STAIRCASE IN THE SKY

“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” ~Martin Luther King

So true isn't it?
I've been neck deep in editing all weekend and thought about writing a new post but my mind is running amuck elsewhere. Then I read the lovely Katie Ganshert's post about getting overwhelmed as a writer and I remembered one of my favorite posts about the same topic. Between my post and Katie's I'm hoping we can remind any discouraged or frustrated writers to never give up (if writing is what you REALLY want to do.)

So, I'm cheating. This is a repeat post from last year but it still applies to me today and I believe wholeheartedly in every word...

When I first thought about writing a novel I thought about MLK's quote and stepped. Blindly.

Staring up at the spiraling, intimidating, long path in front of me.
Wondering if all this climbing and stressing is worth it.
Is it foolish to believe I'll ever reach the top?
It looks impossible from way down here.
With such a long, long way to go.
Pushing through the pain.
Tripping & Stumbling.
Self-Doubting.

BREATHE.

STEP.

BELIEVE.

Climb blindly.
But enjoy the scenery.
Make each step mean something.
Realize turning back is also giving up.
Set small, reachable goals, but keep dreaming big.
Don't compete with others climbing the stairway with you.
Learn, grow, and expand your support system--and horizons.
Put one foot in front of the other, passionately, even when it's hard.

Remember, we don't have to see the whole staircase. Keep in mind, we're not alone on this journey. Rest assured, the top is probably nothing like you think it will look like anyway. Besides, there is always another staircase waiting to be conquered. Keep climbing. Blindly. But with faith. Oh, and breathe. Just breathe.

OOOH, LOOK AT THE PRETTY PLOT HOLE!

If you are in Belize and stumble upon the famous Blue Hole, then yes, you can ooh and ahh and appreciate the beauty of a mysterious, massive, super deep hole. If we're discussing novels, the smallest holes can make a reader flail and send out a SOS.

I'm currently reading a YA novel that many people are raving about. I cannot positively rave about it. Therefore, I won't mention the title because my mother taught me, if you can't say something nice...

As writers don't we owe it to ourselves to catch the holes readers will find while reading our story? Or, if we can't see the gaping holes, shouldn't our betas catch them? My betas would. (But they do have unexplained superhero powers.) Or how about that editor? How did they not point out the polka-dotted elephant in the room?

e.g., If a handsome stallion wants to stop shape-shifting into a savage unicorn because he loves a mare and doesn't want to risk stabbing her with his horn during their frequent leapfrog romps, don't make the unicorn mutation trigger be something easily fixable. Because as a reader, if the stallion turns into a unicorn whenever it rains, I'm going to have lots of solutions for his problem. I won't need to read 300 pages to find out if the stallion and mare will be able to safely play leapfrog forever and ever. Plus, I'm going to be annoyed when the stallion gets angry at a character for suggesting the leapfrog-loving horses move out of Seattle to a drier climate and stay inside on rainy days.

You get the point (no unicorn pun intended).

I'm editing my latest WIP right now and it's a YA fantasy so I am on red alert for plot holes, unexplained polka dotted elephants, and unbelievable world-building.

What holes have you read or seen that drove you nuts? And don't say, "the two main characters fall madly and eternally in love with each other 5 minutes after meeting." (It makes me roll my eyes too, but sometimes the author has a limited number of words to get them to the leapfrog stage.)

EDITING IS VERY IMPOTENT

My brain is swollen from editing. I would blog about my progress, but I've used up all of my creative oomph for the day and I worry my eyes are no longer able to catch any glaring errors I might type. Instead, I will let my new favorite sage, Taylor Mali, entertain you with a message about the importance of proofreading.

*Warning: If young and impressionable children are within hearing range, you may want to watch this later. Some lines are rated PG-13. Maybe R. I don't know what the guidelines are these days.*


I know. I heart him too.

What's the most funny or embarrassing mistake you've made in your writing because you didn't proofread thoroughly? You may also list non-personal examples.

EDITING PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

March will be all about editing my novel. I love the editing process. I'm pretty sure Daft Punk does too. Why else would they make a song consisting almost entirely of editing verbs?

Technologic is my song of the month. Some of the words don't apply to me, but most do. I might write a few of them on my hands (like the guy in the video) as a reminder of what to do in the days ahead.

Take notes. They give good advice.


I have created cliff notes for those who don't have time to watch the video. Important directions are in bold, or red, or both.

