Stress...Stress...Stess

While I was writing my book, I was constantly stressed out about it. I needed to finish the chapter. I needed to format the book properly. I needed to promote it. I needed to get feedback. I needed to make changes. 

But I've realized that my book isn't the end (or the beginning) of the world. I wrote it because I wanted to, not because I had to. So why am I stressed out about it? I write for relaxation, so writing this book should had been relaxation for me. 

Don't let the stress of writing a book take over you. Think of it as fun, because that's exactly why you started writing it in the first place. Relax, because you will finish your book. And even if it's not successful, at least you did it. You accomplished something that few people ever dream of doing, and that's what counts. 

Introduction to The Infinity

Here's the introduction to my e-book, The Infinity, which will be released in June:

So here it is: my first novel. Some time ago, I decided to write a book about a girl who was kidnapped by a group of time travelers who were running away from a madwoman who wanted to use their DNA to save the world.

It's crazy, I know.

But eventually my boring life blended into their story, and now I can barely remember my life before meeting them and getting to know them as the characters you will meet in this book. My life is tangled in theirs––it always was, I guess. And surprisingly, after writing about this group of crazy people, I learned a lot about myself. In fact, in very loose terms you could say that I found out who I really was.

I'm still kind of figuring things out––I can't tell you exactly what I'm figuring out. But if you really would like to know, I'll just tell you that I'm doing ok. Everything's ok.

When I got my book deal for this novel (the one that you're currently reading), they asked that I write it as though I was writing a young adult fiction novel.  And I did. And here it is. But when I wrote this introduction, they told me to cut it out. And I said no. The only way an author can directly connect to her readers is through the author's note. And I wasn't going to let them take that away from me.

Then they asked me that I at least modify the last line. And I said no.

You see, this is my story.

Well, this is more like our story.

And would you do me a favor, whoever you are, reading this book? Just keep one thing in mind for me:

I don't write fiction.

I'm the next J.K. Rowling (NOT)!

Ever since I found out that The Hunger Games and Divergent were each about 100,000 words, I have become obsessed with the idea that my book must be that long, to ever be even remotely successful. Ever since I've finished my first draft (there is still a long way to go, of course), thoughts like these have been seeping into my brain: 

"Successful, huh? Teenagers don't write stuff that's worth reading. No one's ever going to read your book and like it, Avon. Come on. No one your age has the mental capacity to write something that's even WORTH reading."

I'm not planning on getting my book published, as in 'on the shelf at Barnes and Noble' published, but I do want to eBook publish it. Once I reach that milestone, which may take either a couple of months or a couple of years to complete (hopefully a couple of months), I will seriously consider trying to get it properly published. I am fully aware of how long and dreary that process is, and I'm aware that, if I DO get my manuscript published, it will have to be a freakin' good book. And I mean, A FREAKIN' GOOD BOOK. 

Down in the dumps about your manuscript? Here are some ways to feel better. 

1. Have a cup of tea. And relax. 

Try to do something fun, and forget about your book for awhile. Don't touch the document for a week, and instead do something else. Maybe write on your blog. Or write an essay for that creative writing contest you've been planning on competing in. Get out of that 'book' mindset and focus on another type of writing. 

2. Read a book. 

Avid readers tend to be good writers. And good writers tend to be appreciative readers. Pick up a good book (I'd suggest John Green's The Fault in Our Starts or Lynne Rae Perkins' Criss Cross). Since writers tend to understand and appreciate the troubles and toils of writing, you're more likely to appreciate all the little 'gems' inside other authors' books. 

3. Look at a criticism. Good criticism. 

If you're feeling awful about your book, open up that e-mail your last year's literature teacher sent you about how amazing your manuscript is. Or re-read a couple of your favorite essays from last year. 

4. When you come back to working on your manuscript, be proud. 

Not many teenagers can write a book. So be proud of that. But remember, very very very very very few teenagers can write a GOOD book. So become one of those teenagers that can. The reason WHY adults are skeptical of teen writing is because they know that few teenagers can write something GOOD. So prove them wrong. Focus on being J.K. Rowling. It may never happen, but it's worth the effort, right? 

No, my precious!

Since I am not a published author and I am too lazy to come up with my own, I have been using Nathan Bransford's revising checklist to edit my book. And this was how I felt when I first read his list: 

(oh my God my book is pathetic why did I start writing it in the first place MY LIFE SUCKS)

My book needed help. A lot of it. So, for a couple of weeks I danced around the prospect of actually sitting down and editing it. And finally, about a week ago, a dived headfirst into the process. 

Tips on How to Start and Carry Out the Editing Process:

1. Be a lazy jerk. 

Give your work to other people. And why not? Throw in the revising checklist, too. 

