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F is for F Scott Fitzgerald: #AtoZChallenge

4/7/2014

F is for F. Scott Fitzgerald and this inspirational quote:

"Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat."

You can find more quotes from F. Scott Fitzgerald at BrainyQuote. Do you have a favorite inspiring quote? Please share in the comments. (Hint: visit my blog on April 19th for Q...)

F. Scott Fitzgerald -- Photo in public domain

E is for Emotion: #AtoZChallenge

4/5/2014

By Yvonne Ventresca

For today's inpiration, pick an emotion (dread, curiosity, relief, etc.) and think about how two different characters in your work-in-progress would show that feeling. How do their actions vary? What makes them unique? For more information, here's an article from Angela Ackerman: Writing Emotion: Does Your Hero Shrug, Smile & Frown Too Much? (Do you struggle with this, too?)

For your emotion-themed listening pleasure:

D is for Dryer Sheets (and Other Scents): #AtoZChallenge

4/4/2014

By Yvonne Ventresca

For Tina Fey, the smell of dryer sheets works creative wonders as she writes in the laundry room. (See the American Express ad here.) I will occasionally light a scented candle while I write, but I'm easily distracted and have a fear of burning down the house, so it's not part of my regular routine.

I do like to proofread at this small desk we have that we don't use often. Each time I work there, my brain knows it's time to read slowly and carefully. Do you have a favorite scent that inspires you? Do you have a special location you use to write/revise/proofread?

(Thanks to Susan Brody for the idea for today's post.)

Photo from morgueFile

C is for Color: #AtoZChallenge

4/3/2014

By Yvonne Ventresca

I've always been fascinated with the imagery associated with different colors. You can use the symbolism of color to inspire a scene, a poem, a song. For Taylor Swift, loving him was red.

What's your main character's favorite color? This article summarizes what color choices can indicate about personality. If you have time for a quiz or two, find out what color corresponds to your character's personality or to your own.

Image from morgueFile

B is for Butt-in-Chair: #AtoZChallenge

4/2/2014

by Yvonne Ventresca

This month's blog is inspiration-themed, but let's face it. It's not always practical to wait around for inspiration before writing. Usually, it occurs in the opposite order. We need to be writing *first* in order for inspiration to strike. We need butt-in-chair and a brave attempt at doing the work, even when we're completely unspired. Because sometimes, once we begin, magic happens. We're going through the motions of drafting or revising a scene, and a GREAT idea occurs. A flash of insight. The perfect paragraph. So even if you are uninspired today, I hope you attempt something wonderfully creative.

Butt not in chair

A is for Adventure: #AtoZChallenge

4/1/2014

by Yvonne Ventresca

Welcome to my inspiration-themed A to Z challenge.

A is for Adventure. An adventure doesn't have to be expensive or complicated. It can be simply changing your routine, or as Julia Cameron says in The Artist's Way, "filling the well." Here are some sample mini-adventures:

Sit someplace busy and watch people. Pick a person in the area and think about how you would describe them as a character. We often get caught up in height, hair color, and eye color, but what makes the person you are observing unlike anyone else?

One of my favorite adventures was revisiting Hoboken, the city where my next story is set. I went to the places my main character goes and tried to see them through her eyes. (I created a Pinterest board of the photos.) If you can't visit your setting, try a virtual adventure through Pinterest, Google Earth, and online image searches.

Let me know some of your favorite adventures, big or small.

Hoboken Terminal

Friday Five: 5 Things You Should Do Before Submitting Your Manuscript

3/28/2014

For this week's Friday Five, Heather Ayris Burnell, founder of the Sub It Club, has written an encouraging guest post on what to do before submitting your manuscript.

Being a writer is tough! And some would say that submitting your work for consideration is the hardest part of all. It takes guts. But you can do it! First though, you’ve got to make sure you’re ready. Here are 5 Things You Should Do Before Submitting Your Manuscript:.

#1 Work Hard

First of all you need to write, not just anything, but something great. Yes, this takes time. Of course, it depends on the piece but a book can take months or even years to write. And it’s not over once you’ve written it.

#2 Collaborate

Get critiques, more than just one. Read feedback carefully. Do your very best not to take offense to criticism. Going through rounds of critiques as you revise can really help you refine a manuscript into a well thought out, publishable piece. Remember that to make your work its best you need to use all the time and energy you need before submitting. Get your query letter and synopsis critiqued too!

