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That's what's so amazing about this site: the Top Picks. Each month five projects get chosen -they're the ones people vote for (or "pick")- to be read by a HarperCollins editor. If your book is chosen and read, you'll get an email from the editor who read it, with of course, advice for editing it.
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Discover Inkpop! And while you're at it, read my WIP!
Ten days ago, I was on the HarperCollins website, and I found a link called "inkpop" on its footer. I clicked on it, and it took me to the inkpop main page.
After browsing around a bit, I decided to join.
Inkpop is a great site for YA writers, complete with forums, libraries, and much more. It's easy to navigate, and the layout is great too.
You upload your material, and others read it and give you their thoughts. Don't be scared of sharing your work, there's no way anyone can copy your stuff, just try to, you won't be able to! If people like your work, they can "pick" it. The more picks you get, the higher ranked your story is, and it might reach the Top Picks of the month!
That's what's so amazing about this site: the Top Picks. Each month five projects get chosen -they're the ones people vote for (or "pick")- to be read by a HarperCollins editor. If your book is chosen and read, you'll get an email from the editor who read it, with of course, advice for editing it.The Carrier of the Mark, by Leigh Fallon, was found on inkpop! It's being published on September 13th, 2011.
Listen to the author, Leigh, tell her story about how she was chosen and got a book deal!
I'm loving inkpop because it gives me a space to share my writing and get feedback from people who know what they're talking about.
I'm currently writing my first book, and it's taking me forever to finish it. I started a draft on NaNo '09, and kept on writing it until early 2010. I left it there collecting digital dust, until late last year, when I had a sudden change of heart, and of ideas. I suddenly knew exactly where I wanted my story to go, so I started re-writing it. And now, I'm back to re-re-writing it! I'm changing it up yet again, but I know third time's the charm!
My WIP's titled Insomnia. Here are my short and long pitches for you to read:
Cora is a teenager who knows when people are gonna die... even herself.Ever since she dreamed about a car crash where her best friend died, Cora has known that she has the ability to see when people's lives are ending. But what scares her the most is that she's dreamed about her own death, and in that dream she wasn't alone. Now, she's more worried about the boy she saw than about her own life, and she can't understand why.
So, those pitches aren't exactly award-winning, but they're all I've got for now! If you're on inkpop, or if you aren't but still want to read my story, you can go here to do so. I'm uploading chapter by chapter, as I write and try to edit them. Please leave me a comment with your thoughts if you do! If you don't want to join inkpop, leave a comment here.
xo,
E
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Writing Update #1
Since I don't have any new books to do an IMM post, I thought I'd talk about my writing, and how it's coming along.
I love reading. I have a huge imagination, and I'm easily transported into different worlds when reading. I also love creating stories.
On 2009, I was introduced to NaNoWriMo (this March is my three year bloggoversary!) and I loved the idea of it. In reality, it wasn't as easy as I'd thought it'd be. So, my story was left to gather virtual dust on my archive, and I always thought about going back to it, but I didn't know how to continue.
Turns out, I needed a plotline. I needed to write the entire plotline, before actually writing the book. So, last year, I set out to do just that. I wrote half a draft, and sent it to a Beta, because, once again, I was stuck.
And I had a lot of help! Tanya, my lovely Beta, was extremely helpful, and thanks to her, I now know exactly how and where I want my story to go.
But, let's face it. I'm no writer. I'm simply an amateur. But in the words of the awesome Maureen Johnson, you have to suck hard first, to become great later.
So now, after having gone through tense changes, and from going to first person POV to 3rd to 1st again, this is where I stand:
My WIP is titled Insomnia. Its current word count is of 20, 938. I've written 72 pages. Which is more than I've ever written, and makes me so proud of myself for actually being in this place.
It's about Death and Life, literally. And of course, a romance thrown in for good measure.
My MCs names are Cora and Bl- Ben! Ben. I can't remember why I chose these names almost a year and a half ago, but now I can't think of them with any other names, they've become so clear in my mind, I actually see them in my mind's eye. I know exactly how they look, how they feel, what they like to wear and what music they're into.
