January 29, 2018:  Market/Target Age

My goal last week was to take my Young Adult story - ON A SCALE OF ONE TO TEN - down to Middle Grade, or ages 8-12. Did I succeed? Nope, it’s definitely a WIP (work in progress). I read several MG and YA books, looking for comparisons, likes, and differences; and lately, I’ve read several chapter books, to get in the right mindset of the character and to grasp a better understanding of how the authors play with words.

There are many articles out there that address age-appropriate books. One bit of helpful advice I found: Bookstores have a shelf for MG and another for YA, but there is not a shelf in-between.

However after that, the information turns gray. Apparently, there are upper MG or lower YA. Another article suggested a good target age for MG is 14 years old, but then, another one stated a writer should aim higher or lower as 14 years old represents change, hormones, on the cusp, etc. I guess there’s no real set-in-stone rule when it comes to writing MG or YA, other than one publisher recently stated the YA market didn’t “take off” as it was anticipated. Since my story, SCALE, cannot jump from YA to Adult, my goal of taking it down to MG seems to be my only option. How do I accomplish that? The most obvious is to make sure my Main Character is involved in age-appropriate scenes, i.e., year of school, activities, and angst. I also read the MG character isn’t necessarily involved in edgy activities, but can certainly have a parent who is a drunk, on drugs, etc. That’s all fine and dandy, but my MC’s best friend is a victim of child abuse, and don’t even begin to tell me that doesn’t happen to MG age children…and younger. Child abuse can happen at any age, and at the end of my story, there’s a list of agencies that offers assistance. The message is important. The story is edgy. The age is fluid, but I must narrow it down to one genre and the way to do that is to read, read, read what the market is selling. Middle Grade it is.

(Blood Money-due out in 2018)

 January 22, 2018:  Hello again and Happy New Year. I took a little hiatus from my blog to concentrate on writing. I received the first-round edits of Blood Money on New Year’s Day and spent almost three weeks revising. This Editor provided great feedback and instructions, so it became a labor of love. Here are a few tips they provided:

Find and correct “reached (I’m guilty of writing she reached out her hand and caressed his face. Of course she did. Better: she caressed his face.); felt (Wrong: She felt as if she could cry. [That is wrong for so many reasons-better to show the action instead of telling it.]); he said/she said (replace with action to show who is talking-as in: she turned to face him.); that (so many “thats” can be deleted and won’t change the meaning), to him, for her, and at her (normally found at the end of a sentence and not needed, as she smiled at him.). And did you know blond refers to him, while blonde refers to her? Ditto for brunet/brunette, and fiancé/fiancée.  

Blood Money is my adult mystery, started in 2009--the first of three in the Baker Manor Series. It has gone through many changes; however, the basic plot remained the same. Every revision makes me a better writer. And now, while waiting for the next round of edits to come back, I will use the same revision tips with book # 2 in the series. After that, my goal is to outline the third and final book in the series. Then, I begin the revision on my manuscript on child abuse. One editor recommended I take it from young adult to middle-grade. I will take my own advise I gave yesterday to a wannabe writer: BIC (Butt In Chair, step one to being a writer).

December 18, 2017: I’ve said this already a couple of times, but I continue to be amazed at how many closet writers have come forth since my book was published. To them, I always take a moment and encourage them to never give up. I’m reminded of what my critique partner repeated over and over: a winner is a loser who tried one more time. To anyone reading this who enjoys writing, I repeat what I know works: write and revise (and repeat), work with a good critique partner, market research, and submit, submit, submit. Be ready for the rejections--if you are afraid of rejections, there are many blogs out there that deal with this. Go read as many as you need. Pretty soon, you’ll understand why rejection is important to a writer; but equally important is to read what IS selling. If you write children’s books, read as many as you possibly can. If adult is your preferred genre, read all the best-sellers and then some. A good writer is a good reader--not to plagiarize, but to understand what the public is buying; also, you glean an understanding of what publishers want. This would be a great time to repeat last week’s advice to writers: plan, perseverance, and patience! My 3 “p’s” to publishing.

As Christmas approaches, it’s easy to get caught up in shopping and events; but the real reason for the season needs to stay front and center. I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and the gift of the Savior’s birth.