#3 Be Logical

Of course you don’t have to use all of the feedback that’s given to you. Use that which works to help you make your story better. But if you see patterns it’s usually good to pay attention to them. Not feeling a manuscript because you’ve been working on it too much? Give yourself a break. It’s easy to want to rush to get a piece we love out into the world, but publishing will still be around when your manuscript is ready.

#4 Be Resourceful

Learn about your craft and your market. There are so many resources at our fingertips there’s really no excuse for lack of knowledge when it comes to what a great manuscript needs or how to submit your work to the right market correctly. You can learn from books, numerous free online sources, paid classes, and genre specific groups such as the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

#5 Be Hopeful

I’d be surprised if any writer ever truly knew that their manuscript was 100% ready to go. It’s difficult when you’re so close. But if you’ve worked hard and gotten feedback, revised and polished, and know your craft and your market, you will figure out when it’s time to let something go…out on submission or perhaps *gasp* into a drawer. You’ll figure out where you should send your best work to give it the best chance of acceptance. You will know for darn sure that it takes hard work and persistence not only to reach that goal of getting a piece of your work out on submission, but to reach that supreme goal of publication.

Here’s to you, writers!

Heather Ayris Burnell moderates Sub It Club, a support group for writers and illustrators submitting their work, where she writes about submitting manuscripts and more. She also curates the Monster List of Picture Book Agents on her blog. Her picture book, Bedtime Monster, is published by Raven Tree Press. She’s represented by Sean McCarthy Literary Agency.

Thank you, Heather! If anyone would like to add other submission tips, please leave them in the comments below.

Friday Five will return in May. Visit April 1st for my first A to Z post on inspiration. A is for....

Teen Tuesday: Adventure Write Contest

3/25/2014

by Yvonne Ventresca

Totem Head's Story Contest from Adventure Write

Writing Contest

The Totem Head's Story Contest has different categories based on age (13-15, 16-18, for example). It offers a $50 cash prize for the rights to a short story beginning with the phrase "So there I was" that will be used on their website. Entrants must be US residents under 19 and must complete Totem Head's Tutorial. Entries are due December 31st (so you have lots of time!). For more information and complete instructions, visit the Adventure Write website.

This will be the last Teen Tuesday post for several weeks, since I will be participating in the A to Z Blogging Challenge (theme: Inspiration) during the month of April. My resources for teen writers will be back in May. In the meantime, you can easily access all my old posts through this blog or through my Pinterest board. Happy Writing!

Blogging from A to Z April Challenge Theme Reveal: Inspiration

3/21/2014

by Yvonne Ventresca

I’ve decided to join the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge, which means posting 26 times throughout the month using the letters of the alphabet as a guide. (On April 1st, A is for …. and so on.)

My blogging theme for the month of April is Inspiration.

I’ll tackle sources of inspiration for writers and other creative-type people throughout the month. If you want to generate some ideas for my posts, let me know in the comments what inspires you.

Teen Tuesday: Teen Ink

3/18/2014

by Yvonne Ventresca

Literary mag and site written by teens

Teen Ink is a literary magazine and website that features poetry (including song lyrics, sonnets and haikus), fiction, book reviews, hot topics in nonfiction, and art/photos. The site also provides two forums for teens -- a regular one for chatting and a writers' workshop for sharing creative work. Teens also provide reviews about colleges and summer programs. Sign-up is required for submissions (which they accept year-round) and participants must be 13 to 19 years old. To learn more, check their submission guidelines.

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F is for F Scott Fitzgerald: #AtoZChallenge

E is for Emotion: #AtoZChallenge

D is for Dryer Sheets (and Other Scents): #AtoZChallenge

C is for Color: #AtoZChallenge

B is for Butt-in-Chair: #AtoZChallenge

A is for Adventure: #AtoZChallenge

Welcome to my inspiration-themed A to Z challenge.

Friday Five: 5 Things You Should Do Before Submitting Your Manuscript

#1 Work Hard

#2 Collaborate

#3 Be Logical

#4 Be Resourceful

#5 Be Hopeful

Teen Tuesday: Adventure Write Contest

Totem Head's Story Contest from Adventure Write

Blogging from A to Z April Challenge Theme Reveal: Inspiration

Teen Tuesday: Teen Ink

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Welcome to my inspiration-themed A to Z challenge.

#1 Work Hard

#2 Collaborate

#3 Be Logical

#4 Be Resourceful

#5 Be Hopeful

Totem Head's Story Contest from Adventure Write

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