Writers' Chasm

When I was a kid, my favorite store in the mall closest to our house was a Waldenbooks. When I say "closest to our house" this particular mall was still roughly 30 minutes away, but in those days it was the mall that everyone went to. There are more than a few things I loved about country living. Lack of proximity to bookstores was not one of them. I loved that Waldenbooks. It was a small store and you could see all the way to the back looking through the glass front. It was filled with books, as you would expect. The counter was on the left side, with a wall of new releases and magazines behind it. My favorite section--the young adult and middle grade section--was at the back. The trip that I remember most was July 21, 2007. A week before my birthday. The release day for Deathly Hallows.  I'd pre-ordered it long before, not wanting to risk going into the bookstore and it not being there. I needed that book. My mom didn't understand the draw of a midnight releas...

What I'm Reading:  I finished Pride by Ibi Zoboi and came out of it with an overwhelming desire to watch Pride and Prejudice again. Weirdly, I think I would've enjoyed this more without the P&P connections (I really don't know how to handle it when "Mr. Darcy" is their father), but it's a solid book nonetheless. Next up is Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak. What I'm Writing:  In terms of word count, October has been my most productive writing month this year. A Thousand Miles is in the home stretch. What I'm Listening to:  Right now, a lot of things, but I want to make a special shout-out to The Good Place podcast. It's such a wonderful, upbeat podcast about the best damn TV show. I love listening to a group of people who love their work and hearing the behind the scenes stories of how the show is coming to be. What I'm Watching:  Let me say how much I love This is Us and The Good Place. So much. Last week's episodes for bot...

The punctuation of dialogue is something that I see a lot of new writers getting wrong. It's something that immediately turns me off, no matter how promising the rest of the story is. So, today, I'm going to do a quick crash course in how dialogue is formatted. Quotation marks go around the speech. Closing punctuation marks go inside the closing quotation marks at the end of the dialogue. If the dialogue is followed by a tag, you use a comma. If it's not, you use something else. The only exceptions are question marks and exclamation points, which are used as appropriate whether or not there is a dialogue tag. Actions are separate from dialogue. What not to do: "This is my favorite song." He said. "This is a good movie" she said.  "Do you want chili for dinner," she asked.  "I haven't read that book," she pointed at the book in question on the shelf. What to do: "I have a cat," they said. "I'm alle...

We seem to be dangerously close to skipping right over autumn and straight into winter. Otherwise known as just another October in the Midwest. What I'm Reading:  I finished Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram over the course of a couple afternoons. It's a very heartfelt book about an Iranian-American boy going to Iran and meeting his family there for the first time, while dealing with depression and coming of age. I spent a good chunk of the week with Mirage by Somaiya Daud and loved that as well. The worldbuilding is absolutely gorgeous, the characters well-rounded, and the love interest...well, I might be in love with him. I've barely started Pride by Ibi Zoboi. What I'm Writing:  A Thousand Miles is still flowing well. I'm a little worried that the first draft is going to be under 50k but I'm sure I'll find plenty of room to expand in the next one. What I'm Listening to:  I mostly got caught up on everything Critical Role t...

This post was originally made in August 2014. I felt like it was time for an update.  Representation is important and publishing is finally starting to embrace diversity. If you're thinking about writing queer characters, there are many things to consider, especially if you're writing about a sexuality that is not your own. The most important thing when writing queer characters is that being queer is not the only thing they have going for them. They have pasts, futures, hopes, dreams, motivations just like any other characters. They shouldn't be here to play the role of "Gay Best Friend #1." Coming out stories are not the only queer stories that matter. They're extremely important, don't get me wrong, but we also need stories about characters who just happen to be queer, just like we have thousands of stories about characters who just happen to be straight. Do your research. Don't rely on stereotypes or misconceptions. Not all gay men are intere...

Curious. I definitely wrote a post for last Monday but it seems to still be in my drafts. Autumn is coming on quickly. It's cold outside and the heat is on in the house and the leaves are changing colors. I still haven't had my apple cider but I did have my first pumpkin latte last weekend so all is not lost. I love fall but I can already smell the snow. What I'm Reading:  I ended up DNFing When I Am Through With You because I just wasn't connecting with the characters. Instead, I read Dust Girl by Sarah Zettel.  It was a nice quick read but struck me as more middle grade in feel than young adult. I also picked up Dread Nation by Justina Ireland from the bookstore and adored it. I'm not usually one for zombie novels but if this is the last one I ever read (okay, last series because I desperately need that sequel) that's fine with me. The concept is great, the execution is even better, and the characters are all well-rounded and fascinating. The last...