There's only so far you can go on your own. As you read your own writing, it's sometimes hard to put yourself in the mindset of a casual reader. If you give your work to other people, you are likely to get feedback that points out mistakes you wouldn't have noticed on your own. 

2. Make your characters your BFFLs. 

When it comes to your characters, don't concern yourself with personality, body expressions, or tone of voice. Focus on one thing: motivation. Why does that character exist? What is the purpose of that character in terms of plot? As long as you CONSTANTLY have your characters' motivations in mind, the rest will almost certainly fall into place. 

If you ask yourself, "What is my character's motivation?" and you can't come up with an answer, TAKE THAT CHARACTER OUT. Flat characters, or useless characters, do nothing to support the book, so you might as well remove them.ed

3. If it doesn't help the plot, TAKE IT OUT (please note how that was in all caps). 

Whether it's characters, scenes, or subplots, if it doesn't help the overall plot line, it's not worth keeping it. Don't concern yourself with word count. It's quality, not quantity. 

Make sure EVERY SINGLE SCENE brings the plot forward in some way. Every other scene should involve the main conflict in some form. If not, take it out. 

4. No, my precious! 

As you edit, try not to look at your writing as your own writing. Look at it as someone else's writing. Slash and tear at it as much as you can. Be ruthless. That way, you can (partly)

overcome the need to protect your writing as though it is your precious. 

Hope that helps! 

Wait...what? A BOOK?!

So I finished something called A BOOK. 

And I'm a little bit happy. 

(only a little bit happy, I swear)

To get through this, I basically told myself that I ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY had to finish it or I would DIE OF SHAME. Which worked. Kind of. 

Tips on How to Write a Book:

1. Forget how crappy it is. 

Don't be a perfectionist. Concentrate on finishing it first, THEN fix it later. Try to swallow the OH MY GOD I HAVE TO FIX IT RIGHT NOW instinct. Write down what you have to fix on a sheet of paper. Once your done writing, take out the paper and start editing (which I did not do originally and for which now I pay the price). 

2. Give it to other people. I repeat. Give it to other people. 

You need other people's advice to make your work better. So give your book to a wide range of people. I suggest having AT LEAST five people read your writing so you can make it as good as possible. 

3. Relax. Life is good. 

If you are not a published author who is on a schedule to write your next book, don't feel like you have to write every single day. If you're just having a long day and you want to relax, do it. If you can wait for a moment, your book can too. 

Happy writing! 

NaNoWriMo

NaNoWriMo
National Novel Writing Month

In my quest to write a novel in one school year, I have discovered the wonders of NaNo. 
What is NaNo about, you ask?

It's writing a novel. 
In one month. 
50,000 words long. 

NaNo is a pretty awesome opportunity for writers. It is a chance to loosen up and write down something that has not been thought through at all and will probably be the craziest thing you've ever written. 

But that's okay. Aren't the most amazing things you've ever read also the craziest, most unique things you've ever read?



Come on, a guy living in a hole in a ground? That's a guy with no life, not a mobbit. Wait, a hobbit? 
Kids killing kids? What kind of world is that? Do you actually think that anyone would read something that depressing?
A kid who goes to school at a magical wizard school? Excuse me, but do you think we're five year olds? 



Imagination sometimes comes in a hurry. When you have a short span of time (like a month), your brain is pulling things out of the air. (Please imagine, for a moment, the time when you did not study for a test and in the last five minutes of exam time you wrote down whatever you could think of even though it didn't make complete sense). 

About 100% percent of the time when you're writing your 50,000 NaNo words, whatever you write down is not perfect. 
But it's probably good. 

And there are a lot of people who worked with good and made awesome, right?

*cough cough J.K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien, Suzanne Collins cough cough*

There may be a future for your NaNo novel. But you have to make it. 

P.S.  I love the coffee cup on the NaNo emblem-thingy (because that's what NaNo is all about). 

"You fail only if you stop writing."

Ever know those wonderful days when inspiration strikes and you swear to God that you have a #1 New York Times bestseller ready to burst out of your head and become a novel? 

Yes, I have seen those days. And unfortunately, those days only last for about a week. 

There is no Secret to Success Instant Awesomeness that you can sprinkle over your laptop to finish writing your book. In fact, you could be the best writer on the planet, but never write a book. And unfortunately, quality over quantity does not work in this case. Because the more you say "I just need to make it perfect!", the more you lay off actually working on it, and the less likely you are to finish it. 

Quantity. Then quality. 

Recipe for Magical Book (please note: this recipe should be modified to fit one's needs)

Ingredients
8 cups of discipline
300 cups of coffee
3 cups of dedication
2 cups of concentration
1/2 cup of patience

Preparation
Pour or place all ingredients into an extremely large mixing bowl. Mix until the gosh-darn-it book is finally done.