Five years ago, inspired by Stephenie Meyer, I decided to write a book. If she could pen a YA novel during her kids’ swim practice, then so could I. Right?
While I was learning about author platform, I joined an online writing group called Wordsmith Studio, (WSS), a fun, supportive, and eclectic mix of writers. I met poet Michelle Pond through WSS and was pleased she could share some insight into Jazz Poetry here on the Word Nerd. She blogs at MAPoet and writes poetry with a focus on grief. Thanks, Michelle, for inviting me to the My Writing Process Blog Tour.
Normally, I don’t indulge in stories about my writing, but since Michelle asked…
What am I working on?
I recently finished my first YA manuscript, Redefined. It’s about a girl who struggles against the demands of her overprotective father and the needs of her ailing mother to fight for the independence – and the boy – she wants.
Now I’m crazy/daring/foolish enough to put my work out there by querying agents to find representation for publishing. Querying means lots of research, tweaking of letters, and waiting. Fortunately, I found this great piece on querying at Writer’s Digest and realized that I’m not the only writer to experience anxiety and despair.
While I wait, I’m tackling the next manuscript and penning guest posts. I learned a lot in the five years it took me to write the first book (yes – five), and with the help of the awesome writing software Scrivener, I’m hoping the next book won’t take so long.
Why do I write what I do?
I like to write kid lit, especially YA, because childhood and adolescence are so intense. I vividly remember my teenage years: the way my crush smelled like Ralph Lauren’s Polo cologne mixed with Big Red gum, the way my stomach rolled and my legs noodled at every high school track meet. Teenagers make great characters; they are funny, surprisingly insightful, and passionate. Besides, I never want to write anything steamier than a PG-13 love scene, and I hate violence and gore; that rules out most adult genres.
How does my writing process work?
With most things in life, including dinners and carpool schedules, I like to prepare. Same with writing. For everything from blog posts to novel chapters, I create an outline. Fourteen years of motherhood has taught me that plans change, but I need some basic structure. I also crave routine, so I schedule writing time on regular days in my week. (Of course, summer vacation brings challenges…)
I write an ugly first draft, let it rest for a day, and then come back to knead it into shape. Sometimes my critical editor voice interrupts my “creative” writing time, and I have to work to keep her quiet.
I spend a lot of time in the minivan, and when I get inspiration, I pull out my iPhone and dictate my ideas or snippets of dialogue (yes, I pretend to be my characters) into Evernote or Drafts. NOT when children ride with me, though.
Meet two more writers
That’s enough about me. I’m tagging two of my writing buddies for this blog tour; we can learn more about them next week.
I met Amy Makechnie through blogging. She runs, writes kid lit, and lives in the country with her four children. (Just like me! Except she runs marathons, crazy girl.) Learn more about her:
Amy Makechnie is writer from New Hampshire and has written for many on-line and national publications, and east coast magazines. She is the author of the blog, maisymak.com, where she frequently tattles on her wily flock of children.
I met Jennifer Chow through Wordsmith Studio. She released her book, The 228 Legacy, last year, and she shares “word nerd” tips with a Chinese spin at her blog; check her out!
Jennifer J. Chow, a Chinese-American, married into the Taiwanese culture. Her book, The 228 Legacy, is a 2013 Foreword Review’s Book of the Year Award Finalist in the multicultural category. It was inspired by the family stories she heard after viewing photos of a two-million-person human chain commemorating 228. She has traveled multiple times to Taiwan and visited places dedicated to the incident. Her experience with the elderly comes from a gerontology specialization at Cornell University and her geriatric social work experience. You can visit her online at www.jenniferjchow.com.
Do you write? What are you working on and what is your process? I’d love to know.
Thanks for stopping by!
Julia
I read Amy’s post but missed yours, so I had to come back and check it out. Your novel sounds intriguing – I will be first in line to read it when it’s published. While I’m not writing a novel, I do need to schedule regular writing time for my blog and other submissions – the “write whenever” schedule is not working for me!
Thanks for tagging me, Julia. Good luck with your queries! I’m right there with you. I actually have a response to a full manuscript in my in-box right now, but I’m dreading actually reading the reply.
I’m waiting to hear back on a full manuscript request and trying not to think about it too much. I’m crossing my fingers that you got good news in that email! Thanks for participating. Let me know when your post goes up.
Good luck on your full! (Mine came back with a really kind rejection–personalized, too.) My post is up at: http://jenniferjchow.com/2014/06/30/my-writing-process-blog-tour/
Rats- sorry about that. Did you get some helpful feedback? Loved your post for the tour. It’s great to have buddies on this crazy journey!
The agent commented more about the difficulty of placing my work. Apparently, not that many publishers take on cozies so competition is fierce.
Enjoyed reading your tour, Julia. Fingers crossed for successful querying! I can’t imagine having your super memory. I know it must be a treasure for your writing.
I just love reading about other writers and their processes – I can just see you dictating notes into the iPhone while sitting in the minivan! It really is a huge boost to know other moms are writing and mothering at the same time. Thanks for tagging me and I will get working on my post
I can’t wait to learn about how you fit everything in! Thanks for “playing”!
*When*, not ‘if,’ your book is published, I can’t wait to get an autographed copy sister!! 😉 Just from the short amount I was blessed to read, you hooked me!
God’s best to you Julia!
Love to you, Hester
**blushing**. Thank you so much Hester for your compliments and all of your input. You’re always like a day of sunshine when you stop by.
I am so glad I asked, and more importantly, that you said yes. Good luck with querying. You know your WSS friends are cheering for you!
Thanks, Michelle.
Julia — Did I do a First Impressions post on the first page of Redefined? I am sure I remember this premise!
I am working on a brand new science fiction MG and remembering how hard the world building process is in the first draft. I might have given up already if I didn’t remember having the same problems in my (horrendous) first draft of The Eighth Day.
My process: moan and groan about the first draft, hate it, make faces at it, write it late, late at night when my internal editor is turned off, and be convinced its an utter failure — up until I finally learn to love it during the climax.
Then revise the heck out of it!
Yes, Dianne, you did run Redefined for First Impressions on your blog, and I got so much helpful insight and support from that experience. Thank you! Writers- check out Dianne’s site for the opportunity to have your first 500 words critiqued.
I’m glad I’m not the only one moaning and groaning about their writing! Yay for revisions.