I've seen a lot of writers ask questions that come with a very simple answer: Read More. "Is sex okay for YA?" "What's the difference between YA and MG?" "How long should be chapters be?" "Can I do this thing?" "How do I write a long scene of dialogue?" "What genre is my book?" If you read more books, you'll often find the answer to your question. Be well-read within your genre. Read other genres. Read for other markets. Read non-fiction. Read books from authors you like, authors you don't, authors you've never heard of. Find those books you love and then think about what's so compelling about them. Think about the characters, the plot, the pacing. This doesn't mean try to turn those books into a formula for your own book, it just means studying from the masters to figure out what you can do to make your book better. Read. More.

When you spend eight (or more) hours at the office, it can be hard to come home, plant yourself behind another computer, and work on a book. There's family to spend time with, errands to run, movies and TV to watch, and sleep to enjoy. Here are five tips on how to make a book happen, without quitting your day job: 1. Write when you can If you're an early bird, wake up half an hour early in the morning, just to write. Bring your laptop or a printed copy into work and write during your lunch break. Set aside an hour or even half an hour in the evening when you get home. This is my preferred writing time. Sometimes it happens later than others but as long as I'm sitting at the computer, I always try to get my words in. 2. Make your word/page count goals easily achievable  If you use word count goals to motivate yourself to write, make these easy to achieve. I shoot for 250 words on work nights and busy weekends, and 1,000 words on days when I have more time. It's ni...

Can someone please explain to me how it can possibly be October 1 already? Wasn't New Year's, like, last week? What I'm Reading:  I just finished The Pros of Cons by Alison Cherry, Lindsay Ribar, and Michelle Shusterman. It was a super sweet read with some A+ female friendships, diverse love interests, and a healthy dose of fandom fun. Now I'm reading When I Am Through With You by Stephanie Kuehn. What I'm Writing:  I'm currently in the process of writing a new project--my first since I wrote LP in college. It's YA fantasy told from a dual perspective set in the same world as LP. The two characters are polar opposites and I love both of them very much. I'm a little over 20k into the first draft and very excited about it. What I'm Listening to:  One of the perks of my job is that I get to listen to podcasts all day. I recently finished Wolf-359 and highly, highly recommend it to anyone that wants a sci-fi serial podcast with a great plot, ...

It's been almost ten years since I started this blog. My first post was back in January 2009. I can say a lot has changed since then. I graduated high school and college with my bachelor's degree. I moved out of my tiny hometown and into the city. I accepted my first full-time job.  Back in those days of 2009, I met a girl. Two months ago, she became my wife. Other things haven't changed. I'm still writing and still pursuing publication, although I can say I'm a lot more knowledgeable about both now than I was nine years ago. I'm still riding horses. Tamora Pierce and Rick Riordan are still two of my favorite authors. I've been listening to a lot of podcasts for writers lately and it's made me miss blogging. I know the writer blogosphere isn't as well-populated as it once was but it's one of my favorite platforms and I've decided to try--for real, not like I say I'm going to every New Year--blogging again. I'll be shooting...

This blog has become a bit of a New Year's resolution of mine. I swear that I'm going to start blogging again, make a post or two, and then disappear off into the ether. I'm not going to make a resolution this year. I'm just going to start blogging again. I'm neck-deep in revisions for an entirely new book that I love very much. I have two jobs and a third volunteer position. Last year my only post was about Hamilton and I have to say my obsession has not gone away in the intervening months. Although now I can say all the words to "Guns and Ships" without (mostly) getting tongue-tied. I'm not reading as much as I should be and really trying to work on that. I can say 2016 was a dumpster fire of a year but I have hope for 2017. Somewhere. So how's life everyone? What have you been up to?

I'm back! I made a New Year's resolution last year to start blogging three times a week. Obviously, like many resolutions, it crashed and burned. But a 2016 resolution is not why I'm here. Hamilton is. If you haven't heard of it, it's a rap/hip hop Broadway musical about one of the founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton. Sounds boring? Sounds weird? I thought so too. Trust me. I listened to the full cast recording three times in two days and my favorite songs countless times in between. I have plans to see it live in the eventual future. Interested? I have two recommendations: Number 1: My favorite song and the one that actually got me into the musical in the first place Number 2: From the beginning

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly blog hop created by Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk to help writers stay in touch. What I'm Reading:  I finished Boy on the Bridge by Natalie Standiford last week. My review went up on Friday. I felt that it fell short of its potential. But now I'm reading Scarlet by Marissa Meyer. I have to admit that I was a little sad when I read the summary and found out it focuses on Scarlet rather than Cinder but I'm quickly falling in love. What I'm Writing:  Nothing at the moment. I haven't started querying either. I'm swamped with work. It's not likely to get any better until next week so I think I'm going to forego the writing goal. What Works for Me:  Musical motivation. I've listened to Fall Out Boy's new album an almost embarrassing number of times since it was released, but I regret nothing. Sometimes music gets me pumped up (like Fall Out Boy) and sometimes it helps me to settle down and focus (like my ...

