How to Find a Freelance Editor for Your Book

This is post #10 in a fifteen post series, entitled “15 Days to Writerly Awesome in 2015,”  posting on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday of January.

If you've been keeping up with #TATM, you'll know that I finished writing my novel just recently. The next step? Self-editing. You can review my tips here. And finally, here I am, looking for a freelance editor. If you're publishing traditionally, your literary agent will hook you up with a publishing house, where they have happy little editor elves waiting for you. (I realize I'm oversimplifying.)

For self-publishers or writers prepping their stories to seek representation, finding a freelance editor is key. Hint: this is easier said than done. Hint: you probably already knew this. Read on for all of my editor-hunting secrets:

Social Media Rules

In order to find a freelance editor, look to your friends. Ask your writer tribe who they have used in the past. Google, of course, is always a great resource. But here's my secret. For me, I found my lovely new editor through Pinterest. That's right. When I researched finding an editor on Pinterest, it led me to the Freelancer's Union website, where I then found my new editor. When it comes to seeking support for your novel, you've got to get a little creative.

Ask for a Sample Edit

Once you've narrowed down your list of potential editors, it's time to see if you're compatible. Think of it as dating, but the stakes are higher, because this is your book for crying out loud. Pay attention to the response time in your interactions with these potentials. (This can be really telling of how available they will be to you.) When you receive the edit back, compare each editor's notes. Tip: Don't mistake a lack of notes as an indication that your writing is flawless. You are not Beyoncé.

Ask the Right Questions

• What is your editing process? This is when your editor-to-be will explain how he/she works. Pay attention. Does this timeline work with your publishing schedule? Does this editor give ample amount of notes? Will you receive the edited book all at once or in small doses?
• Are you available soon? Some editors will book months in advance. Availability is key to actually getting to work with your editor of choice.
• What is your previous experience? On his/her website, your editor most likely listed credentials and reviews from past clients. Still, it's important to hear this directly from your editor. Tip: Try to get the editor on the phone. It's a much more effective form of communication. 
• What are your rates? Do you offer package deals? This is the tricky part. Editors are not cheap, people. Choose ahead of time what kind of service you're looking to purchase. For me, I'm doing four chapters of developmental editing, and an evaluation for the remainder. I highly recommend hiring someone as a proofreader, at the very least. Once you decide this, think budget. What are you willing to pay for a good editor as well as for each type of service?

And that's all, folks! Back to the writing cave, I go. #TATM will be sent off to editing on February 11th, so I've got my work cut out for me. Happy writing!

Discussion Time: Have you ever hired a freelance editor? If not, do you plan to? Please ask any further questions below!

Three Reasons Writers Should Walk

This is post #9 in a fifteen post series, entitled “15 Days to Writerly Awesome in 2015,”  posting on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday of January.

Below is a guest post by my friend Christine of the Better Novel Project:

As writers, we know there is one tried-and-true way to write a novel: Put your butt in the chair and write it.

But, like every rule, this one has an exception: exercise. And no, this isn’t a metaphor about exercising your fingertips. I’m talking about…(gulp) working out. To take the anxiety away from the idea, let’s start with the idea of taking a walk. You like long walks, right? Seriously, grab your pup and go. Here are three reasons why it will improve your writing.

Walk for Mental Clarity

Ever feel that burny-dry-eye-blink from staring at the screen for too long? After going for a walk, you return with your mind refreshed and ready for higher order thinking. No really, that’s science. And that higher order thinking may be just what you need to catch those typos, or realize which paragraph needs to be moved up a few lines to be oh-so-much better.

Walk for a Better Mood

Are you really writing during your screen time? In case you haven’t figured it out, refreshing your feed over and over again is bad for your psyche. That’s science too. Those little red bells, alarms, flags, notifications, and buzzes-- or lack thereof-- can be a vicious cycle.  Sometimes I hear my inner critic saying “nobody cares about you” as I check these things. Why do we do this to ourselves?

Stay positive. Break the cycle, even for a 15 minute walk. Come back and attack the blank page. Then post all over twitter because, hooray, word count.

Walk for Creativity

Something about setting the body on autopilot really lets the mind free to wander. Maybe it’s a small plot point that you can resolve, or maybe you’ll overhear a perfect snippet of dialogue. Going for a walk lets me entertain all my “dumb” or silly thoughts without that inner critic getting a chance to reject them. So when you are really stuck with what should happen next, walk it out!

Finally, writing and exercising are both habits. You may not *feel* like exercising, just like a lot of times you aren’t inspired to write, but you do it anyway. And who regrets taking a walk or writing 1000 words? It’s just a matter of getting over the hurdle of deciding to get up/sit down to do it.

To get writing and exercising to the daily habit level, join my brother Matt Frazier and me, over at writeandrun31.com. We are encouraging our readers to write and exercise everyday for 31 days straight. It’s got a positive facebook group for accountability and encouragement. You can start anytime (read: right now).

