Charlotte's Choice
By Brenda Haas

When Pittsburgh writer Charlotte "Charlie" Sutton, 28, receives notification her estranged father Chuck Sutton, 55, has developed symptoms of early onset Alzheimer's and named Charlotte his Power of Attorney, the wayward daughter must return to Lake Erie and the waterfront community of Lakeside, Ohio. Again immersed in the small town she'd run from just 10 years prior, Charlotte struggles to take over the failing family community newspaper, come to terms with the addition of a 15-year-old half-brother she didn't know she had, and find a way to make peace with the hurt she's carried with her for decades.

Make a choice. Take a chance. It's NaNoWriMo time. Above is the short synopsis I've set for my NaNoWriMo project, "Charlotte's Choice" (women's fiction). As we close in on Thursday, Nov. 1, and the start of National Novel Writing Month, I thought I'd give you some thoughts on my process so far and what you can do in just three days to prepare to write a rough draft of that story keeping you up at night.

Don't think you have it in you to write 50,000 words in 30 days? Haven't done anything to prepare? Here are a few shortcuts that can make starting a novel on Nov. 1 just a little easier and less overwhelming, even if you haven't taken advantage of October to prep for the big event.

5 LAST MINUTE tricks to prepare for NaNoWriMo:

1. Create an account. Without a NaNoWriMo account, you won't really feel bound to pursue your goal of writing a novel in a month. It takes only a few minutes to sign up, and it's free. Just do it. Having a live account will give you a nudge to commit.

I went a step further and threw a simple cover together, so my NaNoWriMo Dashboard looks official. Took all of 10 minutes of browsing through my Lakeside photos to find something appropriate for my Lake Erie story. Not awful, if I do say so myself.:)

2. Brainstorm about something you already know a lot about. You don't HAVE to write what you know, but, in the case of NaNoWriMo, writing within your knowledge base may help you get off to a quick start, particularly if you haven't done much prep prior to Nov. 1.

Read my synopsis, then note my personal history:

I lived in Pittsburgh for 20 years.
I've vacationed in Lakeside, Ohio, since 1989.
My parents divorced when I was three.
I was an only child until I was in my 20s. I also raised two teenagers.
I worked for a family-owned community newspaper for many years.
I've witnessed the impact early onset Alzheimer's Disease has on both patient and family.

Even on a bad day, when my brain doesn't quite know where to take me next in my NaNoWriMo story, I will be able to write about my own experiences.

3. Get to know your characters. Nothing says commitment like fleshing out the voices in your head. Sit down with a notebook and take just a couple hours to create mini character profiles of those you'd like to include in your story. Give each character his or her own page and jot down potential names (both first and last), what they look like, age, occupation, any connection you'd like them to have to other characters, interesting mannerisms, speech patterns, how they dress, etc. To be honest, this is a load of fun!

I knew I wanted my main character to be a young writer with a deep-seated issue with her father, the man who called her a boyish nickname and who, she thought, wished to make her into the son he never had. From there, I continued to add secondary characters. It is through my character profiles that I actually got ideas for conflict and plotting (and sub-plotting) for the story. I did NOT write the above synopsis until long after I had fleshed out some cool characters (who, naturally, had cool stories to tell).

4. Set it up. Where do you want this to take place? What time of year? Whether it is a place you've been to many times before or someplace completely fictional, write down the basics of your setting. Town? State? Planet? If it helps, sketch a map of the surroundings. If the setting is real, create a folder on your laptop to stash various links that will help you pull facts in later, as you need them, to make your representation of the setting more realistic. An easy option is to go to the area's Visitors Bureau website, which may provide historical information and photos.

In my case, the setting of "Charlotte's Choice" will be a piece of cake. I own a property in Lakeside, Ohio, so I live it. Additionally, I'll be setting the newspaper publishing company in a rented space in the back of a marina, something I can take a walk around the corner to research. I'm writing my story in a setting I truly love, so I should have no lack of material to make this place real for my readers.

5. Create a plot synopsis. Once you've got some interesting characters to play with and a place to let them play, jot down various scenarios that allow your characters to interact. Which scenario interests you most? Which would be hardest to write without a lot of research? Which creates the most conflict? Which is safest? Only you can decide how to proceed, but once you hone in on the plot you want to pursue, attempt to write a short synopsis, such as I did above. Think of this synopsis as the back cover of your favorite book. Although I did not indicate such in my synopsis, have SOME idea of what the ending and resolution of the main plot will look like.

For me, the writing of the synopsis really allowed me to connect the dots and gel my ideas into something I could commit to. Hence, "Charlotte's Choice." There's a very good chance I'll change my plot as I go along in this process, but at least I have a base and a starting point for Nov. 1.

