Catégorie : Writing project

Diary of a new writing project. Day 4-5: where we struggle big time to outline a YA novel

I never outlined any of the novels (YA, Middle-Grade or else) I wrote over the course of the past 20 years. I do not like outlining a story. For many reasons. The main one being, for me, it takes away the fun of writing.

With this new project, let’s call it YA-WIP, I thought I would give this good old outline a novel thing a try. A real one. Dreading, dreading, dreading.

But, since I am determined to query this book in by the end of March 2020, I need to step up my game and use all the tricks and tips out there. Because it usually takes me, what 6 months minimum, only to get through the very first, rough draft.

I loosely based my outline for YA-WIP on 3 outlining methods I really find inspiring (I did attempt outlining before, but…) and built my « own » from there.

Will outlining help me write faster this precious first draft?

Let’s outline and see…

Oh dear, common tropes city…

The first outline took me less than an hour to write. I did tough a lot the past months about the story, so I had a very good idea of where the story was going.

And I realized how much my story was sitting on common tropes. It a good story, I still like it. Although, it certainly needs way more work.

So, here’s my method for outlining a novel: write several outlines over the course of several hours, days.

I worked two days (let’s be clear, on and off; I still have a day job and basic needs to take care of, like showering and eating and stuff) on my outline.

End results

First outlines were a frustrating mess, mainly because I felt like I had to suff in some scenes just to meet the outlines requirements. It made the story feel like very old, rolling on common tropes and common characters. In one word, the first outline’s were hitting all the right points and I thought it was boring as s***.
Then, I simplified my outline more and more, to the point were I had the main points every story structure needs without being overly… commercial beat sheet.
So, yeah, I have a good-enough-for-now outline. Yay!

I really struggled with outlining this project though. Oh là là! Part of the discovery writer in me still thinks the outline will end up in the trash anyway.
But, it’s done and now, it’s time to start writing.

Oh yeah! Very excited about that part.

Until next time!


Diary of a new Writing Project. Day 2-3: Characters and bullet lists

I really wanted to layout thoroughly the main characters, so I would have a strong base to work with.
I tried a new process to attempt to get there.

Disclaimer: No affiliated links.

The first cast of characters I came up with for this story ruined it. I set the project aside, thinking I needed to add something fresh, fun, fabulous to it to make it work.

The awaited lightbulb moment came while I was researching publishers editorial lines. One fun publisher is looking for YA novels.

That was it. This story would totally work with a cast of teenagers and there’s a market opening.

It meant scrapping 10 000 words, an entire cast of adult characters, hours of worldbuilding… So be it.

Creating Characters

I really wanted to layout thoroughly the main characters, so I would have a strong base to work on. I tried a new process to attempt to get there.

I made a list of what I wanted to achieve for the character, some basic stuff, some level 1 stuff:

  • research and choose names & write the family history related to the names
  • describe and draw the layouts of the places (town, neighborhood high-school, the third place of interest)
  • find out what the main characters want, what drives them, what they need
  • find what makes them different (passion, crazy dreams, impactful event)

I also used one of the writing tips I pick up from Chris Fox’s « 5,000 words per hour ». I removed from my reach my distractions of choice: phone (a.k.a Candy Crush device), paying work-related stuff, grocery list, etc.
Small difference: I kept the Internet on. Because I am a very visual, it-must-respect-the-law-of-physics kind of writer, I use the Internet-verse or actual books to double-check everything, no matter the literary genre I choose.

It usually takes me a little more than a week to create characters and do a bit of worldbuilding, but this project is « rushed ». I plan to query this book in six months, top (the high of query season here).

Although, I haven’t set goals for that project yet; and that is for another writing diary day.

Until next time!

Diary of a New Writing Project. Day 1: the idea vs the market

Starting a new writing project is always so exciting. Committing to it to get to the finish line on time, well, ish…
Ends the writing diary. About writing. If I share something about the 5am tantrum my kid had that morning, it’s because it has had an impact on the writing project or the writing diary project. (Oh yeah, 5 am tantrum. It’s new. It won’t last. Don’t worry. Have kids. They’re awesome.)

Fall is coming.

Colors changing, hot chocolate back on the weekend menu, cozy pj’s and tons of new books. It’s the best, I love it.

There’s also the pre-fall back to school craze, which always energizes me. Suddenly, I want to do so many things at the same time.
More importantly, I want to write; write something new even more so.

And this idea for YA writing project who has been waiting all winter-spring-summer long is just what a writer on a quest needs!

Starting a new writing project is always so exciting. Committing to it to get to the finish line on time, well, ish…

I need a challenge. I need to try something.

Ends the writing diary blog. Almost daily writing and writing only good old fashion blog posts.
If I share something about the 5am tantrum my kid had that morning, it’s because it has had an impact on the writing project or the writing diary project. (Oh yeah, 5 am
tantrum. It’s new. It won’t last. Don’t worry. Have kids. They’re awesome.)

During the next months, I will go down the journaling lane, writing about my progress/non-progress, struggles and fails, small victories, so on and so forth.

And we care becaaauuuse?

Well… I’m… nice?

Seriously, I like spying on other authors technique, tricks and tips and I thought I would do something similar while making myself accountable for something.

So, yeah, just a working-from-home and aspiring author on a quest, sharing her journey. I hope you’ll enjoy!

The Idea

I am so so excited about this idea.

It started with a dream I had, two years. A vivid dream/nightmares involving a peculiar party of ghost.

Now, ghost stories, horror stories, I cannot read, nor watch. I get so scared, it’s ridiculous. It took me years to get over the american version of « The Ring » movie. Real. Long. Years.

But the dream was so incredible, the idea was so much fun. Plus, horror, fantasy, mystery are evergreen genre.

I had to try.

So I did.

The failure was complete. Main character was not working, the love interest was as cliché as cliché can be, the contemporary world setting was boring me to tears. And, yes, I got scared while doing the research.

I moved on, wrote a other novel, worked on ideas. But this idea kept nagging me.

It while doing research about publishers (we’ll get there in a moment) that I had one of those lightbulb moment. I found a way to twist the idea, which was all of the sudden creating a solid base for the main characters to grow from.

Since I was working on two projects already, I put that one on the back burner. Until now. Hooray, as my kid favorite little piggy would cheer.

The Market

I’ve got a lot to say about the book market.

I’m talking about my little francophone book market. Here, no literary agent could earn a living, so there’s no literary agent. Plus, here in Quebec, publishers, big and small, are less and less inclined to accept unsolicited work.

In a small market, it’s understandable. Still, for aspiring to be traditionally published authors, it gets a little… discouraging.

Therefore, it is oh so important to do thorough research, so you can write a book that fits the (agent if you are in a big book market) publisher’s editorial line, kinda.

A deadly good query letter will certainly help too. Then, well, there’s the matter of when to send the manuscript. Here in Quebec, it will be October-November, then February-March, then May. Ish.

I’ve done the research last January, and again in September. The new writing project I have in mind would be a good fit for several publishers.

Green light on, people. Let’s get started.

Until next time!