Christine (@BetterNovelProj) is writer, joyous outliner, and compulsive doodler. Follow her research on Better Novel Project, where she deconstructs bestselling novels, one index card at a time. She currently has over 90 index cards that show the common elements of Harry Potter, Twilight, and The Hunger Games in her master outline, which you are welcome to use!

5 Ways to Create Your Own Writing Space

This is post #8 in a fifteen post series, entitled “15 Days to Writerly Awesome in 2015,” 

posting on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday of January.

I write this post from my bed, a cup of tea on my nightstand and a Delta Rae song playing on Spotify. I'm distracted, if I'm completely honest. I keep checking my Twitter and Pinterest, and I'm having a hard time avoiding Netflix. As a blogger and a novelist, finding the perfect writing space can make or break my productivity.

When you make time to write, you need to use it wisely. For me, I won't get nearly enough done at home than at a coffee shop, unless I trick my brain into the writing mode. Maybe you are one of those people who can write in pajamas. Maybe you are the kind of person who needs to be in full-on work clothes. To keep my writing in check, I've devised five ways to create your own writing space:

Eliminate Distractions

I've spoken about this topic several times, mostly involving social media. Let's take it a step further, shall we? When you make the decision to write, eliminate all possible distractions. Writing time should not be interrupted by laundry or cleaning. (See that? I just gave you permission not to clean. You're welcome.)

If you're tempted to turn on the television, switch rooms. If the shuffling of people in coffee shops keeps you from getting work done, stay at home. This is a tweetable moment:

[Tweet "Learn your distraction triggers and avoid the heck out of 'em. @blotsandplots #writetip"]

Get Comfortable, But Not Too Comfortable

If you're writing from your couch and you find yourself slinking into the cushions, get out now. You're on your way to nap town. Quick, get moving! You don't want to be uncomfortable when writing, because that can fall into the distraction category, but you also don't want to be overly adjusted. Imagine yourself sitting at a school desk. Avoid slouching, and sit up straight. Tell yourself that you mean business. 

Silence or No Silence

Personally, I'm a writer who likes to make playlists, but if you create your writing space music-free, that's cool, too. When I'm writing from home, I still use my headphones, because it helps me to click into the moment. If you're a no-noise writer, prepare for this. Maybe try writing at your local library if your apartment/house is too loud. Try some fancy noise-cancelling headphones for fun. Whatever suits you, make sure to prepare for this ahead of time. Have your playlist ready or your sound-proof room all set. 

Coffee/Tea/Water/Hydrate, Okay?

I am the rare, all-of-the-above person. Depending on the day, I drink either coffee or tea, and I always have a bottle of water handy. For long bouts of writing, I make sure to have these ready from the start. Nothing kills productivity like needing to stop mid-scene to grab a sip of water. Try drinking your coffee or tea out of a thermos. This keeps it warmer longer and prevents unnecessary trips to the kitchen. Also, pace yourself, people. Bathroom breaks are distractions, too. Pick your poison and fill up ahead of time. 

Consider a Well-Lit Room

Honestly, I'm a night writer, as I've mentioned before in this post on scheduling your writing time. On the weekends when I have more time, I spend most of my Sunday writing or editing at the coffee shop. For me, when daytime writing, I like to be in a place with plenty of natural lighting. Natural lighting wakes you up and tells you that it's time to work. If you're writing from home, try opening the blinds and writing by a window. If you're really an overachiever, you can even try writing outside.

Discussion Time: How do you create your own writing space? What elements are essential for your best writing productivity?

Novel Advice: What to Do When the Story Isn't Working

the above photo is a modified adaptation of this work

This is post #7 in a fifteen post series, entitled “15 Days to Writerly Awesome in 2015,” 

posting on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday of January.

This is a guest post, brought to you by the lovely Ashley R. Carlson. Read her other guest post here. Enjoy!

I published my debut novel, “The Charismatics,” in December of 2014, and it was a whirlwind six months leading up to the release (read about my process here and how I felt after the release here). So now that things have died down a little, I began to work on something new, because that’s what every successful indie author says to do, right? RIGHT.

Whenever you finish a piece of work, get started on something new. Side note: Don’t spend weeks or even months trying to market the thing. Let your readers do that for you. Just produce more great work and get your name and work in readers’ hands. (I do have a couple of speaking events coming up that will involve “The Charismatics,” and possibly an event at an indie bookstore, but those were in the works before release. Other than that I haven’t written guest posts for it, nor paid for advertising. I’d rather write some new material to sell).

So that was my plan, to begin working on another novella in a completely different genre than my novel (contemporary adult vs. YA steampunk fantasy) because 1) I wanted a break from fantasy and 2) I wanted to push myself with a new genre.

A few things happened when I started working on the first draft of my novella, “Misery and Marlene,” a few weeks ago, and I noticed how nice it was to be writing a first draft again (the freedom! The inexplicably wild naked-and-running freedom of pantsing a first draft of something again!). I also noticed how for some reason, it wasn’t happening very easily for me.

