Blog Posts

Five Photos from 2015

12/11/2015

By Yvonne Ventresca

For this week's Friday Five, I'm sharing a few of my favorite photos from the year:

Pennsylvania lake at night (setting for my NaNoWriMo novel)

Me with my parents and brother at a family wedding

Signing at NYC's Books of Wonder (Scott Westerfeld on left -- alphabetical good luck!)

And of course 2015 wouldn't be complete without pictures of my beloved Luna and Rocky!

Luna

Rocky

Do you have a good way to organize photos? That's something I struggle with. Let me know in the comments.

Need help revising your manuscript? Here are some tips from a revision workshop I gave at SCBWI NJ last year.

Having critique partners is an invaluable part of the novel writing process. To get the most mileage out of a critique, you should fix the more obvious problems yourself before passing the manuscript to other readers. Here are some questions to consider.

Is the age of your main character appropriate for your genre? Does the voice match the age?

Is the length of your story typical? There are always exceptions to the rule but it’s good to know where your story falls on the spectrum. Jennifer Laughran has an excellent blog post about children’s book category lengths and example titles.

Are you starting the story at the best point? Is it interesting and compelling to make readers want to continue?

Is your main character solving problems too easily? Are the stakes high enough?

Do you know enough about your characters and their motivation? Is backstory handled appropriately? (For example, you don’t want to dump a large amount of backstory in chapter one.)

After you make any “big picture” changes, you can focus on the finer wording details.

Have you eliminated filler words such as really, just, very, well? (You can use this list of words to avoid here.)

Do you overuse any body part references? (Try searching for stomach, hands, heart.)

Have you written in the active voice? Example: It was a rainy afternoon (passive) versus The rain pounded the roof (active). Find clues you are using passive voice by searching for to be, are, is, was, has, had, etc.

For more self-editing information online, check out Common Manuscript Mistakes and the Writers Who Make Them and Six Easy Tips for Self-Editing Your Fiction.

For more extensive editing advice, I have some recommended books. Share your own favorite books in the comments.

Quick Productivity Tips for Creative People

11/27/2015

By Yvonne Ventresca

Productivity is an interesting concept, especially for creative people, because our “work” for each day isn’t always clearly defined. Without specific deadlines, we can sit around waiting for the muse instead of plowing ahead. Consistent progress can sometimes be a struggle.

Here are a few thoughts on staying motivated, after you've recovered from Thanksgiving:

1. If you don’t have an external deadline, create one. For example, pick a date to exchange manuscripts with a critique partner or promise to have the story ready for beta readers by a certain time. Making a commitment that involves other people can work wonders for motivation.

2. Create a chain, as Jerry Seinfeld once advised a new comedian. Using a calendar, make a large X each day you complete a certain task. Soon the line of Xs becomes self-perpetuating because you don’t want to break the streak. (FYI -- gold stars work, too!) James Clear says on Entrepreneur.com, “The Seinfeld Strategy works because it helps to take the focus off of each individual performance and puts the emphasis on the process instead. It's not about how you feel, how inspired you are, or how brilliant your work is that day. Instead, it's just about ‘not breaking the chain.’” If you are looking for online support, the Monthly Twitter Writing Challenge encourages participant to write or revise daily for the month and document it on the group spreadsheet, mixing the “Seinfeld Strategy” with public commitment--a winning combination! The same can be said for NaNoWriMo.

3. Make a plan that divides “writing a novel” (a huge, scary project) into manageable pieces. Set goals to write the first chapter, decide character names, write the second chapter, research the setting, etc. If you want to finish a novel in a certain time period, approximately how many words do you need to write a month? Make a schedule. It can always be adjusted, of course, but, as Antoine de Saint-Exupéry said, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.”

I usually blog with a "five" theme on Friday, but the holiday weekend merits a shorter post. If you want to read more of my thoughts about this topic, you can read a collection of my productivity posts from A to Z. If you have any favorite tips or resources, please share!

