Writing Inspiration ~ #amwriting #Nanowrimo

Last November, I tried NaNoWriMo for the first time ever, and while I didn't finish a complete manuscript in one month, I did "win" in terms of word count.  By February, I had typed "the end" to my fourth novel, and now Haunted Souls is awaiting a release date.  I decided not to participate in NaNoWriMo this year, as I've branched out into teaching writing classes as well, and to say I'm over-scheduled at the moment would be a tremendous understatement.  But I wanted to cheer on all the writers working on getting their daily word count in by posting the inspirational quote I keep on my keyboard.  And if your fingers need a break and you care to read the story behind the quote, I've included it below.  The original post first appeared as one of my contributions to The Pearls of Writing Wisdom ~ a blog co-written by ten published authors dedicated to sharing weekly writing tips on Tuesdays and inspiration on Fridays.

The quote taped to my keyboard came to me in a fortune cookie on New Year's Eve in 2010. It seemed appropriate for what I was feeling, since my resolution was to begin sending out queries for my first manuscript, Silver Lake.

Real courage is moving forward when the outcome is uncertain. - Michael Angier

Now, I'm not comparing writing to the kind of courage it takes to go into battle to defend your country or something like that.  But it does take courage to go after your dreams, especially when the dream is as big as writing a novel and getting it published.  It's easy to say "Someday, I'm going to write that novel." It's much harder to actually do it.  Even once those first words get typed, there's no guarantee your energy and inspiration will hold out until you get to "The End". A writer pours blood, sweat, tears, caffeine, and days spent in pajamas into a manuscript, and the outcome IS uncertain.  Will it all come together?

But if you don't start, you definitely won't finish.  And if you don't send queries out and risk rejection, you won't find a publisher willing to back your story. Putting your creation out there is nerve-wracking at best.  I knew I was about to enter a very unpleasant stage of the process for most writers.  And there was no guarantee that if I stuck with it, my novel would find a home.

I weathered the rejections.  I rewrote and made cuts.  I tried again.  I began receiving full requests, and then an R&R (a request to Revise and Resubmit) - with suggestions on what needed to be fixed.  Again, no guarantees, but I did the work.

And the day that contract offer came for my debut novel was one of the best days of my life.  December 16, 2011, almost a year after I opened that cookie and found the words of encouragement that remind me daily not to give up.

Keep at it, writers!

Ready to Write? Fiction + Publishing Class on #CapeCod #amwriting #Hyannis

New dates being added!

Update: new dates and locations for this class are in the works! Next class begins Jan. 26 in Falmouth, and another Hyannis class will be scheduled for spring 2016. Follow my FB page for details:
https://www.facebook.com/KathrynKnightbooks

My "Fiction Writing and Publication" course is coming to Main Street, Hyannis for the summer!  In this condensed version, we'll meet for three Thursdays in July, from 9:00 a.m. to noon, and we'll cover a multitude of topics related to writing fiction and getting it published.

There's something for writers at every stage in this class.  We'll go over some of the basics, such as identifying genres in commercial fiction (necessary for meeting reader expectations, writing query letters, submitting to small or digital presses, and/or listing your book in Amazon categories), idea inspiration, staying on track and word count goals.  Once we've covered the basics, we'll move on to showing vs. telling, Goal-Motivation-Conflict charts, character development, and the hook. Common pitfalls will be covered, such as info dumps, cliches, Mary Sues, and POV (Point of View) issues/head hopping.

Finally, we'll get to querying agents or presses and writing the dreaded blurbs and synopsis. We'll go over all the different publishing options available as well as promotion and marketing. How will I fit it all into 9 hours?

If you're anywhere near the Cape, check out this link at Cape Cod Community College's WERC site for more info: Fiction Writing and Publication.  Even if you're not exactly local, a little trip to Cape Cod a few times this summer for a class gives you the perfect chance to enjoy some of our lovely beaches and attractions!  Happy summer and happy writing :)

Cape Cod National Seashore - setting for my ghost story +
romance GULL HARBOR

Should I take a break? Can I? #amwriting #romance

Since 2008, a very large chunk of my life has been writing.  I began Silver Lake during an 8 hour car ride, once a friend had given me the final push I needed to get started (if you don't at least try, you'll never know...words to live by).  The entire first draft took me two and a half years, because at that point, it was mostly a distant dream.

During that time span, we remodeled our home, including the kitchen...so for six months, I awoke every day to different people stomping around the house before I even got dressed.


A giant hole in the yard
was just the beginning

I'd trudge down in my pajamas and ask where they put the coffee maker that day, because that and the toaster oven were the extent of our working appliances.  Usually it was sitting on a step ladder somewhere, and occasionally I had to find an extension cord to get it working.  Let's just say it wasn't the most conducive environment to write romance.  If I even tried, invariably a contractor would show up within five minutes, asking me where I wanted the light switches to go.  Huh?  Put them where you think they should go.  I'm trying to channel the ghost of Brandy.

It was worth it!  ^ This stool is
where I write.

But once I began querying publishers and agents with Silver Lake, writing became more of a compulsion than a hobby.  I had editors interested who wanted to see changes.  I rewrote and rewrote again, and every time I had to endure the painful wait for feedback, I turned to my new story.  By the time Silver Lake was contracted by The Wild Rose Press, I ecstatically told myself it was time for a break.  But I couldn't do it.  I was deep inside the fictional Cape Cod town of Gull Harbor, helping Claire deal with both a dangerous spirit and her ex-boyfriend, Max.

Gull Harbor was finished--and contracted--in record time.  Certainly it was time for a rest.  But I had two new stories tugging at my imagination--which to pursue?  I decided it was time for something different, and I embarked on a journey into the world of Nephilim in my first YA paranormal romance.

Nine months later, I had yet another finished full length manuscript.  Three in five years...not bad.  Since my current publisher does not handle YA, I began the query process all over again.  That in and of itself is quite a daunting and time-consuming process.  Surely now I should take that break, relax, and hope an agent or publisher is interested in Divine Fall.

I'm trying.  Really.  But I feel strangely adrift.  I miss my characters.  I miss living in their world, experiencing their next moves as the intricate plot comes to life in my mind.  Jamie and Dothan will have their incredible story told, and I'm sure I'll be back with them when it's time for edits.  But in the meantime, can I just sit back and wait?

Again, I'm trying.  But that other story that took a backseat to Divine Fall is beckoning.  The first three chapters are there.  The preliminary research is done.  Emily and Brett are waiting, and so is Jonah's ghost.  I know on some level my brain needs time to recharge.  Somehow, I need to get that message to my characters.  Their time will come.  They'll have to be at least a little bit patient.  And I'll admit, I'm not usually one to advocate patience--it's not my strong point.  But in this business, it's a necessary virtue. 

So I'll tackle my To Be Read list while I try very hard to take that break from writing.  Judging from the long blog post I just joyfully typed up, it should be no problem.  Wait...