First, I wanted to share a few ways we can connect on a deeper level (I'm a Capricorn by the way), and in exchange for you humoring me, I'm running an all day question and answer session in the comments thread. Have a burning question about querying? Have a burning question about writing? Have a burning question about a burning itch? Er, can't help you there.
First the shameless plug. You can friend me on Facebook here, or if you don't want me to read about your grandma or see pictures of your cat (what? that's what facebook is for, right?), you can follow my author page here.
You can also add Crewel to your goodreads shelf and while you are at it you can friend me there. And every time you do another unicorn sprouts its wings (I am being totally honest).
And you can tweet with me on twitter here. I try to follow back people who actively engage with me and whose profiles don't suggest they are adult entertainment professionals. Although if you are an adult entertainment professional and a writer, that's totally cool and I'd love to tweet with you.
So all that said - let the comment q&a begin!
CREWEL is the first novel you've written -- are there any writing advice you've found exceedingly helpful while writing it? What did you focus on more, the craft, the writing, or both? :)
ReplyDeleteDid you use an outline when drafting CREWEL?
ReplyDelete@Emy - My favorite writing advice and exercises come from Donald Maass's books Writing the Breakout Novel and The Fire in Fiction. Both have extensive exercises you can use while revising to heighten tension and deepen character stories. I used them when I was doing my second draft and then when I finished my final draft I went through one more time to see if I'd hit most of the suggestions. I really love those books.
ReplyDelete@Melissa - Along the lines of Emy's question, I don't outline when I am drafting. I find it kills my mojo when I'm trying to draft. I just write from beginning to end and I don't even stop for typos. It usually results in a pretty light first draft (book 2 is rough!), but I find its easier to work with 50k in manuscript form than a soul-crushing outline. I do outline very loosely when I'm doing drafts, so I can make sure to tie up story lines and see where I can add scenes if need be.
Hey, Gennifer! Did you have a playlist while drafting/revising CREWEL? If so, which songs did you listen to?
ReplyDeleteHi, Gennifer, thanks for answering our questions! Did you have critique partners or beta readers? If so, how did you find them? Do you have any advice for the querying author? Do you have any advice about query writing? Sorry about all the questions. Feel free to ignore any of them if you want :)
ReplyDelete@Amparo - I've only recently started listening to music while working. I'm a total cheap skate, so I usually use Pandora and my favorite artist to listen to is Lady GaGa. In my head, I've been compiling a playlist for the book and she keeps popping up on it.
ReplyDelete@Leah - I have 3 critique partners and just started working with a fourth. The first two are friends who turned out to be writing books. We have a private FB group where we chat about life and writing. One is local, the others are not. Two others came from querytracker. I have some beta readers - a teen I met at a writing event, my cousins, and other younger family members.
If you don't have a premium membership to querytracker get one if you are starting to query. It's a great investment and it gives you so many tools to track your queries, and its a great community. I recently did an interview on query writing with BBC: http://writerwriterpantsonfire.blogspot.com/2011/07/sat-newly-agented-author-gennifer-albin.html
Wow, thanks! I've been debating on getting the querytracker membership. And I'm so fixin' to devour your interview at Writer, Writer!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the recommendation, Gennifer! I'll definitely have to check out Donald Maass' book. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I've just re-read my second question and found it complete incomprehensible. What I meant was -- what did you focus on more/think is more important: the craft or the story?
@Emy - how does that song go - "you can't have one without the other"? I focus primarily on story first. Making sure the plot is tense and fast-paced and then I go in and develop my descriptions and narrative more fully. They're both important, but I work on them at different times.
ReplyDeleteI'm a Capricorn too! Fancy that!
ReplyDeleteMy question: Do you have any other projects in mind to work on after the Crewel series or is that too far in the future?
So I have this burning itch on my....oh wait, you said you don't have expertise in this area. Guess I'll have to google it.
ReplyDeleteNo seriously, when choosing an agent did you only consider those from a well known house, or would you have considered a less known agent if they had shown the correct enthusium?
Hi, Gennifer! Did you know while writing that Crewel was going to be the first in a trilogy? Or was it something that evolved as you got deeper into the story?
ReplyDelete@Ryan, I have a high school comedy and a super secret series project in the pipelines.
ReplyDelete@Amber - I had several new agents and agents from boutique agencies on my list and I had offers from agents all over the board. My top picks were chosen based on sales record, personality, reputation, etc, and Mollie was in my top picks. In the end, I seriously weighed every agent who offered.
Just popping in to say Hi! I followed over from Writer Writer :) It's fun to get to know you - now I'm off to check out your book!
ReplyDelete@Lindsay - I always saw it as a trilogy. I guess I'm a child of Star Wars and Indiana Jones and Back to the Future, and you always do three, right? (I choose to ignore any recent additions to those movie franchises). It was trickier figuring out where the story for each book stopped.
ReplyDelete@Jemi - Hi!
Lady Gaga FTW!!! I haven't tried Pandora yet, but there's so much great buzz about it that I might just give in.
ReplyDeleteThanks for replying!
No burning questions or itches right now, but if you like Pandora, check out grooveshark.com too. It's so fun!
ReplyDeleteWill do, Jess! Thanks!
ReplyDelete