Buy it, use it, break it, fix it,
Trash it, change it, mail - upgrade it,
Charge it, point it, zoom it, press it,
Snap it, work it, quick - erase it,
Write it, cut it, paste it, save it,
Load it, check it, quick - rewrite it,
Plug it, play it, burn it, rip it,
Drag and drop it, zip - unzip it,
Lock it, fill it, call it, find it,
View it, code it, jam - unlock it,
Surf it, scroll it, pause it, click it,
Cross it, crack it, switch - update it,
Name it, rate it, tune it, print it,
Scan it, send it, fax - rename it,
Touch it, bring it, Pay it, watch it,
Turn it, leave it, start - format it.

Technologic

(The REAL video for this song is a bit creepy. If you're a horror writer check it out.)

As you can see from all those verbs, I will be busy. I'm sorry if I slack off on blogging or commenting.
How's your writing coming along? What's your goal(s) for the month? Do you have a song that motivates you?

HURRY! OFFER FOR QUERY CRITIQUE!

UPDATE 3/3: You missed the query critique. Sorry. But...

Weronika Janczuk is having an AMAZING CONTEST where you can win books, critiques, and more! Go check her out and follow her blog. She is going to be one of those literary world superstars and we can all say, "I knew her back when."

If you want to see what you missed keep reading, but please don't get upset if you wanted to participate. I don't want all that guilt on my conscious.

YOUR STORY DOESN'T HAVE TO BE COMPLETE! Or polished, or edited, or ready to submit. All you need is a query and your first 10 pages. If you have that and can follow simple directions then you are guaranteed feedback.

The extremely generous Weronika Janczuk is offering to critique ALL queries and sample pages that hit her email box TONIGHT between the hours of 6-8pm (EST). Quick! Run! Type fast! Send it to your betas to be proofread. You're running out of time! Even if you won't be ready to query for another 6 months, wouldn't the opinion and feedback of a gatekeeper for a literary agent be PRICELESS to you?

Mmm hmm, I thought so.

Even if you don't seize the opportunity to get feedback from Weronika, go follow her blog because she's fabulous.

Why are you still reading this? Go! Follow her!

LIKE, TOTALLY GENIUS, YA KNOW?

My lovely friend, Dominique, posted a great video/poem on her blog. She said it was genius, and I couldn't agree more. Before you watch the referenced brilliant video, let me explain why I wanted to reach through my computer screen and hug Taylor Mali.



As a YA writer, I sometimes wonder if I'm classifying myself in the correct genre. My stories blur that fine line between YA and adult. My teen characters will never be the types to, like, totally talk in that teen slang stereotype. My fictitious crew are more "mature" than most regular teens, but you'd need to read the books for that to make sense and not offend anyone. Even if my stories didn't contain characters living fantasy lives that gave them much more life experience than real-life teens, I would still give teenagers more credit. Not ALL of them say like, or totally, or whatever, or repeat the newest popular phrase or word every other sentence. I believe teens can read a story and relate to the characters emotions, decisions, trials and tribulations, etc. without having to throw in ten pop culture references and forcing their speech patterns to sound like what's popular.

First of all, that kind of writing will date your novel.
Secondly, teens and fads change fast. One old man sings a funny song on American Idol and all of a sudden the newest saying in high schools revolves around "pants on the ground." If you aren't psychic and don't know what will be popular in a year or two (because that's how long it will take your book to make it to print even if you signed tomorrow) it's next to impossible to sound current for that exact moment in time. Plus, don't you want people to read your book years or decades from now and not feel like they are flashing back to the year 2010? (Unless that's the point of your book, then by all means, make 2010 as nostalgic as possible.)

Third, --and this is the most sad, but also kind of funny--adults are starting to sound as bad as teens. (I mean that in the nicest way. I know I'm guilty of it at times.) BUT, as a writer, I hope I can write better than I speak. That I can figure out a way to make my stories and characters feel real and believable in more effective ways than by creating lazy dialogue lines. Please, good literary gods, give me the power to provide my readers with more than that.

I'm not out to change the world by taking a stand against excessive and improper use of adverbs, the word like, or adding ya know? to the ends of sentences that aren't questions. I just want my characters (or at least most of them) to be articulate. I want them to speak with conviction. I want to help make declarative sentences cool again and inspire meaningful speaking with well-spoken dialogue. Not so much that I become a historical writer, using only proper English that doesn't sound current (they have another fabulous genre for that), but enough that I can read my stories ten years from now and be proud that I only slipped in a few current bad habits into my characters speech patterns.

*Steps down off soapbox* Watch the video. You'll not only be entertained, smile, and nod your head in agreement, you'll understand what I'm trying to say...ya know?