Interview with Liza Fleissig of the Liza Royce Agency

11/20/2015

By Yvonne Ventresca

Literary Agent Liza Fleissig

For today’s Friday Five, I’m featuring an interview with literary agent Liza Fleissig, founder of the Liza Royce Agency (LRA). I signed with Liza as my agent earlier this year and was thrilled when she sold my next novel, Black Flowers, White Lies (coming Fall of 2016!) to Sky Pony Press. Read on to learn about submitting your manuscript to LRA, Liza's ideal client, and her thoughts on trilogies.

Q & A with Liza Fleissig

1. What are some of the most important qualities you look for in novel submissions?

Other than the obvious--strong writing and compelling voice--I like stories that are fresh and take chances. Once any given book becomes a hit, it is inevitable that we get submissions that basically jump on the bandwagon and offer a variation on the same best-selling theme. What some authors don’t realize is that publishers are no longer looking for THAT book, they are looking for the NEXT big thing. It is very frustrating because you look forward to great submissions and at times you are just left rolling your eyes and declining to consider.

2. What’s your favorite part about being an agent? Least favorite part?

My favorite part? Being able to help our clients attain success, and in many cases life-long dreams, is an amazing feeling. I will never forget LRA’s first picture book signing--there was a full display in the store front window--and the look on the author’s face when she got out of the cab was priceless. My least favorite? Sigh. This business is not for the faint of heart. More and more often books are not passing acquisition meetings even with full editorial support. So when a deal is expected to be a fait accompli, but somehow still falls through, the blow is crushing--and being the one to deliver that news is almost as devastating as it is to hear it.

3. How would you describe your ideal client?

One who shoots for the stars and looks for a window when the door is closed, but who can also be practical when need be. The agency relationship is like a marriage, with ups and downs, and the ideal client is one who can handle disappointment with grace, even when it’s unfair. Comparing yourself to other authors is a huge no-no, and knowing how to accept and appreciate constructive feedback is a must. We look for clients who say “what can I do for me?” not just “what can the publisher do for me?” and since LRA is run like a family, our ideal clients cross-support and share in their agency siblings’ successes. Determination helps too. We’ve sold books right out of the gate, and others in months, one took a year!--you never know--so be in it for the long haul and believe in yourself. Above all--HONESTY, TRUST and mutual RESPECT is key. Prima dons/donnas need not apply.

4. What do you see as the biggest changes in YA publishing in the past few years?

I think YA continues to morph since its formal inception. When I grew up, there was no real YA section--books like FOREVER were considered risky, and now characters have sex with vampires. Talk about change! I think the main thing I would caution authors is that contrary to popular belief, trilogies is not the way to go. Post HUNGER GAMES everyone thinks they need to write trilogies, so they write with arcs that lend themselves to that, and I think it’s a critical error. First of all, as the numbers demonstrate, few books will break out in such a tremendous way. That is not to say they won’t have huge successes, just not necessarily in such a franchising way. Second, and more important to consider, the YA audience continues to grow up. As your readers hit college and adult years, they no longer read YA books. And, as new readers come of age, they don’t want to pick up a book mid-series. So I think it’s really important you write a GOOD YA STORY and worry only about THAT one. Trying to develop a trilogy often leaves the first book falling short, which makes a sale less likely in the first place. One book at a time. Very important in YA.

5. Are you currently open to submissions? How should an interested writer submit to you?

I am always open to submissions, albeit sometimes my turn around is slower than others. Guidelines will be up on our website (launching hopefully by Jan!), but until then, people should send us an email WITH NO ATTACHMENTS since they will not be opened, providing a pitch, a brief bio, along with information about any social/marketing platform they feel is relevant. Unfortunately since we are so slammed, if someone doesn’t hear back from us within two weeks, then that means we declined to consider the work, for a variety of reasons, ranging from we might have something similar on our list to it just didn’t resonate. This business is so subjective, so please remember that a pass from us could very well be a YES from another agency!