The plot suffered a major change as well. Because, after reading Beautiful Creatures, I thought my WIP was very similar to it; why, I don't know, I hadn't even read BC before starting writing it! One day, I had a stroke of inspiration, and I knew what my book would be about.
I could have it finished by now, but I don't have the habit of writing every day. I guess you have to make that habit yourself.
And while I don't think about getting his publish the second I finish it, I do think about just finishing it! I'd love to have it printed and be able to pass it around my friends and family, and get feedback from them.
And then, maybe, just maybe, start with a new story.
Because I have plenty of ideas.
xo,
Ella
ps: Are you an aspiring writer, or maybe you write for fun like I do? If so, tell me what you're writing! I'd love to know.
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You may know some (or all) of its authors from the blogging community: Chelsea, Jordyn, Harmony, Laina, Kelsey and Kieryn.
Each one of them will post on a determined day (Harmony will post on Mondays, Kieryn on Tuesdays, etc., etc.)
This week is all about introductions. But the real blogging will commence next week! If you're an aspiring author, or even if you write as a hobby (and hope that one day, you'll be ready to face the publishing industry, like yours truly) then I suggest you get your butt on over there, cause it will be epic.
(I love that word. I could say it over and over. Epic. Epic. Epic. Epic.)
Happy Friday!
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New Writing Blog: The YA Lit Six!
I've no idea how I stumbled across it, maybe I found a link to it in Jordyn's blog, but the thing is:
Six cool unpublished and published young authors have come together to form what I know will be the most epic of YA writing blogs:
Each one of them will post on a determined day (Harmony will post on Mondays, Kieryn on Tuesdays, etc., etc.)
This week is all about introductions. But the real blogging will commence next week! If you're an aspiring author, or even if you write as a hobby (and hope that one day, you'll be ready to face the publishing industry, like yours truly) then I suggest you get your butt on over there, cause it will be epic.
(I love that word. I could say it over and over. Epic. Epic. Epic. Epic.)
Happy Friday!
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Killing Off Characters In Your WIPs
After reading this entry by the lovely Kelsey Sutton, I thought I'd share some of my thoughts about this subject with you.
It's that "WTF???" thing about it that I love!
Then again, I don't think I'd be so drastic as to kill a loved secondary character. Take Fred Weasley, for instance. We all loved him and were really sad to see him die. I'm still sad about it, but I think J. K. R. made the whole ending a lot more realistic in doing this. It can't all end in fairy tale endings.
In my case, if I kill off a character it's not always essential to the plot. It's basically to mess with the reader's mind. And I wouldn't kill a character I hated, I'd bring it more into the story! I love bad guys!
I guess I could say, I like killing off my MCs best friends.
How about you?
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Kelsey says:
"So today while I was baking cookies I began to wonder, Do we kill off characters because it's really essential to the plot? Because we hate this character we've created? To mess with the reader's mind? Or just because we love that we can?
My answer to that is:
I love creating tension between characters, building up the story and then killing off a character. Not my main ones, but a secondary one.Because I love that I can.
It's that "WTF???" thing about it that I love!
Then again, I don't think I'd be so drastic as to kill a loved secondary character. Take Fred Weasley, for instance. We all loved him and were really sad to see him die. I'm still sad about it, but I think J. K. R. made the whole ending a lot more realistic in doing this. It can't all end in fairy tale endings.
In my case, if I kill off a character it's not always essential to the plot. It's basically to mess with the reader's mind. And I wouldn't kill a character I hated, I'd bring it more into the story! I love bad guys!
I guess I could say, I like killing off my MCs best friends.
How about you?
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In Which I Talk About My Beta and Being a Beta
Last year I started a book during NANO. I already had the idea in my mind, and NANO definitely helped me put it on paper. I didn't finish it, I still haven't -writing a book is hard, especially for me, being used to writing short stuff- but I was lucky enough to find me a Beta reader.