For more tips, check out my Oct. 3 blog post on prepping for NaNoWriMo.

NaNoWriMo ... Write on! Happy National Novel Writing Month, my peops.

Hello.
My name is Brenda Haas.
I'm a writer.
I'm also addicted to writing links.

Over the years, I've collected writing links like children collect candy at Halloween. As we race toward #NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month, Nov. 1 - 30), I thought I'd offer up my top 5 favs to promote progress and writerly success. Enjoy.

1. NaNoWriMo. National Novel Writing Month occurs every November. The point is to write a fresh, new rough draft, start to finish. With the goal of a 50,000 word novel in 30 days, this site provides that nudge that many writers need to set a goal and keep a goal. This year, I've blocked off the whole month, been prepping like crazy, and am hoping 2018 will be my first NaNoWriMo success story with my proposed novel, "Charlotte's Choice." The NaNoWriMo site provides a wealth of information for novice and experienced writers. Join me on Facebook, @writerbrendahaas, to follow my NaNoWriMo word count progress and weekly blogs with writing tips. I'm also on Twitter: @HaasBren.

2. The Write Life. When I want to find all types of writing articles (freelance, craft, blogging, marketing, publishing) in one place, I pop on The Write Life site. There's a little bit of everything there, and the links they provide have proven worthwhile and from very reliable sources. Excellent resource.

3. Grammar Girl. Mignon Fogarty founded the Quick and Dirty Tips network and created Grammar Girl, named one of Writer's Digest's 101 best websites for writers. Located on all popular social media venues, Fogarty is any writer's new best friend. Providing info on FAR more than just grammar, she authored "Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing" and six other books on writing. She's my go-to source if I'm stumped on pretty much anything. Note: her Quick and Dirty Tips network doesn't just help writers. Info can be found on everything from health & fitness to pets to parenting to money & finance.

4. Writer's Digest. This site is hugely popular for a reason. Tied to the Writer's Digest Magazine (which I've subscribed to for years), the website provides free and not so free opportunities for writers to hone the craft of writing. Including writing prompts, editors' blogs, articles by genre, competitions, seminars, a writing "shop," etc., Writer's Digest may well be the first stop any writer should make on the road to getting published.

5. Fiction University. Blogger Janice Hardy provides seriously great stuff with posts on character development, setting, plotting, editing, revising first drafts, self publishing, submission process, synopsis/query letter writing, etc., the site provides a writer with useful articles on just about any subject.

#NaNoWriMo #AmEditing #AmWriting #WritersLife #WriteTip #GrammarGirl #WriteNow

Let's kick things up a notch with the second of a 2-part post on picture books. Below are tips on taking that first crack at writing a picture book. This blog is primarily for writers who are considering submitting text-only manuscripts, without artwork (but there are still many things an author illustrator can take away from this blog). For additional info/free storyboard templates, see blog Picture Books: creating a dummy text storyboard.

10 TIPS for picture book writers:

1. Know the standard. Picture book layouts usually include page counts divisible by 8, due to how books are printed. A 32-page layout is standard (but flexible). Not all of those pages will include text/pictures, due to blank end pages, title page, publication/dedication pages, etc. USUALLY, you have 29 actual pages, or 14 1\2 spreads, to tell your story.
 
2. It’s in the title. In person, the first thing a potential reader notices is the front cover art, but the title is just as important. Not every marketing effort for a published book will include a picture of the cover. Sometimes the words must be enough to catch a reader's attention. The title should say something about the story and, perhaps, leave just a hint of mystery or include humor to reflect the writer's voice. Don’t be boring.
 
3. Less is more. Most agents and editors are currently seeking manuscripts under 500 words. Remember, actions and descriptions don’t always have to make it into the text. They can be represented through the pictures the illustrator draws to accompany the text.
 
5. Variety is the spice of life. A manuscript should support different pictures for each spread. That can be achieved by a change in setting, a character’s physical actions, etc.
 
6. Rhythm trumps rhyme. Picture books are meant to be read aloud and should have a natural rhythm when spoken. Although rhyme used to be very common, many agents and editors now avoid it (Some DO still accept it, so don’t despair if you are the next Dr. Seuss). Practically speaking, rhyme is more limiting for a publisher. If a book rhymes beautifully in one language, it may lose much when translated to another language.  
 
7. Repetition is good. Often the natural rhythm of a picture book text can be achieved by repeating a phrase or word throughout. Think of the repetition in a picture book as the "refrain" of your favorite song (we've all raised the roof singing "And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon, little boy blue and the man in the moon" but mumbled through the parts we didn't know). Repetition appeals to children, who love to read along and like knowing what comes next.
 