Thank you, Liza, for the helpful information. Follow the Liza Royce Agency on Twitter @lizaroyceagency and like them on Facebook at Liza Royce Agency for more deal and industry news.

Teen Writing Communities

11/17/2015

By Yvonne Ventresca

For this week's Teen Tuesday, here are five online communities for teen writers. These can be a place to virtually meet other authors, learn about the craft, and share pieces of your work.

Teen writing communities YvonneVentresca.com

Figment is a "community to share writing, connect with other readers, and discover new stories and authors.” You can join an online group (or create your own) based around a topic you love. Produced by Random House, the Figment website also includes chats with authors, discussion forums, quizzes and writing contests.

Go Teen Writers "exists to provide encouragement, instruction, and community for teen writers.” Run by Stephanie Morrill and Jill Williamson, it also features a private facebook page and resources about writing, such as How to Write a Novel. Jill says, “We provide a consistent environment where teens can learn and ask questions. We post consistently, hold a variety of contests, and have guest bloggers who are professional authors, editors, or literary agents. We also provide a community for teens to meet other writers and form support and critique groups.” For more info and advice, read my interview with Stephanie and Jill.

As I mentioned in a previous blog post, NaNoWriMo has a modified program for "young" writers (classified as 17 and younger.) Even if you're not participating, the website includes free access to downloadable workbooks (elementary, middle, or high school), pep talks for motivation and encouragement, and other resources.

Teen Ink features poetry (including song lyrics, sonnets and haikus), fiction, book reviews (including a review of Pandemic), hot topics in nonfiction, and art/photos from students ages 13-19. The site also provides two forums for teens--a regular one for chatting and a writers' workshop for sharing creative work.

When I'm not writing, I like to read. What have you read lately that you absolutely loved?

Five Bits of Advice for Writers by Beth Revis

11/13/2015

This week's Friday Five is a guest post from Beth Revis, author of the Across the Universe trilogy, as well as The Body Electric, Paper Hearts, and A World Without You (due out next summer). I often follow advice from other writers, and I love Beth's five bits of wisdom.

Five Bits of Advice for Writers by an Author Ready to Stab Her Book
Guest post by Beth Revis

I'm just wrapping up the last round of edits for my newest book, A World Without You, which is coming out next July. Meanwhile, I'm also preparing to launch my first nonfiction, Paper Hearts: Some Writing Advice, which will be out November 1. With all these projects in the air, I'm pretty sick of editing and ready for these books to be done. So here's my advice for writers before they get to that stabby stage.

1. Get a "touchstone." It could be a favorite scene or line or image in the story. It could be a physical object, such as a quote or photograph or item that inspired you. But have a thing that can be your touchstone for your book, something that will remind you of the reason you wrote it. Because by the time you finish edits, you'll likely lose sight of it and will need a reminder.

2. Remember that the only thing you control about a book is the words inside it. Don't get too hung up on the cover, cover copy, buzz, or any other thing. You only get the story. Focus on that.

3. Don't be afraid to try new things. Sometimes we define our selves in certain ways that limit us. I used to proudly boast that I never outlined, and that made me reluctant to try an outline when I needed one. Don't sell yourself short by a narrow definition.

4. Not working is working. When you find yourself just frustrated and stuck and ragey and stabby, step back. Give yourself a break. You can't work when you're burnt out.

5. Remind yourself that it's worth it. By the time I finish edits, I'm ready to slaughter all characters and burn the world to the ground. I'm so done. But it's worth it. It really, really is.

More about Paper Hearts: Some Writing Advice

Your enemy is the blank page. When it comes to writing, there's no wrong way to get words on paper. But it's not always easy to make the ink flow. Paper Hearts: Some Writing Advice won't make writing any simpler, but it may help spark your imagination and get your hands back on the keyboard.