That’s right. I was having a hard time with various facets of “Misery and Marlene.” Firstly, it was a genre I’d never written in before, and didn’t even really know much about: contemporary. No dragons, no magic, no secret governmental plots (all awesome things in my previous novel). Nope. This story had cell phones and a girl who worked at a bar and lived in Missouri but called it “Misery” because she hated it and the whole thing just wasn’t very … inspiring. It was all sort of bland to me, and you want to know why?

Because it felt a little too much like my own life.

A single woman in a dead-end job with huge dreams she doesn’t know will come to fruition or not. Yep, I had inadvertently begun a memoir, hidden under the ruse of fiction. I also noticed that I was used first person present, which is the tense I’ve used in both my short story (“Cruel”) and my novel.

So because I wasn’t feeling the itch to sit down and tap these keys into words of the story, I decided to try some things before scrapping it entirely.

1) I changed tenses and narrative. As mentioned, it was previously a first person present tense story, which seems to be my “go to” narrative style. I like it because 1) it’s personal (you’re in the character’s head, hearing their thoughts and experiencing their experiences) and 2) it’s “in the moment.” “The Hunger Games” series is written in first person present tense, and I think it lends to the intensity and fear of the situations. Both my short story and novel are high-action, tense stories with female protagonists, so it worked for them as well. But this? This contemporary novella about a sad girl in a sad place with a sad life?

It was all just sounding a bit too whiny, a bit too mundane in first person narrative. So I changed it to third person past tense a few days ago. But how?

2) I started over. Yep. I ignored the 10,000 words I’d begun (though I didn’t delete them completely) and began a new manuscript, with the differing tense. I noticed a difference right away; this story was no longer a silly diary of a bored girl. It was deeper than that. It was tragic. I could literally smell the tragedy off the main character, off her family members, off the little town in Missouri itself. Disappointment. Broken dreams. Compromises. Dysfunction. The words were flying into my head and onto the page, and I was looking at things from an entirely new angle. The other good thing was this:

3) I used the previous information for the new version. I had 10k words of good material to direct me with this new draft—characters and their names, places, events. Now, obviously this is what an outline would tell me, if I did those. But even for those of you who outline like crazy, I bet sometimes you get started on a story and it just doesn’t work, for some fundamental reason. That doesn’t mean you get rid of the entire idea—it could still be a great one. You just need to tweak, examine another way. And if you still feel like there’s passion there, that it’s a story your heart aches to tell, than keep at it.

Just remember that if the idea has grown stale in your mind, scrap it completely and start something new. Always, always start something new. You’re a writer, after all—the stories are there in your mind and at your fingertips, just waiting to be placed upon the page.

Ashley R. Carlson grew up wanting a talking animal friend and superpowers, and when that didn’t happen, she decided to write them into existence. She lives in Scottsdale, Arizona with four (non-talking) pets and one overactive imagination. Follow Ashley R. Carlson’s writing at www.ashleyrcarlson.com or find her on Twitter @AshleyRCarlson1. Her novel, “The Charismatics” has debuted to rave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads and can be found here.

How to Storyboard Your Novel on Pinterest

Feeling the inspirational lull? Today, we're going to talk about how to storyboard your novel on Pinterest. As part of our Writerly series, it's important to talk about how to visualize your novel with all of its characters and elements. The more creative you are with it, the more you get out of it. 

Pre-Pinterest, I used inspiration boards to channel my creative energy, which was basically a collage of pictures, colors and accents that made up my novel in image form.

With Pinterest, we have much more flexibility. Much like making a novel soundtrack, it allows you to see your story in a new light. Ready to make your own? Here are a few ideas of which pins to use + pins I used to storyboard my own novel, These Are the Moments:

Character Pins

Having trouble picturing your characters? Pinterest has your back! There are some amazing resources on Pinterest to help you find the picture-perfect images of your characters. For instance, my friend Kristen of She's Novel has great boards specifically for character inspiration.

Setting Pins

Now that we have our characters, we need to set them in a space of their own. Whether they're in a post-apocalyptic world or right there in your backyard, it helps to picture your characters in their natural habitats. Let's bring them to life, okay? To find settings of your own, check out Mandy Wallace's Pinterest page.

Quote Pins

We're writers, so we love the heck out of words. Maybe you need dialogue inspiration. Maybe you need motivation. Maybe you just need words to make you feel something. Whatever the case, it's time to start quote collecting, my friends.

Inspiration Pins

If you're having trouble getting your story started, maybe you need a bit of inspiration. Patterns, florals, whatever evokes emotion in you is fair game! If you're looking for more pins like these, be sure to check out my boards on Pinterest.

Discussion Time: Do you storyboard your novel(s) on Pinterest? What are your favorite ways to spark your inspiration?

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