of procrastination. We tend to sit in the limbo of our first draft because anything past that seems scary.

We need to finish our first drafts, and we need to do it fast. How the heck does this happen?

Sign up for my free email series to learn how I wrote & published my books, all while working a full-time job!

Want even more tips? Check out these articles below:

• The #1 Secret to Writing Faster and Saving Your Time. Yep. Get on that.

• The 5 Best Ways to Start Your Novel. Basically, a continuation of this post.

• Why You Should Write Your Novel on Paper. Still my favorite post that I've written. Head over there and read all the fun comments!

Okay, so there's a lot to think about when it comes to this whole writing business. In your first draft stage, these should be at the back of your mind, but the writing part comes first. Get those words on the page. That's the most important thing.

Discussion time: What are your best first draft tips? Comment below!