Practical Advice Meets Real Experience
With information that takes you from common mistakes in grammar to detailed charts on story structure, Paper Hearts describes: How to Develop Character, Plot, and World, What Common Advice You Should Ignore, What Advice Actually Helps, How to Develop a Novel, The Basics of Grammar, Style, and Tone, Four Practical Methods of Charting Story Structure, How to Get Critiques and Revise Your Novel, How to Deal with Failure, and much more!

BONUS! More than 25 "What to do if" scenarios to help writers navigate problems in writing from a New York Times Bestselling author who's written more than 2 million words of fiction.

More about author Beth Revis

Beth Revis

Beth Revis is the New York Times bestselling author of the Across the Universe trilogy, as well as The Body Electric, Paper Hearts, and the forthcoming A World Without You. She lives in the Appalachian mountains with her boys: one husband, one son, and two very large dogs.

You can find out more on Facebook, Twitter, or online. If you never want to miss a thing and also get exclusive insider opportunities, sign up for her newsletter here.

Thank you, Beth, for the thoughtful post!
I find the burn-out advice to be true for many activities and now I'm in search of a touchstone for my work-in-progress. Readers, did any particular bits of this resonate with you?

Interview with YA Author Mimi Cross

11/6/2015

By Yvonne Ventresca

Mimi Cross interview at YvonneVentresca.com

For this week's Friday Five, I'm pleased to feature an interview with author Mimi Cross. Her debut young adult novel, Before Goodbye, will be available January 1, 2016. Mimi and I have attended many NJ writing conferences together, so I'm thrilled to share this behind-the-scenes Q&A about her writing.

Interview with Mimi Cross

1. What was your inspiration for writing Before Goodbye?

A few years ago a friend of mine sent me this great song about a girl crushing on a guy. After listening to it a bunch of times, I got the feeling that the girl was watching the guy from afar, and I wondered why she wasn’t trying to connect with him, since she was so into him. From there I rabbit-holed, wondering about a lot of things, but mainly, why so many people have trouble expressing themselves. And I realized, over time, that I had an idea about this girl: Hers was no ordinary case of awkwardness, of being tongue-tied. Finding the right words--that was the crux her struggle, but also finding something more than words.

I also wondered, what if the girl never got the chance to tell the guy how she felt? I’m a sucker for unrequited love, so that pretty much sealed the deal. Cate and David’s story started to spread from those few sparks of inspiration, lit by the song.

2. What have you learned about writing over time that you wish you knew earlier?

That you actually have to do it! Write, I mean. Sounds crazy, I know, I know. But the thing is, if you want to write a song, you need to write the song. If you want to write a book, you have to write the book. Dreaming about it, planning it, talking about it--this will not get your project done. Telling people you want to be a writer--that won’t work either. Intention is important, but it’s only a jumping off point. A diving board. Writers write. They dive in. Don’t ask how deep, how wide. (Is it good? Will anyone like it?) Just dive in and swim. And definitely, don’t wait until you learn how, or until you grow up.

3. What’s the most frustrating part of writing for you?

Finding enough time to write everything I want to write.

4. What advice would you offer to other writers?

Keep writing. Journal, write poetry, write songs, write love letters. Write lists! Write down your dreams and ideas and hopes and fears. Write down a pack of lies. Find a pen pal. Write to them. Write when you’re sad, but also when you’re happy. That’s very important. Write when you’re content. Write when it feels like you have nothing to write. Write when you’re angry, when you’re tired. Write when you’re lonely--and you’ll discover you’re not. You may be alone, but if you have a notebook? You never really be lonely. Write alone. Write with friends. Write in public, but keep your project private, mostly, until it’s done.