8. Know your audience. Picture books may introduce new, interesting words, but try to keep text appropriate for the level of your reader. Keep in mind, though, that it is the parent who will likely be reading the book to the child, so pleasing them is also important. If you can accomplish both in one story, you may have a winner.
 
9. Storyboard even without illustrations. Where in the text will a page turn? Is there enough change in action/scenery to make each spread different? Will the text create opportunity for the illustrator? These are questions that may be answered by creating a dummy layout of what text will land on what page/spread. A dummy is intended for a writer's creating/editing purposes only. When formally submitting a text-only manuscript, follow the exact formatting submission guidelines posted on agent/editor websites.

The below storyboard templates were created in Excel (originals and PDFs). Use freely and edit to your liking, but please do maintain my credit info in the footer, if passing along to a friend or linking to your own website.

Legal Size Vertical                    Legal Size Vertical PDF
Letter Size Vertical                   Letter Size Vertical PDF
Legal Size Horizontal                Legal Size Horizontal PDF
Letter Size Horizontal               Letter Size Horizontal PDF

Last but, most certainly, not least...

10. READ. To write a picture book, one must first read what is out there. Take time at the library and peruse the picture book shelves. Ask the librarian to point you toward the most popular titles. Analyze them. Learn from them. Then get started on your own!
 
Happy writing, picture book friends!

#picturebookwriter #writingtip #getpublished #SCBWI #amwriting #amediting #PBLitChat #writenow #writetip #WIP #drseuss #powerofpages #WordCount #WriteChat

One doesn’t have to be an author illustrator to publish a picture book. Many agents/editors accept picture book manuscripts from writers with a great story to tell ... but a complete lack of artistic skills. Publishers have illustrators they can pair up with such writers. Good news for those of us who can only manage stick figures.
 
Many writers, however, don’t realize the importance of determining how well his or her text will combine with future pictures on the page. Before submitting a text-only manuscript, it’s a good idea to create a dummy text storyboard to decide how one’s proposed text will fill each page/spread (and what likely pictures might be paired with the text). This text-only storyboard is strictly for the writer's use during the editing process and is not sent with the finished manuscript to prospective agents or editors.

Where is the most natural place in the text to have a page turn? Is there enough action or change of scenery to make each spread different? Is the text active enough to create opportunity for the illustrator? These are questions that may be answered by doing a dummy layout.

In recent years, I’ve focused my energy on longer works, such as young adult fiction. I am just getting back to actively submitting my picture book texts. Currently I’m working on an alliterative PB entitled “Millicent Manypenny & Moneybags.” I knew my story, untouched for some time and sitting in a folder on my laptop, had plenty of action and different settings that could easily be broken down into spreads. I didn’t realize, until I formally created a dummy text layout, that I actually had too many different spreads for a common picture book length.
 
Go with the standard. Picture book layouts usually include page counts divisible by 8, due to how books are printed. A 32-page layout is standard (this rule can be broken, but as a first time author I'd stick to the standard). Not all of those pages will include text/pictures, due to blank pages at the beginning or end, title page, publication or dedication pages, etc. USUALLY, you have 29 actual pages, or 14 1\2 spreads, to tell your story. This is common but be prepared to be flexible.
 
For a complimentary template, see my attached layout forms (Excel originals and PDFs).

Legal Size Vertical                    Legal Size Vertical PDF
Letter Size Vertical                   Letter Size Vertical PDF
Legal Size Horizontal                Legal Size Horizontal PDF
Letter Size Horizontal               Letter Size Horizontal PDF

Included are both horizontal and vertical versions of both letter and legal size, to suit your personal preference. Using Excel allows a writer to easily experiment and rearrange text within cells and even create multiple versions of a story to print out and view in a more physical form.

In using a dummy text layout for "Millicent Manypenny & Moneybags," I learned a TON about my writing. I even ended up trimming a scene that felt forced and unnecessary. By going through the dummy process, I fixed some serious issues with my manuscript … issues I might never have seen while the manuscript remained parked on my computer in paragraph form.
 
Use these templates freely and edit to your liking, but please do maintain my credit info in the footer, if passing along to a friend or linking to your own website.
 
Take the time to create a dummy text layout. It’s worth it.
 
Happy writing, picture book peers!

#amediting #amwriting #nanowrimo #picturebooks #scbwi #picturebookwriter #writingtips #PBwriter #writing #writershelpingwriters

For those adult writers AND young writers who have always wanted to take a crack at writing a full-length novel, but struggle to begin the process, give NaNoWriMo or NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program a try. The November writing challenge, which started in 1999 and has produced hundreds of traditionally published novels over the years, is a great opportunity to get the bones of a story down on paper ... proof positive a goal and deadline can result in creativity.