December 11, 2017: First book signing. Check. Second book signing. Check. After a long day Saturday of not one, but two, book signings, I can honestly say I’m hooked.  Going from inside to a toasty 72 degrees with a blazing fireplace and beautiful decorations to a high of 35 degrees and continually dropping temperatures, a blustery wind and toes that I could no longer feel, I totally had a ball! So many friends came out and to them, I’m truly blessed. I even had one dear old family friend who drove two hours just to get here! I loved talking to people about my book, and there were so many people who truly were interested in the process. And of course, I met a young writer who had self-published her first book who was interested in continuing down the writer’s path by finding her own publisher. It was very enjoyable encouraging her and offering tips…tips my very own critique partner bestowed on me. I guess that’s the most enjoyable part--helping someone else along the way. We writers have to stick together! And write, of course.

 December 4, 2017: What a totally turmoil-filled week I’ve had. I enjoyed a lot of firsts: first time I held my book, my first surprise kick-off party from my co-workers, and my first and second book signings scheduled. As I travel down the writer’s path, I need to remind myself: a writer writes. I need to make sure not to become so consumed in the hoopla that I neglect the reason for the hoopla. I have several manuscripts in various stages, but unless I go back to Writing 101 (BIC-butt in chair), those stories will stagnate. So, with all the prep this weekend that goes along with the remodel of a bathroom, finishing the Christmas decorations, and schedules that demand my attention, I promise myself to squeeze in some quality writing time. Goal for Saturday: finish the revision of BLOOD MOON and begin the rewrite of ON A SCALE OF ONE TO TEN--my next target for publication. Goals are important--without them, I drift along, unfocused and worn out from the many things that cloud my mind. Focus is key to becoming a published author--that and stamina…because we all know, without those two things, writing careers would fall by the wayside. I remarked last night that over the last ten years in which I knuckled down and became serious about writing, along with the time and effort spent proofing and rewriting, sprinkled with the hundreds of rejections…the two contracts I’ve received to date just do not equal the effort. Factor in the sheer joy of becoming a published author and holding your first book in your hands, the reward is ginormous (a word taken directly from my first book).  Advice to struggling writers: plan, perseverance, and patience 

November 27, 2017, part 2: 

They’re here! The box with 50 copies of my first book arrived at 1:35pm on Monday, November 27^th.  As I tore away the packaging, my first thought was what if they’re ugly? Where did that come from??? I had no way of knowing what my reaction would be, but I certainly didn’t expect that! I lovingly examined the front and back cover from crack to corner before opening the first page. I read the author’s bio, the acknowledgment and the dedication with tears in my eyes. From first word to finished product seemed like a lifetime, but holding the first copy shouted reality. I’m a published author! I quickly tore out of my office and across the hall, up and down the corridor shouting, “It’s here! It’s here!” Some of my coworkers even applauded. My second big news is that I have scheduled my first book signing! It doesn’t get any better than this! 

November 27, 2017:

Busy times! Tomorrow is the production day for my first book, THE SECRET AT ONE BELMONT LANE! It was back in March of this year when I signed the contract…and according to that contract, the publisher had until October 2018 to produce the book. Instead, the production date is November 28, 2017. What have I learned during the crossing over from a wannabe to published author (I still do a double take when I say that!)? I’ve learned a lot about hurry up and wait. There were several hurry up and return revisions, but wait around for long periods to hear back if the revision works. Even one of the publishers told me, “…and now you wait.” Luckily, I had other manuscripts to work on. One thing I’ve learned going forward (and I sure hope there is a ‘forward’) is after the next story is in the best possible shape it can be, work on the blurb. I was amazed at how difficult writing a blurb turned out to be. My suggestion is to read as many back covers possible in the same genre as your book, and tweak until the cows come home. One website stated to lead off with a description of the main character(s), give a brief synopsis of the plot, and end leaving the reader wanting more without giving away the story--all this in somewhere between 100 and 150 words. As I eagerly wait to hold my first book, the second revision on book #2--per that editor--should hit my inbox on December 17^th. I will have ten days to make the changes and return the manuscript--all this during the Christmas holidays--all part of hurry up and wait. I wouldn’t have it any other way!