Sooner or later, it’s going to drive you so crazy that you’ve got all this stuff all over the place--millions of notebooks, napkins, loose pages, binders--that you’ll write a novel, just so you can have all your bits and pieces bound up in one book. Or ten books. But maybe you already know all of this, if you’re a writer. Maybe you don’t know…that yoga is great for eliminating writer’s block and boosting your creativity.

5. What do you know now that you wish you had known as a teen?

The writing adds up. It’s cumulative. It’s a practice. It’s…like a progressive disease. But that’s not even the big cherry bomb aha for me. No. The big revelation in my life has been having a child. For me, being a mother has been and continues to be an amazing, transformative experience. I almost drank the Cool Aide and missed out. If I’d known as a teen what a perfect fit motherhood would be for me… But none of us has a crystal ball. We do, however, have pens and books. Happy writing, happy reading. Xo Mimi

More about Before Goodbye

Music means more than anything to high school student Cate Reese; it’s also what unites her with Cal Woods. Devoted classical guitar players, Cate and Cal are childhood friends newly smitten by love--until a devastating car accident rips Cal out of Cate’s life forever. Blaming herself for the horrific tragedy and struggling to surface from her despair, Cate spirals downhill in a desperate attempt to ease her pain.

Fellow student David Bennet might look like the school’s golden boy, but underneath the surface the popular athlete battles demons of his own. Racked with survivor’s guilt after his brother’s suicide, things get worse when tragedy darkens his world again--but connecting with Cate, his sister’s longtime babysitter, starts bringing the light back in. As Cate and David grow closer, the two shattered teenagers learn to examine the pieces of their lives . . . and, together, find a way to be whole again.

More about Mimi Cross

Author Mimi Cross

Mimi Cross was born in Toronto, Canada. She received a master’s degree from New York University and a bachelor’s degree in music from Ithaca College. She has been a performer, a music educator, and a yoga instructor. During the course of her musical career, she’s shared the bill with artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, and Sting. She resides in New Jersey. Visit Mimi online or follow her on Twitter at @mimicross.

Thanks for the interview, Mimi. Best of luck with the book launch!

Spooky Halloween Edition, Friday Five

10/30/2015

By Yvonne Ventresca

In honor of Halloween, here's a spooky roundup for this week's Friday Five.

Halloween (1978)

The original Halloween is the first scary movie I remember watching in high school. Having seen it again recently, what struck me was how little gore is shown. The violence takes place off screen, yet this film still manages to be frightening. And of course, that music....

The Shining (1980)

The Shining is one of my all time favorite creepy movies. It has so many edge-of-your-seat moments. Stephen King is a master at creating fear.

Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Throughout college, I had bad dreams about Freddy Krueger lurking in the stairwell of my dorm. I never even saw the whole movie, only snippets, and it still managed to frighten me for years.

Diary of a Haunting (2015)

This is my most recent scary book purchase. I bought it last week solely based on the amazingly creepy cover. Now I'm actually too afraid to start reading it.

Neighborhood house (Yesterday)

This house is either being demolished or repaired, I'm not sure which. But they left the curtains hanging in the missing window. Doesn't it look like the perfect setting for a ghost story?

Haunted houses, scary books, creepy movies -- do you have any favorites to share?

NaNoWriMo Resources for Young Writers

10/27/2015

By Yvonne Ventresca

My blog is turning two!

To celebrate two years of blogging this month, I recently put together a new Resources for Teen Writers page. It includes:

Interviews with editors who publish teen writers
Links to places where young writers can submit work
Advice from other authors
Teen writing communities and more!

Take a look and let me know what you think.

NaNoWriMo has a modified program for "young" writers (classified as 17 and younger.) Because of school and other commitments, you can sign up to complete a word count of your choice. You set the goal to something that will be manageable--whatever length you want! The website includes free access to downloadable workbooks (elementary, middle, or high school), pep talks for motivation and encouragement, and an online community of other writers. (I blogged about my own decision to try NaNoWriMo here.) You "win" by meeting your word count goal by the the end of the month. Any progress toward a creative goal is winning! As Napoleon Hill said:

What goals do you have for November and beyond?