NOTE: Those registering under the general NaNoWriMo site are writing with the goal of producing a novel of 50,000 words. Those signing up under the Young Writers Program, either through a classroom project or individually, will set their own word count goals. TEACHERS, this is a wonderful opportunity for dedicated classroom fiction writing time.

Here are a few tips for preparing for this month-long event, so one can hit the keyboard frantically typing when the start gun goes off on Nov. 1.

1. Practice writing NOW. To produce a 50,000 word novel in 30 days, one must write 1,667 words a day. How many words can you typically produce in an hour? Per day? Get used to writing in short or long chunks of time by writing daily NOW, so you know how much time you need to complete your writing goals during NaNoWriMo. This doesn't mean you should already begin writing your NaNoWriMo story. Save the beginning for the beginning. Instead, consider writing an unrelated short story or, if you wish to familiarize yourself with the world you propose building during NaNoWriMo, write a short story about one of the characters you may wish to include in the novel. Whatever you write ... do it now, so writing daily becomes a habit by Nov. 1.

2. Schedule NaNoWriMo. Intentionally keep your November calendar light in preparation for devoting your time to writing. Don't fill that calendar with unnecessary conflicts that could conveniently give you a reason to not write. DO schedule writing into each and every day of November. Seeing it on the calendar or getting a reminder on your phone will nudge you (guilt you?) to follow through with your daily writing goals.

3. Take some advice. At www.nanowrimo.org, check out the NaNo prep resource library for a gazillion tips and videos to help with everything from developing characters to plotting a story. This will help both novice and experienced writers "get ready," so the mind is already invested in the process by Nov. 1.

4. Observe. Whether you already have an idea brewing or don't have a clue what story you might write during the challenge, spend an hour or two with a notebook in a public venue — park, mall, open air market, beach, etc. — and simply observe what is going on around you. Jot down anything that strikes your interest. Any or all of this could spark a plot line, character, or setting and may even produce some highly entertaining dialogue.

5. Plan ahead. There is nothing more discouraging than beginning a new Word doc and staring at the page for an hour with no idea how to begin. Take some of that guesswork out of the equation. Prior to Nov. 1, outline at least the basics of a story. What is your conflict? Main characters? Setting? Time period? These are all novel elements that can be considered BEFORE the challenge begins. Not a planner? Prefer to fly by the seat of your pants and see where the novel will take you? Even committing to the simplest of details will give you a jumping off point on Nov. 1.

FYI -
A plot generally includes the following (but can certainly stray from the norm):

Set-up: introduces characters/setting and the basic conflict
Inciting incident: Sends the protagonist into the conflict whether he or she likes it or not
Rising action: Typically the longest sequence of events, rising action develops the characters, plots, etc., building to a point of no return (going up a hill)
Climax: The point of no return when everything comes to a head (top of the hill)
Falling action: Typically action packed excitement, falling action includes everything that happens as a result of the climax (think of a bus without brakes speeding down the hill)
Resolution: What happens after the plummet ... tie everything up with a bow

6. Research. If planning to write in a different time period or unfamiliar location, do research online or via a library, prior to Nov. 1, so valuable writing time is not interrupted by checking to see what the terrain of the Grand Canyon looks like in winter or how men dressed in the early 1800s.

7. Name it. Make your NaNoWriMo novel a reality by coming up with a catchy title. This process can be fun, create anticipation, and make your whole NaNoWriMo experiment a little more "real." Titles aren't set in stone and can always be changed later.

8. READ. If you have the time, prior to Nov. 1, read a book in the same genre you intend to write during NaNoWriMo. Preferably, this should be a book you've already read before AND LIKED. When re-reading this novel, be sure to peruse it from a writer's perspective, noting format, pacing, character development, what you felt did or did not work, etc. There is no better learning experience than reading what you hope to write, particularly if the book was written by a favorite author.

NaNoWriMo Success Stories:
Many authors got their start through participation in NaNoWriMo including:

Sara Gruen, Water for Elephants
Erin Morgenstern, The Night Circus
Hugh Howey, Wool
Rainbow Rowell, Fangirl
Jason Hough, The Darwin Elevator
Marissa Meyer, Cinder

just to name a few:)

Am I doing this? Yes, folks, I'm participating in NaNoWriMo. I intend to blog an update of my word count at least every few days, starting Nov. 1, so I am held accountable for my writing goals. Connect with me on twitter @HaasBren, to keep track of my progress.

For more tips on how to prepare for NaNoWriMo, visit the website. Good luck to you all, and let's get ready for NaNoWriMo!

#nanowrimo #nanowrimo2018 #amwriting #writingnow #yawriter #grammartips #scbwi  #saragruen #rainbowrowell #hughhowey #marissameyer #jasonhough #erinmorgenstern #wisdomwednesday