Her name is Tanya, and boy, is she awesome!
I think we were meant to work together, because we think so much alike. When I read a part of my MS, and think "I should change this", she'd email me and say "I think this needs a little work" and we're talking about the exact same thing. She really gets my characters and has learned to love them like I do (or at least that's what she tells me! lol), and what could be better than that?
I already know the exact point in which I want my book to end, but I'm having trouble getting there. Tanya has just told me she's finished reading what I've sent her, and that we can start brainstorming. This will help me tremendously! I hope to have a book by the end of July.
I'm crossing my fingers!
Tanya, you have no idea how much I love you, girl! Thanks for being supportive and understanding! (This is my first book ever. Longest thing I've ever written. And it's scary.)
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A couple of months ago one of my online friends, Jordyn, said she'd finished her MS, and so I asked her if I could be one of her Betas. She said yes and I squeed! I'd been told her writing was awesome. And it is. I think that for me to get to write stuff as deep as her it'll take a while.
Her novel's called The Movie Romance, and it tells the tale of a girl, Anya, dealing with the loss of her friends.
There are parts in this novel that have me in tears. So powerfully it's written, and so beautifully.
One day, Jor, you'll find an agent and get that recognition you deserve.
So, thank you for letting me read this.
xoxo,
Ella
p.s.: Are you an aspiring writer? Do you have an awesome Beta like me?
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Her name is Tanya, and boy, is she awesome!
I think we were meant to work together, because we think so much alike. When I read a part of my MS, and think "I should change this", she'd email me and say "I think this needs a little work" and we're talking about the exact same thing. She really gets my characters and has learned to love them like I do (or at least that's what she tells me! lol), and what could be better than that?
I already know the exact point in which I want my book to end, but I'm having trouble getting there. Tanya has just told me she's finished reading what I've sent her, and that we can start brainstorming. This will help me tremendously! I hope to have a book by the end of July.
I'm crossing my fingers!
Tanya, you have no idea how much I love you, girl! Thanks for being supportive and understanding! (This is my first book ever. Longest thing I've ever written. And it's scary.)
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A couple of months ago one of my online friends, Jordyn, said she'd finished her MS, and so I asked her if I could be one of her Betas. She said yes and I squeed! I'd been told her writing was awesome. And it is. I think that for me to get to write stuff as deep as her it'll take a while.
Her novel's called The Movie Romance, and it tells the tale of a girl, Anya, dealing with the loss of her friends.
There are parts in this novel that have me in tears. So powerfully it's written, and so beautifully.
One day, Jor, you'll find an agent and get that recognition you deserve.
So, thank you for letting me read this.
xoxo,
Ella
p.s.: Are you an aspiring writer? Do you have an awesome Beta like me?
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Debbie Ridpath Ohi @ Inkygirl.com is hosting a year-long writing Challenge, and I'm joining!
The Rules:
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500 Words A Day Challenge
Debbie Ridpath Ohi @ Inkygirl.com is hosting a year-long writing Challenge, and I'm joining!The Rules:
Try to write 500 words a day, at least six days a week.
As long as you are sincerely and consistently TRYING to write 1000 words a day, then you can post the badge on your blog or website. If life occasionally gets in the way, that’s ok — as long as you promise yourself to get back on the wagon as soon as you can. If you sometimes don’t reach 500 words, that’s also ok — but try again the next day.
The goal of the 500 Words A Day Challenge is simple: to inspire writers to write.
(Just what I need!) Wanna join? Visit Inkygirl.com!
Debbie's also hosting a 1000 Words A Day Challenge. Join now!
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I started a new story yesterday, and this Challenge might push me into finishing it, correcting it, and making it perfect. I'll share some of it with you later... If you promise not to laugh :o)
xo,
Edit:
13/07/09: 1354 words!
14/07/09: fail :( 213 words
15/07/09: 512 words and counting!
16/07/09: 932 words!
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