I'm Glad I Did by Cynthia Weil Goodreads Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and songwriting legend Cynthia Weil's extraordinary YA debut opens the secretive doors of the Brill Building-the hit factory that changed history. Part Mad Men, part Grace of my Heart, part murder mystery, I'm Glad I Did is a coming-of-age story at an unforgettable cultural tipping point: the summer of 1963. JJ Greene, a gifted 16-year-old songwriter, defies her lawyer parents by secretly applying for a job in the famed Brill Building-the epicenter of songwriting for a new genre called rock-n-roll. But their warnings about the evils of the music industry prove far darker than she imagined when she finds herself at the heart of a cover-up that involves hidden identity, theft, and possibly murder. Cut Me Free by J.R. Johansson Goodreads Seventeen-year-old Charlotte barely escaped from her abusive parents. Her little brother, Sam, wasn't as lucky. Now she's trying to...

The Boy on the Bridge by Natalie Standiford Laura Reid goes to Leningrad for a semester abroad as Cold War paranoia is peaking in 1982. She meets a young Russian artist named Alexei and soon, with Alexei as her guide, Laura immerses herself in the real Russia--a crazy world of wild parties, black-market books and music, and smuggled letters to dissidents. She must keep the relationship secret; associating with Americans is dangerous for Alexei, and if caught, Laura could be sent home and Alexei put under surveillance or worse. At the same time, she's been warned that Soviets often latch onto Americans in hopes of marrying them and thus escaping to the United States. But she knows Alexei loves her. Right? As June approaches--when Laura must return to the United States--Alexei asks Laura to marry him. She's only nineteen and doesn't think she's ready to settle down. But what if Alexei is the love of her life? How can she leave him behind? If she has ...

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly blog hop created by Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk to help writers stay in touch. What I'm Reading:  Still Boy on the Bridge. I'm a little less than halfway. I ordered a bunch of new books from B&N and they shipped today, though, so I'm going to have to finish it before they get here.  What I'm Writing:  Nothing at the moment. Working on getting Weredragon's synopsis down to a more acceptable length. My writing goal for the week is to get ten queries out there again. What Works for Me:  Sometimes it's not giving myself rewards. I've talked before about how I like to give myself a little break after I complete a task on my to do list. Sometimes that break is an episode of a TV show. Recently, though, I've had to quit doing that because I find myself spending more time watching Stargate or How I Met Your Mother than actually working. For now I just work through my to do list and then I get to have f...

Killing Time in Crystal City by Chris Lynch Goodreads Crystal City called for him, and Kevin answered. And why wouldn’t he? His relationship with his father is broken—as is his arm. With barely anyone to miss him or care if he’s gone, it seemed like the perfect time for Kevin to run away to his estranged uncle and create an entirely new identity. New name. New attitude. New friends. Maybe even a new girl. From the first moment of adventure, Kevin’s life takes a turn for the exciting. Making friends seems easy with his new persona, especially when a group of homeless beach bums instantly includes him in their crew. But do they like the real Kevin, or the guy he’s pretending to be? And will this new lifestyle help Kevin escape from the misery of his former life—or will it drag him right back into the reasons he left home?   All Fall Down by Ally Carter Embassy Row #1 Goodreads Grace can best be described as a daredevil, an Army brat, and a rebel. S...

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly blog hop created by Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk to help writers stay in touch. What I'm Reading:  Currently Boy on the Bridge by Natalie Standiford. I must admit that it's not holding me as well as I hoped. What I'm Writing:  Going to start working on submission materials for Weredragon tomorrow. I already have a synopsis and query, I just need to make sure they're the best they can be.  What Works for Me:  Giving myself time off when I need it. For instance, Mondays I have class from 11 to 8:20 with only a few hours of break in between. My goal is to lower my target word count to a more manageable number or possibly eliminate it completely. The rest of the week is not nearly as hectic yet so there will be plenty of time for a proper writing session. What Else I'm Up To:  Classes. I'm actually really excited about mine this semester. It's going to be quite a bit of work but also a lot of fun. 

The Boy Next Door by Katie Van Ark Goodreads Maddy Spier has been in love with the boy next door forever. As his figure skating partner she spends time in his arms every day. But she’s also seen his arms around other girls—lots of other girls. Gabe can't imagine skating with anyone but Maddy, and together they have a real chance at winning some serious gold medals. So, he’s determined to keep thinking of her like a sister. After all, he’s never had a romantic relationship that lasted for more than two weeks. But when their coach assigns a new romantic skating program, everything changes. Will this be the big break that Maddy’s been hoping for or the big breakup that Gabe has always feared?   Vivian Apple at the End of the World by Katie Coyle Vivian Apple #1 Goodreads Seventeen-year-old Vivian Apple never believed in the evangelical Church of America, unlike her recently devout parents. But when Vivian returns home the night after the supp...

Cinder by Marissa Meyer Lunar Chronicles #1 Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future. I know, I know. Very late to the party on this one. With this book, though, it's definitely better late than never. This book caught me and refused to let go. About halfway in, I told myself that I could read a few chapters before I got b...