Six Favorite Survival Books

10/26/2015

By Yvonne Ventresca

Today I’m taking part in a “Listing” blog hop started by Bish Denham. If you're new to my blog, I'm the author of the award-winning young adult novel Pandemic. In Pandemic, a teenage girl struggles to survive not only a deadly influenza outbreak and its real-life consequences, but also her own personal demons.

For the list, here are my top six favorite survival books.

Top Six Favorite Survival Books

The Stand by Stephen King

One of the first survival books I ever read, The Stand has the disease angle, epic good vs. evil, and great plot twists. It left a huge impression on me.

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer (ages 12+)

In this young adult novel, Miranda and her family struggle to survive after a meteor collides with the moon, creating devastating consequences on Earth and her small hometown in Pennsylvania. This is a first in a series. The Dead and the Gone is a companion novel which portrays the same disaster, but experienced by a teen boy living in New York City.

Pale Horse, Pale Rider by Katherine Anne Porter

A lyrically written short novel about falling in love and fighting for survival during the Spanish Influenza of 1918.

Ashfall by Mike Mullin (ages 12+)

In the aftermath of a supervolcano eruption, Alex struggles to survive a cross-country journey to reunite with his family. This is a well-researched, realistic disaster story, making it that much scarier. First in a series.

A Death-Struck Year by Makiia Lucier (ages 12+)

A teen girl is separated from her family in Oregon during the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic and must decide whether or not to work with the Red Cross to help others in her community.

The Hot Zone: The Terrifying True Story of the Origins of the Ebola Virus by Richard Preston

This nonfiction book about Ebola reads like a suspenseful novel and the fact that it’s true is more frightening than many fictional scenarios.

Do you have a favorite survival story? Are you stopping by from the "Listing" blog hop? Say hello in the comments!

<<Previous

Forward>>

Five Photos from 2015

Self-Editing Tips for Writers

Quick Productivity Tips for Creative People

Interview with Liza Fleissig of the Liza Royce Agency

Q & A with Liza Fleissig

1. What are some of the most important qualities you look for in novel submissions?

2. What’s your favorite part about being an agent? Least favorite part?

3. How would you describe your ideal client?

4. What do you see as the biggest changes in YA publishing in the past few years?

5. Are you currently open to submissions? How should an interested writer submit to you?

Teen Writing Communities

Five Bits of Advice for Writers by Beth Revis

Five Bits of Advice for Writers by an Author Ready to Stab Her Book
Guest post by Beth Revis

More about Paper Hearts: Some Writing Advice

More about author Beth Revis

Interview with YA Author Mimi Cross

Interview with Mimi Cross

More about Before Goodbye

More about Mimi Cross

Spooky Halloween Edition, Friday Five

Halloween (1978)

The Shining (1980)

Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Diary of a Haunting (2015)

Neighborhood house (Yesterday)

NaNoWriMo Resources for Young Writers

Six Favorite Survival Books

Top Six Favorite Survival Books

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Q & A with Liza Fleissig

1. What are some of the most important qualities you look for in novel submissions?

2. What’s your favorite part about being an agent? Least favorite part?

3. How would you describe your ideal client?

4. What do you see as the biggest changes in YA publishing in the past few years?

5. Are you currently open to submissions? How should an interested writer submit to you?

Five Bits of Advice for Writers by an Author Ready to Stab Her Book Guest post by Beth Revis

More about Paper Hearts: Some Writing Advice

More about author Beth Revis

Interview with Mimi Cross

More about Before Goodbye

More about Mimi Cross

Halloween (1978)

The Shining (1980)

Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Diary of a Haunting (2015)

Neighborhood house (Yesterday)

Top Six Favorite Survival Books

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Categories

Five Bits of Advice for Writers by an Author Ready to Stab Her Book
Guest post by Beth Revis