Diary of a Writing Project. Day 143-144: and we have a working first draft​ !

After a quick revision, the YA first draft, the very one that inspired this Diary of a Writing Project, will start with 32 600 words.

For this first draft, I used a writing technique completely new to me. I’ve written a basic synopsis for each chapter.

The idea came from the super fun, super into writing and writing craft, very talented author Kate from AuthorTube/BookTube channel Katytastic. (One channel appellation goes hand-in-hand with the other, don’t you think? Reading a ton made me wish I could be a writer too, and from there, I work.)

I have 23 chapters for now, but it will certainly change and go up to 25 chapters at the very least. After all, this novel should be around 80 000 words when I’m done. One day. Soon I hope.

Remember when I planned to finish drafting that project by the end of December 2019?
I’m almost tempted to insert one those laughing gif here. Anyway, you learn a little something every time you failed to make a deadline.

At the end, this draft should be finished by the end of April 30th. Of 2020 that is!

Then, off to beta-readers, if I can find any experienced francophone beta-reader into YA fantasy paranormal novels.

Steady writing progress

Since I’ve decided to go hybrid and self-publish, my writing schedule had to change.

The self-publishing industry (it had become one, thanks to the Internet and the variety of readers out there) had developed its own set of rules.

In order to make any kind of money, authors can either published a long-trail well marketed novel, of several novels in a very short period of time.

Can I write, have a round of beta-reading, revise, send to edit, revise once more, copy proof in six ways of so?
While, of course, find a book cover artist, do a marketing campaign, get a launch together (that will not happen until the book series I have in mind reaches any kind of success (more than 5 000 readers) in my book market… and that is a very, very, very overly optimistic goal!), create a newsletter, organize a giveaway of some sort (and I’m pretty sure I’m forgetting something)?

The answer for that very long question is : nope !

Writing a rom-com novel is not easier than writing any other kind of literary genre.

Just because I’m trying to self-publish, I’m not gonna hand-over the first draft or something like that.

I hope to get the rom-com novel published in June though (in time for vacations season!).

In order to achieve that, I changed my writing schedule. That means, I had to carve out more time for writing.

My kiddo wakes up at 5 am. every. single. morning. It’s a blessing. I can write for two hours before having to get ready for the workday.
Which pretty much means… showering and changing pj’s!

I write during lunch time, and then there’s my trusty evening writing session.
Lately, I’ve been using that time to read graphic novel/comic books, but now that YA novel is right on track, and rom-com is outlined, I will concentrate my efforts on writing both the same time.

I’m in the mood for writing both fantasy and rom-com. Both WIP are on the fun side of the spectrum, so they kind of have the same vibes, if not the same mood (YA ghost story gets a bit dark, but just a bit).

Let’s see how this ambitious task turns out. Or, let’s see how the young kiddo will take the « less mommy time », I should say.

Thanks for reading, dear writer friends!

Diary of a writing project. Day 142: the brackets writing tip

How’s your writing mind?

How’s your writing mind?

Mine is very linear, always has been. From A to Z, there’s only one way in my brain: chronological, one letter after the other.

If I outlined, I then followed the outline.

One chapter after the other.
Writing the whole thing through.
Then moving on.

In other words, I more than less write the same way I read.

The many authors out there, sharing their work and their writing process, inspired me to upgrade the way I write.

Honest to the big G’s up there, I’ve never thought of using brackets or simply write (insert joke here!) or (this what the next two pages should be about in three sentences).
I cannot write in a none chronological order, but I’m allowing myself to write a resume or even a synopsis of a chapter I’d rather write later because of… many reasons like I want to flesh out a character ARC or get on with a cute scene.

In the same spirit, I will be moving from Word to Scrivener in a couple of weeks or so (the budget reality of a freelance writer; gotta wait to have money before spending money).

I’ll do a « test drive » first, but I’m ready for a software designed specifically to handle a big document like a novel, or a play, or a screen play.

I love Word, I’ll keep it. But when the manuscript reaches more than a 100 page, glitches and so much weird little things happen.

I’m almost ready to share the new word count for the YA WIP. I’m still in the process of getting the new outline all set up, adding the rough draft words worth keeping to what I’m ready to call the first draft.

And I will soon share some writing news concerning my writing quest. Stay tune!

Thanks for reading, and I wish you happy writings.

Writer Notebook: Rough outlines​

Over time – no, let’s be real – after many failures, I settled to develop my story ideas in a more organized way.

To outline or to not outline a novel idea?

Outlining a novel is NOT something absolutely necessary.

When I develop an idea for a novel, I scribbled in a notebook. Even before I answer the big 5 W’s + H, I just have fun writing the inciting incident, what are the consequences for the main character and its world.

Even though I’ve been writing stories since… always I feel sometimes (!), I just started to outline a couple of years back.
Over time – no, let’s be real – after many failures, I settled to develop my story ideas in a more organized way.

I enjoy outlining a little more now, but I still struggle.
I outline nevertheless because it really helps me explore the possibilities within the story idea.

Now, about the outlining method.

Well…

Continuer la lecture de « Writer Notebook: Rough outlines​ »